Health and Social Care - Level 4

Critical Thinking and Reflective Practice

Assignment 1 Guidance

What is the purpose of this assignment?

There is a journey towards becoming a thoughtful practitioner in health and social care. This assignment is composed of a series of connected tasks designed to develop your ability to ethically question yourself, your practice, and those around you.

In this introductory phase, you will:

• Collaboratively develop your reflective capability
• Enhance your critical thinking
• Improve your ability to express your reflections in writing

What do you have to do?

- 3 Blog Posts: Each blog post should be 500700 words (maximum total = 2100 words)
- Comment and provide feedback on your colleagues posts
- Final Submission on FSB Connect:
- Total word count = 2400 words
- Submit as a Microsoft Word Document
- Include:
- Cover page
- Table of contents
- Blogs 1, 2, and 3 copied and pasted
- Summary reflecting on feedback received

Blog Themes

Choose a theme that fits your work history. Example themes include:

• Workplace violence
• Lack of staff
• Communication with professionals
• Communication with service users/clients/customers
• Mental health of staff

Blog Post Breakdown

Students must gradually post their reflective journal entries and provide comments/feedback on peers' posts.
Timeline:

• Week 4 Blog 1: Reflective entry on theories and models of reflection (500700 words)
• Week 5 Blog 2: Reflective entry on the value and application of critical thinking in practice (500700 words)
• Week 7 Blog 3: Reflective entry on using reflection and critical thinking to address health and social care dilemmas (500700 words)

Blog 1: Reflective Practice

• Describe a critical situation (personal or professional)
• Focus on an issue, dilemma, or critical incident
• Discuss what makes an honest reflection
• Choose a theory/model/tool for reflection, describe it, and explain how it helps with honest reflection
• Apply the chosen approach to make sense of your example

Blog 2: Value and Application of Critical Thinking in Practice

• Choose an aspect of critical thinking or analysis (a skill or characteristic).
• Provide a related practice example.
• Reflect on the value and application of critical thinking in that context.

Blog 3: Reflection and Critical Thinking to Address Health and Social Care Dilemmas

• Use insights from Week 6 lectures: Strengths-based approaches to HSC dilemmas
• Reflect on feedback from Week 5 Folder on FSB Connect