Unit 26 P4 M2 D1 Positive working practice
P4: Explain positive working practice with individuals with additional learning needs.
M2: Discuss positive working practice with individuals with additional learning needs.
D1: Evaluate working practices and their potential for breaking down barriers and improving the
well-being and life changes of individuals with additional needs.
Positive working practice:
Positive working practice is a procedure performed by professionals for service users in order to
attend to their additional needs. It permits health and social care professionals to meet the
particular requirements of the service users. Positive working practice allows for the promotion of
rights, empowerment and development of self-esteem. Some forms of positive working practice are
as follows:
Positive reinforcement
An example of positive reinforcement could be praising an individual for completing a task such as
dressing themselves or neatening their personal space using a phrase like, for example, “very well
done” or “you’ve done a fantastic job”. Using this method means it is likely the individual will repeat
such behaviours as they are receiving praise or being rewarded for doing so and increasing the
likelihood of the behaviour being performed independently. Alternatively, if an individual displays
bad or unpleasant behaviour, negative reinforcement can be used to discourage such behaviours in
the future, this could be enforced through the non-provision of rewards or through criticising the
bad behaviour by saying, for example, “that’s not very good now is it?”. Reinforcement is supported
by the social worker code of conduct formed by the GSCC (General Social Care Council). The code of
conduct states that positive reinforcement is necessary in order to certify the promotion of
independence in regards to the service users. Reinforcement can also be applied in the academic
environment to identify the strengths of students. Positive reinforcement can offer beneficial effects
on the well-being, life opportunities and quality of life of service users. Due to the use of positive
reinforcement service users may be more likely to opt for healthier food options and partake in
more exercise if conditioned to do so, this will heighten the health and fitness of the individual. The
use of praise will benefit the individual as it will affect them emotionally, emotions such as
happiness and self-satisfaction may be experienced when being praised for completing a task, it may
also make the individual feel a sense of accomplishment, and this will affect their well-being and
may improve their self-esteem.
Personal care
An example of personal care could be, being gentle when handling them, for example when washing
the service user not applying too much force or being too rough, will ensure that they are more
comfortable when receiving personal care and also gain their trust. Another example could be
maintaining their privacy, this is important so the service users does not feel as though they are
losing their dignity. Individuals requiring health care services have a right to privacy, this is supported
by the Human Rights Act 1998. Health care professionals must ensure that this right is respected and
must therefore be appropriate when assisting with dressing, washing and bathing. The Human Rights
Act 1998 also states that all individuals have the right under Article 3 ‘freedom from torture, and
inhuman or degrading treatment’. This proclaims the importance of service users receiving gentle
care and that they must not be subjected to abusive or violent behaviours by professionals. Personal
care can be beneficial to the service user by providing them with heightened confidence and self-
esteem and also an improved quality of life through assistance with hygiene and grooming. Ensuring
that the service user maintains a good hygiene standard can also aid in the prevention of infection or
disease. Keeping a service users personal care at a high standard may also offer the individual life
opportunities and possibly open them up to explore.
Safe practice and safeguarding
P4: Explain positive working practice with individuals with additional learning needs.
M2: Discuss positive working practice with individuals with additional learning needs.
D1: Evaluate working practices and their potential for breaking down barriers and improving the
well-being and life changes of individuals with additional needs.
Positive working practice:
Positive working practice is a procedure performed by professionals for service users in order to
attend to their additional needs. It permits health and social care professionals to meet the
particular requirements of the service users. Positive working practice allows for the promotion of
rights, empowerment and development of self-esteem. Some forms of positive working practice are
as follows:
Positive reinforcement
An example of positive reinforcement could be praising an individual for completing a task such as
dressing themselves or neatening their personal space using a phrase like, for example, “very well
done” or “you’ve done a fantastic job”. Using this method means it is likely the individual will repeat
such behaviours as they are receiving praise or being rewarded for doing so and increasing the
likelihood of the behaviour being performed independently. Alternatively, if an individual displays
bad or unpleasant behaviour, negative reinforcement can be used to discourage such behaviours in
the future, this could be enforced through the non-provision of rewards or through criticising the
bad behaviour by saying, for example, “that’s not very good now is it?”. Reinforcement is supported
by the social worker code of conduct formed by the GSCC (General Social Care Council). The code of
conduct states that positive reinforcement is necessary in order to certify the promotion of
independence in regards to the service users. Reinforcement can also be applied in the academic
environment to identify the strengths of students. Positive reinforcement can offer beneficial effects
on the well-being, life opportunities and quality of life of service users. Due to the use of positive
reinforcement service users may be more likely to opt for healthier food options and partake in
more exercise if conditioned to do so, this will heighten the health and fitness of the individual. The
use of praise will benefit the individual as it will affect them emotionally, emotions such as
happiness and self-satisfaction may be experienced when being praised for completing a task, it may
also make the individual feel a sense of accomplishment, and this will affect their well-being and
may improve their self-esteem.
Personal care
An example of personal care could be, being gentle when handling them, for example when washing
the service user not applying too much force or being too rough, will ensure that they are more
comfortable when receiving personal care and also gain their trust. Another example could be
maintaining their privacy, this is important so the service users does not feel as though they are
losing their dignity. Individuals requiring health care services have a right to privacy, this is supported
by the Human Rights Act 1998. Health care professionals must ensure that this right is respected and
must therefore be appropriate when assisting with dressing, washing and bathing. The Human Rights
Act 1998 also states that all individuals have the right under Article 3 ‘freedom from torture, and
inhuman or degrading treatment’. This proclaims the importance of service users receiving gentle
care and that they must not be subjected to abusive or violent behaviours by professionals. Personal
care can be beneficial to the service user by providing them with heightened confidence and self-
esteem and also an improved quality of life through assistance with hygiene and grooming. Ensuring
that the service user maintains a good hygiene standard can also aid in the prevention of infection or
disease. Keeping a service users personal care at a high standard may also offer the individual life
opportunities and possibly open them up to explore.
Safe practice and safeguarding
