Author
BRADLEY Alice
Title
Personal development and reflective practice in a learning disability service.
Publisher
British Institute of Learning Disabilities, 2006.
Summary
This book is intended for managers and senior practitioners who want to continue their professional development, its purpose being to highlight the importance of reflection in learning and the crucial role of personal and professional development for managers of support services for people with learning disabilities. It should also be of interest to senior staff and managers who are preparing for the Learning Disability Awards Framework (LDAF) Higher Professional Diploma (Level 4) Unit 2: Personal Development and Reflective Practice in a Learning Disability Service and studying S/NVQ at Level 4.
Contents
This book's purpose is to highlight the importance of reflection in learning and the crucial role of personal and professional development for managers of support services for people with learning disabilities. The issues explored include: the principles of reflective practice and personal development; the learning process and its relevance for personal and professional development; the values underpinning professional practice in services for people with learning disabilities; and the importance of an integrated approach to practice, which encompasses knowledge of current developments. It provides readers with the opportunity to evaluate their own progress in learning and development. For LDAF candidates this will involve an appraisal of their study for the Higher Professional Diploma. For others it can be applied to similar courses of study. For all readers, it should support continuing professional development.
An introduction describes the intended audience and purpose, how it is organised, and the LDAF Higher Professional Diploma (Level 4), discusses activities and reflections, and introduces the advisory and support group. The main part of the book has four chapters. The first, on understanding reflective practice, examines the meaning of the term and provides opportunities for reflection on the values underpinning one's practice, identification of the influence of reflection, and appraisal of the support available for reflective practice in one's own situation. The second is about the process of personal development planning, which includes the identification of learning and development needs, strengths and talents, describing development goals and drawing up a personal development plan. This chapter has more activities than others because it takes one through a simulated process of development planning. Learning and professional development is the theme of the third chapter, dealing with the implementation of the development plan and exploring the learning process, learning styles, monitoring and review. It also provides guidance on how to reflect on one's own learning by keeping a learning journal. The fourth chapter discusses integrating new developments into practice and explores an integrated approach to practice, focusing on keeping up to date with developments, utilising external networks, adopting a critical approach to research findings, evaluating one's own action research and implementing research and legislation in the workplace. The book ends with references and resources.
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