Читать книгу Preparing for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care - Группа авторов - Страница 16

Reflection and reflexivity are terms that are frequently used interchangeably although there are distinct differences. Reflection has been encouraged for several decades for practitioners within health and social care and is often defined as a process. It is viewed as fundamental to the professional development of health and social care practitioners and a core competency which has been essential during the COVID-19 pandemic (Walpola and Lucas 2021). Promoting and undertaking reflection ultimately seeks to ensure the quality of care provided for service users and should be undertaken by practitioners and managers (Stonehouse 2015). Reflexivity is a lesser understood term with roots in the philosophical underpinning of research. Self-reflexivity relates to exploring and highlighting your own values, particular biases, and preferences related to the research or topic area (Tracy 2010). As with researcher roles, health and social care practitioners can benefit from considering the influence of their own background and assumptions.

Often referred to as deep reflection, reflexivity has a stronger focus on exploration of values, assumptions, and beliefs that inform the professional practice provided. Being reflexive is essential in order to become more self-aware and to question further our actions, and the evidence we use, to inform clinical decision-making. A reflexive process involves an individual looking back and reflecting on themselves in order to emerge or move towards desirable professional practice (Johns 2017). Also, as a reflexive practitioner, it will not only increase self-awareness but also assist in identifying where there may be differing values underpinning other professionals’ actions. Increasing awareness of this can assist with group reflection and explain where differing assumptions may inform clinical reasoning and different approaches to practice.