Unit 3- Human Growth and Development

Unite Code: (T/618/4169)

Task 4
Prepare a handout for trainees that will help them in their choice of specialism/job role. The
handout should
i. Analyse the different specialist areas within health and social care.

ii. Describe a range of health and social care professions.

iii. Outline how access to professions is regulated.

Qi. Analyse the different specialist areas within health and social care.
Answer:

Below are different specialist areas within health and social care in United Kingdom

i. Ambulance services: The National Health Service Act 1946 established a statutory
obligation for county and borough councils to provide an emergency ambulance service,
although they could contract with a volunteer ambulance service to do so, with many
contracting with the British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or another local provider. In
1979, the Regional Ambulance Officers' Committee observed "There was considerable
variance in the quality of service offered at the local level, particularly in terms of
vehicles, personnel, and equipment. The majority of services were administered by local
governments via their Medical Officer of Health and Ambulance Officer; a few were
administered by the fire service; and some depended on agency techniques to provide
some or all of their services "'.
ii. Complementary therapies: Complementary medicines are important topics in today's
medical debates over scientific evidence, clinical experience, medical judgment, and the
need of putting the patient first. Complementary therapies are techniques of treating
patients that go beyond reductionist biophysical theories and take a more holistic
approach to the patient's condition. The ultimate goal is a comprehensive and long-lasting
cure or improvement, which is achieved by the stimulation of salutogenetic self-healing
processes. Natural medicinal products (of zoological, herbal, or mineral origin,
sometimes potentized) are used in conjunction with non-pharmacological therapies (e.g.,

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 acupuncture, acupressure, neural therapy, movement therapies, art therapies, relaxation
techniques, biofeedback, chiropractic, meditation, massage, and lifestyle changes) and
counseling to provide highly individualized treatment. A special emphasis should be
placed on the relationship between the physician and the patient. The treatments are used
in conjunction with traditional medicine (referred to as "complementary medicine") or, in
some situations, in place of conventional therapy. Integrative medicine is another word
that is commonly used, particularly in the context of research-based complementary and
alternative medical systems.
iii. Dentistry: Dentistry is a branch of the therapeutic arts and sciences that is concerned
with the preservation of the health of the teeth, gums, and other hard and soft tissues of
the oral cavity and its surrounding structures. The term "dentist" refers to a scientist and
clinician who is dedicated to maintaining the greatest possible standards of health by
preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral diseases and ailments. ADEA published a report
in 2010 stating that. Among the clinical fields in which dentists can work are general
dentistry, dental public health, endodontics (the treatment of dental nerves and pulp),
orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics (the treatment of the tissues and bone that
support teeth), prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology and surgery, and oral and
maxillofacial pathology and surgery.
iv. Health informatics: It is only recently that the phrase "health informatics" has been
coined to describe a subject that has the potential to be of significant interest to health
care researchers and policymakers. Major investments in computer hardware and
software have been made by most countries with highly sophisticated health systems in
the hope of improved quality at reduced cost in the coming years. Recent systematic
evaluations have indicated that a variety of electronic instruments, particularly in the
areas of prevention and treatment monitoring, can be beneficial to one's health in
numerous ways. However, there is still a dearth of published evaluations of informatics
tools and methodologies in the field of informatics. Despite limited information on what
may be reasonably expected from a proposed system, policymakers continue to be
discredited by their uncritical embrace of new systems under the pressures of
technological advancement.

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 Some of the most significant breakthroughs in health informatics may be viewed as
requirements for providing efficient patient-centered care, which is the ultimate goal of
most health-care organizations. Clinicians and researchers may now find the information
they require more quickly and simply thanks to advances in electronic information
retrieval tools. After that, the data can be linked together using a range of deterministic
and probabilistic technologies in order to increase their utility. Afterwards, raw or
enhanced data can be processed in a variety of ways to make their meaning more
understandable. Finally, when information is delivered in the most appropriate formats
and at the most appropriate speeds, its utility may be increased.

v. Health promotion: Public health promotion has risen in prominence in recent years, both
in the United Kingdom and other countries, and has become an increasingly important
component of the work of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, as well of
people working in a variety of other fields outside the health care sector. As a starting
point, consider the following definition of health promotion:

‘Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to
improve, their health’(World Health Organization, Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986)

Traditionally, people have been provided with information in order to empower them to take action
in order to improve their own health. This technique is commonly referred to as "health education."
The concept of 'health promotion', on the other hand, has recently emerged as something that
encompasses not only information dissemination but also other methods of strengthening
individuals, as well as action directed toward changing the social circumstances of people's lives -
for example, by strengthening supportive community structures, alleviating adverse economic
conditions, or reducing environmental hazards.

