Quality Management in a Care Setting: Essay Topics and Guidelines

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Quality Management in a Care Setting essay. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Critically analyse the need for their care setting to achieve the best possible outcomes for the service user.
2. Critically discuss the performance of teams.
3. Critically discuss the management of continuous quality improvement.
4. Reflect upon strategies that develop, maintain and evaluate systems and structures to promote the rights, responsibilities and diversity of service users in their setting.

Graduate attributes: Discipline Expertise

Knowledge and understanding of chosen field. Possess a range of skills to operate within this sector, have a keen awareness of current developments in working practice being well positioned to respond to change.

This assessment is worth 100% of the total marks for the module.

Question 1

Using specific examples from own practice to support your discussion, make a case for why care settings must achieve the best possible outcome for users off service in their care. Note: Also consider the advantages of outcome-based care, challenges experienced in implementing it in your practice. Are there success stories or case studies to share?

Question 2

With reference to a relevant team development and motivation theory, critically discuss the performance of teams in managing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in care settings. Note: Consider using CQI tools and frameworks to support your critical debate.

Question 3

Using a recognised reflective model or tool, evaluate strategies, systems and structures used in health and social care practices to promote the rights, responsibilities and diversity of service users.

Note: Consider the role of critical reflection in evaluating strategies, systems, structures and policies in supporting the principles of support for working in Health and Social Care.

You have the opportunity to submit a draft assignment to receive formative feedback. The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work and it helps you developyour skills as an independent learner.

If you are a distance learning student, you should submit your work, by email, to your tutor, no later than 2 weeks before the actual submission deadline. If you are a blended learning student, your tutor will give you a deadline for formative feedback and further details. Formative feedback will not be given to work submitted after the above date or the date specified by your tutor - if a blended learning student.

Student Guidelines

You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate andwide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvardsystem.

The My Study Skills Area on iLearn contains useful resources relating to referencing. You must use the AU Harvard Referencing method in your assignment.

Question 1

Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment. The word count excludes the title page, tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, referencelist and appendices. Where assessment questions have been reprinted from the assessment brief these will also be excluded from the word count. ALL other printed words ARE included in the word count. See ‘Word Count Policy’ on the homepage of this module for more information.

An exceptional knowledge base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical considerations. The work demonstrates extraordinary independence of thought and originality. There is exceptional management of learning resources and a high degree of autonomy is demonstrated which goes above and beyond the brief. The work demonstrates intellectual originality and creativity. Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, outstanding professional skills are demonstrated. The work is original and with some additional effort could be considered for internal publication.

An excellent information base within which the discipline is explored and analysed. There is considerable originality in the approach and the work demonstrates confidence and autonomy and extends to consider ethical issues. Learning resources have been managed with exceptional confidence and the work exceeds the assessment brief.

Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, an excellent level of professional skills are demonstrated and the  work demonstrates a high level of intellectual and academic skills.

A very good knowledge base which explores and analyses the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical issues. There is evidence of some originality and independence of thought. A very good range of learning resources underpin the work and there is clear evidence of self-directed research. The work demonstrates the ability to analyse the subject and apply theory with good academic and intellectual skills. Academic writing skills are good, expression is accurate overall and the work is consistently referenced throughout.

A satisfactory understanding of the discipline which supports some analysis, evaluation and problem-solving within the discipline. There may be reference to some of the ethical considerations. The work shows a sound level of competence in managing basic sources and materials. Academic writing skills are good and accurate overall and the work is planned and structured with some thought. Professional skills are satisfactory (where appropriate). The work may lack originality but academic and  intellectual skills are moving into the critical domain. The work is referenced throughout.

Basic level of performance in which there are some omissions in the understanding of the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. There is little evidence of independent thought and the work shows a basic use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are limited. The work may lack structure overall. There are some difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). There is an attempt to reference the work.

A limited piece of work in which there are clear gaps in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows a limited use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are weak and there are errors in expression and the work may lack structure overall. There are difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought and is largely imitative.