Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Principles of Practice
Principles of Practice
Learning hours: 60
NQF level 4: BTEC Higher National — H2
Description of unit
This unit develops understanding of the values and principles that underpin the practice of all
those who work in health and social care, particularly from the perspective of those with
management and leadership roles. Learners will explore formal and informal mechanisms
required to promote good practice by individuals in the workforce including personal strategies
that can influence the performance of others. The unit will provide supporting evidence for
those working towards S/NVQ Level 4 in Care and those who aim to work in health and social
care professions.
Delivery
Learners should be encouraged throughout to reflect on their own experience and observations
from workplace settings through class discussion, role play, use of case studies, issues arising
in the media etc. Tutor input will be required to support learner understanding of the legal
frameworks that are applicable and also in identifying and applying relevant theories. Tutors
are encouraged to utilise the many links with other units to support delivery of this unit.
Assessment
It is recommended that learners are given time to develop their workplace experience,
knowledge and understanding before assessment of this unit. Learners will be expected to
present evidence based substantially on their work in health and social care. Evidence may be
drawn from, for example, reflective writing in personal learning journals, case study examples,
reflection on observation of others, feedback from others, review of organisational practices.
Learners will be expected to identify and discuss relevant theories and be prepared to address
evidence needed to meet the assessment criteria that is not otherwise addressed by naturally
occurring circumstances in the workplace.
Links
This unit links with and underpins many of the units directly connected with practice and with
managing activities, in particular:
• Unit 1: Communicating in Health and Social Care
• Unit 9: Ensuring Best Outcomes for Individuals
• Unit 10: Understanding Abuse
• Unit 16: Understanding Specific Needs
• Unit 17: Community Development Work
• Unit 21: Supporting Significant Life Events
• Unit 22: Counselling Skills Development and Practice
• Unit 30: Vocational Practice in Health and Social Care.
The unit is intended to underpin the following S/NVQ level 4 units from the care award:
• O2: Promote People's Equality, Diversity and Rights
• O3: Develop, Maintain and Evaluate Systems and Structures to Promote the Rights,
Responsibilities and Diversity Of People
• SC16: Assess Clients Needs and Circumstances
• SC17: Evaluate Risk of Abuse, Failure to Protect and Harm to Self and Others.
The unit also contributes to the underpinning knowledge for the S/NVQ level 5 Strategic
Management Unit A7: Establish Strategies to Guide the Work of Your Organisation and
Element C6.3: Provide Guidance on Values at Work.
Resources
Tutors need to be appropriately qualified and experienced in the care sector to cover the
principles and the management aspects of this unit.
Library resources need to support the range of knowledge addressed.
Case study material will be essential, and can be provided by the tutor or can be based on the
learner's own working situations.
Access to video equipment may be valuable if college-based project work is to be used to
supplement, or in place of, work-based evidence.
Support materials
Textbooks
Holland K and Hogg C — Cultural Awareness in Nursing and Health Care An Introductory
Text (Hodder Arnold, 2001) ISBN: 0340731338
Webb R and Tossell D — Social Issues for Carers: Towards Positive Practice, 2nd Edition
(Hodder Arnold, 1998) ISBN: 0340706252