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These 4 modes of health promotion (Beattie 1991) can also be summarized in table form (see
below)

[Table 1] FOUR MODES OF HEALTH PROMOTION – AIMS, PRACTICES, AND

UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHIES

Mode of health Aim Practice Philosophy

promotion

A Individual risk- To safeguard the test; Vaccinate; functionalist

reduction. client and to monitor; persuade
conservative-
minimize the advise
positivist,
danger of
sickness.

B Personal counseling To assist the client Listen, clarify, reflect, humanistic,

in regaining liberal,
focus, resolve, support
control of his or
permissive
her life.

C Community To support groups Listen, join in, debate, communitarian,

development on radical-humanist
bring together,
own agenda of network
change

D Social advocacy To lobby official Report, liaise, appeal, radical-positivist,

agencies to achieve materialist
persuade, expose
equity

vi. Midwifery: Only midwives are qualified to practice midwifery, and only midwives are
allowed to practice it. Midwives perform within a professional framework of autonomy,
partnership, ethics, and accountability that is based on disciplines shared by other health

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 professionals, such as science and sociology. This sets them apart from other practitioners
in the field.

Midwifery is an approach to care of women and their newborn infants whereby midwives:

a. optimize natural biological, psychological, social, and cultural processes

associated with childbirth and the newborn's early existence.
b. collaborate with women, recognizing each woman's unique situations and
perspectives.
c. enhance women's personal capacities for self- and family-care.
d. cooperate with midwives and other health experts as needed to provide holistic
care that is tailored to the specific needs of each woman.

The provision of midwifery services is the responsibility of an independent midwife. In order to

become a midwife, students must complete a pre-service/preregistration midwifery education
program that complies with the International Commission on Midwifery global standards for
midwifery education. Midwives are expected to possess and demonstrate midwifery
competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) after completing a pre-service/preregistration
midwifery education program.

In countries where the title "midwife" is not yet protected, other health professionals (such as
nurses and doctors) may be involved in providing sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn
health care to women and newborns in the same way that midwives are. These health
professionals are not midwives, which means they do not possess the competencies of a midwife
and do not provide midwifery skills, but rather components of mother and infant care.

Qii. Describe a range of health and social care professions.

Answer
In the United States, healthcare is described as the diagnosis, treatment, and management of
illness as well as the prevention against mental illness and physical well-being through services
offered by allied and medical professionals, among other things. Care for persons who are ill or

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damaged is what health care means in the United Kingdom. People who are afflicted by illness,
old age, or a handicap are said to be receiving social care, which is a term used in the field of
social services (Brotherton and Parker, 2011). As a result of the Health and Social Care Act of
2012, there are particular mandates for the health system and its partnerships to operate together
more effectively. As stated explicitly in this act, it is the duty of the National Health Service in
England, clinical commissioning groups, and health and well-being boards to facilitate the
provision of health and social services.

Hospitals, clinics, outpatient departments, outpatient departments of hospitals, acute care

hospitals (including specialty hospitals), community health centers (including nursing homes),
long-term care facilities (including nursing homes), and schools are among the places where
health services are provided (Smith 2000).

There are a plethora of health-related careers to choose from in the health and social care
industries. Health care workers must meet certain requirements, including eligibility,
membership in a professional association that permits practice, adherence to a code of ethics, and
skill in their field (Smith 2000). According to the findings of research into a number of
professions, certain duties and responsibilities are highly specialized. Some of the vocations in
the health and social care sector include social workers, who work for a number of organizations,
but mostly for local governments, independent groups, and charitable organizations. Social
workers are also known as social service providers. As well as working in hospitals, mental
health trusts, and other community-based settings, they also work for the National Health Service
in a variety of capacities. Social workers perform a wide range of tasks, including advising,
advocating, counseling, and listening to their clients. People with disabilities, such as the elderly,
people with learning and physical disabilities, young offenders, people suffering from mental
disorders, students who do not attend school, drug and alcohol abusers, and the homeless, can all
benefit from the assistance of social workers. In order to analyze and examine the current state of
service users and their families, as well as to develop support packages that will allow service
users to live their lives to the greatest extent possible, it is their responsibility to conduct
interviews with them and their families. The career of podiatrist is one of the many vocations in
the health and social care sector that give exceptional patient care while also providing
professional advice on how to avoid foot problems. Podiatrists are professionals who specialize

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in the treatment and prevention of foot ailments. Podiatrists are highly trained medical specialists
who are capable of diagnosing and treating a wide range of foot and lower limb conditions and
diseases. Specialists in foot and ankle care have discovered a substantial number of patients who
are at risk of amputation, including those who have arthritis or diabetes. The profession of
dietetics includes promoting healthy eating habits and offering advice, in addition to modifying
specific diets for individual clients (Smith, 2000).

