Explain the importance of reflective practice in continuously improving the quality of service provided

An essential skill in developing your practice is self-reflection.

This involves taking time out to think about the work you have done, the situations you have managed and the decisions you have made. You should assess your practice objectively and honestly and think about how you were feeling at the time. By doing this, you can draw conclusions about your performance; what you did well and what you could improve.

Reflective practice is used to link what you know with what you do. If you wish to research this subject further, check out studies by Kolb and Gibbs.

In summary, the reflective process is:

1. Think about what you did
2. Think about what you did well and what you did not-so-well
3. Decide what you would do differently if you were confronted with a similar situation again
4. Decide if you require any further learning to improve your practice

Reflective practice should be performed regularly to ensure that you are improving the service that you provide.