- Principles of professional practice in health and social care (e.g., accountability, ethics, codes of conduct).

- Foundations of person-centred care: dignity, respect, choice, and individualised support.

- Effective communication skills with service users, families, and multidisciplinary teams.

- Demonstrating compassion, empathy, and professional behaviour in care environments.

- Building therapeutic and professional relationships within health and social care settings.

- Reflective practice techniques for evaluating personal performance and behaviour.

- Identifying personal strengths, learning needs, and opportunities for professional development.

- The role of leadership and management in modelling professional values and behaviours.

- Strategies leaders use to promote person-centred practice within teams.

- Creating supportive workplace cultures that encourage continuous learning and quality care.

Assessment 1

Reflective Log – 1000 words

Weighting: 50%

Assesses module learning outcomes 1 and 2.

You will produce a log that will allow you to reflect upon the basic professional skills that you have developed in your health and social care job role, volunteer work placement, and / or the classroom learning opportunities. This log will allow you to describe what skill you utilised and how you did so, in addition it will allow you to reflect upon this application and give you an opportunity to express how you might develop this skill or change the way you dealt with the particular circumstance in the future. A template will be provided for this log, which you can utilise if you wish or you can choose to create your own version.

To evidence your job / volunteer role – you will be expected to complete paperwork that details health and safety information and contact details of your placement / job, so that assessors can telephone to confirm attendance / skills development.

Rationale: This assessment will allow you to reflect upon the skills that you have developed during Level 4 and in this module, your job role or work placement. You will be able to showcase where you have demonstrated professional skills such as person-centred care, communication, confidentiality, and ethics. This assessment will also give you the opportunity to identify how you can improve further and give you a focus for the Preparing for Practice Two module at Level 5.

Assessment 2

Training Leaflet – 1000 words / Training Video 15 minutes

Weighting: 50%

Assesses module learning outcomes 3 and 4

You can choose whether to produce a training leaflet or training video that can be distributed to health / social care managers. This leaflet / video will describe principles of professional practice and person-centred care and will explain how leaders/managers can embed these principles in their workforce.

Rationale: This assessment will help you to demonstrate your understanding of person-centred care, professional practice, training systems and leadership. It will allow you to be creative and use your digital skills to produce a high-quality brochure/video. Your digital skills will not be assessed but the assessment gives you the opportunity to practice using them.

The module will employ a range of teaching and learning approaches appropriate to Level 4 study, designed to support your knowledge acquisition, skills development, and your engagement.

Teaching will include interactive lectures to introduce key concepts and seminars to consolidate your understanding through structured discussion. Small group work activities, case studies, and problem-based learning activities will promote collaboration and application of theory to practice-based contexts.

You will engage in directed independent study, supported by guided reading and resources available via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Digital tools will be used to facilitate learning, communication, and formative assessment activities.

Opportunities for formative feedback, including draft tasks and peer review, will support your academic development and progression. Collectively, these strategies aim to develop subject knowledge, critical thinking, professional skills, and independent learning appropriate to undergraduate study.

A key feature of this module is the encouragement to participate in a voluntary 70-hour work placement opportunity. This will allow you to gain experience of the professional skills required for a health and social care career. This module acknowledges that for a variety of reasons, some of you may not be able to undertake a placement. To resolve this – the module will utilise simulated activities in its teaching, and as a method of formative assessment, to enable you to develop these skills in a safe environment if placement / a job role is impossible for you.

1. Demonstrate basic professional skills within a health or social care context such as communication, person-centred care, and compassion.

Application and Problem Solving

2. Reflect on your developing professional skills, to identify opportunities for personal development and behaviours.

Reflection
Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

3. Describe principles of professional practice and person-centred care in a health and social care setting.

Communication

4. Explain how leaders and managers can develop the principles of professional practice and person-centred care in their workforce.

Leadership and Management

Regular access to simulation suites that model health and social care settings.

Ellis, L., 2020. Person-Centred Practice in Health and Social Care: Theory and Practice. 2nd ed. London: Sage.

This is a comprehensive and practical resource for all nurses and healthcare practitioners who want to develop person-centred ways of working.

Carter, L. and West, M., 2019. Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care in the UK. London: Sage.

This book provides an authoritative overview of roles involved in the leadership and management of learning in social care education and practice.

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D. & Jasper, M., 2025. Critical Reflection in Practice: A Guide for Health and Social Care Professionals. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

This textbook analyses and explores the significance of reflection in professional health and social care practice. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this book presents a structured method that empowers you to both challenge and develop your own practice.

Barr, J. & Dowding, L., 2025. Leadership in Health Care. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Designed to guide you through a structured approach to building your leadership skills, this book uses case studies, practical examples, and reflective questions to help you engage with every aspect of leadership.

Sartorius, N. & Thornicroft, G., 2025. Practical Professional and Leadership Skills: A Guide for Health and Social Care Professionals. London: Elsevier.

This book provides essential, practical skills to help you become an effective leader, to work well with smaller and larger groups, and to work well when alone. Each skill is covered in a short chapter, along with case studies, examples, and key action points.

What does it mean to be a professional in health and social care—and how do your skills, values, and behaviours shape the experiences of the people you support?

This module introduces you to the foundational principles and skills required for effective professional practice within health and social care settings. You will develop essential competencies such as communication, compassion, person-centred care, ethical awareness, and professional conduct that underpin safe and high-quality care.

You will explore what it means to work professionally in complex care environments and examine the values that guide effective practice. The module highlights the importance of dignity, respect, accountability, and partnership working when supporting individuals, families, and communities.

A key feature of this module is the opportunity to practice and apply these skills in safe learning environments through simulated classroom activities and a volunteer placement. These experiences will help you build confidence while connecting theory to real-world practice.

Throughout the module, you will reflect on your own developing professional behaviours, identifying your strengths and areas for improvement. This reflective approach supports greater self-awareness and encourages continuous personal and professional development.

The module also introduces the role of leadership and management in shaping positive professional cultures. You will explore how leaders and managers promote person-centred values, support workforce development, and maintain high standards of practice within health and social care organisations.