Nursing is the largest single health-care profession in the world, accounting for more than half of
all health-care workers. Healthcare assistants work in collaboration with the other members of
the healthcare team to provide quality care. Nurses may begin their careers as assistants in a
hospital setting. Individuals interested in pursuing a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) must first
finish nursing training. This training includes clinical practice as well as administrative and
educational duties, as well as consultation and management in research and management (Smith,
2000). The nurses begin their careers in Band 5 of the National Health Service (NHS) hierarchy
(National Health Service, 2014). Provided that they obtain on-going, specialized training in skills
and knowledge, professional nurses have the potential to advance farther up the hierarchy
structure within their respective fields. As a nurse, you will have the opportunity to continue to
learn, develop, and expand your knowledge and skills in order to become more specialized. For
example, you may choose to provide care for patients suffering from mental illness or learning
disabilities, or to work as a midwife, where you will be specialized in specialized maternity care.
Excellent communication is provided by nurses, which is beneficial to both patients and doctors.
By adhering to the doctor's orders, nurses are also able to deliver outstanding patient care
(Sullivan, E, and Decker, P. 2005). Other tasks include ensuring that medical records are kept in
a safe and secure location (Data Protection Act, 1998). The nurses are in charge of maintaining
hospital standards, which includes checking wards and ensuring that hygiene standards are being
followed on a regular basis (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). As stated by the National
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004), licensed practical nurses, midwives, and health visitors
are all held accountable for the work that they perform.

Qiii. Outline how access to professions is regulated.

Answer:

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Regulations must be enforced in line with the applicable legislative framework in order for
regulatory agencies to safeguard the general public. There are a number of key roles that
regulatory agencies play in doing this:

i. maintaining and updating databases of health and social care professionals who are
qualified to practice in the United Kingdom.
ii. the development of standards of conduct, ethics, and competence that registered health
and social care professionals must adhere to; and the promotion of these requirements
iii. establishing educational and training requirements for health and social care workers who
must adhere to such requirements.
iv. dealing with complaints from patients, the general public, and others concerning health
and social care professionals who are believed to be unsuitable to practice due to bad
health, misbehavior, or poor performance; and
v. removing professionals from their registers and prohibiting them from practicing if the
regulating authorities believe that doing so is in the public's best interests, and taking
action against those who falsely claim to be registered.

REFERENCES

Bach,S. and Grant, A.(2009) Communicating and Interpersonal Skills for Nurses.(Transforming

Nursing Practice) Exeter: Learning Matters.

Barr,J. and Dowding ,L.(2012) Leadership in Health Care 2nd edn SAGE Publications

Brotherton, G.and Parker, S. (2011) Your Foundation in Health and Social Care. London: Sage
Publications

Department of Health Professions (2009) Confidentiality NHS Code of Practice London, DOH

Health and Safety Executive (1974) Health and Safety in the Workplace Act

1974 www.hse.gov.uk accessed 31/10/14

NMC (2004) Code of Professional Conduct Standards for Conduct Performance and Ethics.
London, Nursing & Midwifery Council.

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NMC. (2009) The Code: Standards of Conduct, Nursing and Midwifery Council Tilley, S and
Watson R. (2004), Accountability in nursing and midwifery 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishing
Oxford

Magee, J.C., and Galinsky`, A.D. (2008).Academy of Management Annals: Journal

Sullivan, E, and Decker, P. (2005) Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing; 8th edn

Pearson/Prentice Hall

Taylor,G. and Thornton ,C.(1995) Managing People Directory of Social Change :Radius works.

London.

Ronay, R., Greenaway, K.,Anicich, E,M., and Galinsky,A. D. (2012) Psychological Science

Smith, J. (2000) Health Management Information Systems :Library of Congress: Open

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NHS Careers (2014). Available from: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/ [Accessed 31/10/2014]

Health and Social Care Act 2012. Available

from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/enacted [Accessed 29/11/2014]

Careers in the allied health professions – NHS Careers. Available

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