BTEC Level 4 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship
Gerrard Fletcher
Unit 1
Skills for Lifelong Learning.
1.1: Discuss the qualities of an independent learner.
The qualities/characteristics of an independent learner are;
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Organisational Skills - Skills that allow you to use your resources efficiently and effectively. Being organized
means you manage your time and energy well and can accomplish all your assigned tasks. Being mentally and
physically prepared for study.
Time Management - Organizing and planning how to divide your time between projects. Good time
management enables you to work smarter so that you get more done in less time, even when time is tight and
you are under high amounts of pressure.
Motivation - Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviours.
Strong Reading and Writing Skills - Improving upon existing reading and writing skills to study more efficiently,
e.g. using the contents page, using the index, writing notes and marking pages.
“Students with high self-esteem and at a comfortable level with academic performance are more likely to become
independent learners.” - Academy, A., 2021. 7 Characteristics of Independent Learners - Alpha Omega Academy.
1.2: Evaluate information from a variety of sources.
Examining information from different sources is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the
information provided. Common evaluation criteria;
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Purpose – Is the information relevant to the topic being researched?
Intended audience – Is the information meant for the general population to evaluate? Or is the information
purely meant for academic peers? In which case the information may be too specialist to understand for lay
people.
Authority – E.g. who is the author, are they a part of a professional organisation or government agency also the
authors qualifications and experience.
Accuracy and reliability – Is the information from a credible website/source? E.g. Scientific papers, academic
institutions, government agencies.
Timeline – Is the information fairly recent? Can the information still be applied? Has newer technology/research
made the information obsolete?
Objectivity/Bias – Does the information contain opinions or state facts? Does the author/website have a vested
interest in the information provided or research carried out? E.g. Scientists doing research on new drugs who
are sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that produces the drug, this can introduce bias and affect the
results of the study.
1.3: Incorporate information into study and working practice.
When completing audits I have to produce a form of report that then has to be presented to the quality and
management team. In this meeting we will discuss the rationale for the audit, my findings from the audit, and any nonconformities from the audit and then produce a plan to correct the non-conformities.
At other meetings such as the Human Tissue Authority meeting that I attend I need to be able to take effective notes for
any actions that I am required to resolve.
1.4: Present work in a range of formats.
*Evidenced - Mapped off by TC*
1.5: Interpret information using numbers and charts.
An important part of daily laboratory work is ensuring that the temperatures of certain equipment is within the correct
range. To do this we use a software application that receives regular updates from the sensors in the equipment to
update the app with the most recent temperature reading, this information then has to be interpreted and signed off as
being within range or if not in range then the issue has to be investigated and corrected. Temperatures are taken
manually if any malfunctions occur.
1.6: Use information and communication technology (ICT) effectively in study and working practice.
*Evidenced - Mapped off by TC*
1.7: Explain own approach to solving problems.
I recently found an incident involving the specimen disposal where a specimen hadn’t been put into the Laboratory
Information Management System (LIMS) correctly, the specimen had been entered as ‘all embedded’ into the system
but in fact, the specimen was on the shelf in the specimen store, this is a serious problem because according to the
Human Tissue Authority we are only authorised to keep specimens for 4 weeks post-authorisation however this
specimen had been kept for around 8 weeks. Had this incident not been discovered and found at an inspection the
laboratory could face very serious consequences. As soon as I discovered the incident I immediately informed the senior
management and proceeded to dispose of the specimen and update the LIMS to reflect that the specimen was ‘partially
embedded’ and that it had now been disposed of. To try to stop this incident from recurring the senior management did
a non-conformity with the person who made the incident and informed the whole team to be extra careful when
entering data into LIMS and performing specimen disposal. This incident would have been reviewed again in 3 months
as part of the Causative Action Preventative Action (CAPA) Review. If this problem arose again I would report it to the
senior management who would update the Non-Conformity to show that the CAPA did not work and proceed to
investigate further actions to prevent the incident from occurring again.
1.8: Explain the importance of critical reflection to support personal development.
We reflect all of the time, most often when we think back about something that happened and imagine how we might
do it differently next time. Critical reflection is similar but more formal, it requires careful consideration on how events
and experiences have led to personal growth and how we might think or act differently in the future as a result. For a
reflection to be critical we must make connections between what happened, what we learned from that experience and
then how we would apply that learning in the future.
1.9: Explain the need and requirements for Continuing Professional Development.
As a healthcare professional, I am expected to participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a way of
tracking the skills, knowledge and experience that I gain as I work. CPD can be any activity in which I feel I have learnt
something new and/or something I can apply to my working practices. Within my department this CPD is used as part of
our annual Personal Development Review (PDR), this shows to my PDR reviewer that I am making an effort to maintain
and develop my knowledge, skills and experience to better myself and benefit my department. I am also expected to
maintain an up to date CPD record as part of my Associate Institute of Biomedical Science membership. I record all of my
CPD via an index which is kept within my training portfolio.
Below is an index of my CPD from 2019/2020 in which I have met the requirements of a minimum of one CPD activity
every 3 months.
2.1: Explain the term plagiarism and the different forms plagiarism can take.
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by using it in your
work without full acknowledgement. This can be intentional or unintentional, both are punished.
Type of Plagiarism
Description
Mosaic/Patchwork
Plagiarism
When someone else’s work is paraphrased without proper citation/referencing but words
are changed and synonyms are used to try and make the work seem original.
Paraphrasing
Plagiarism
The most common form of plagiarism. Similar to the above type but efforts are not made to
make the paraphrased work seem original.
Complete Plagiarism
More common in academic writing. This is when someone tries to submit an entire piece of
work that has been copied & pasted, the only thing that gets changed is the author’s name.
Self-Plagiarism/AutoPlagiarism
This is when someone copies their work, whether intentional or not. Often they are trying to
repurpose their work instead of creating a new original piece of work on the same topic. This
type of plagiarism can be as damaging as any of the others.
Accidental Plagiarism
Plagiarism isn’t always on purpose, accidental plagiarism is when someone copies another
piece of work without citing a source, improperly citing a source or accidentally leaving out
quotation marks.
Source-Based
Plagiarism
Source-Based Plagiarism is when a piece of work has quotes from two different sources but
only one of the sources receives proper credit, another example is when sources are nonexistent or incorrect.
2.2: Explain the consequences of plagiarism in the context of academic work, work-based assessment and Good
Scientific Practice.
Committing plagiarism can incur one or more of the following;
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Destruction of reputation (Personal, Academic or Professional)
Legal Repercussions
Formal Warning
Public Shaming
Assignment Rejection
No mark for the work
No opportunity to re-submit work
Failing the course
Loss of degree
Expulsion
2.3: Discuss the use and abuse of plagiarism software.
Plagiarism software can be a great tool to aid institutions to be able to deal with rising numbers of plagiarism incidents,
the rationale for using plagiarism software is to detect plagiarism incidents, detect plagiarism incidents, help adopt
proper learning practices, help build a reputation and to treat all students fairly.
Plagiarism incidents can be addressed by changing the way assessment is conducted, one method would be to use
authentic assessment, which engages the students in the learning process and requires personal reflection. Another
method would be to create a unique assignment that would not be available from past curriculums, and by including
unique requirements and changing those requirements each semester. Additionally, students should be taught values,
how to handle pressure, and the customs of authors as part of their course of studies so they understand why it is
important to use their own words.
3.1: Explain the different methods for referencing information sources.
There are two parts to referencing: the citations within the text of a piece of work and the reference list at the end of a
piece of work.
There are many styles of referencing; the two most common systems are author and date (e.g. Harvard) and numeric
(e.g. Vancouver). Styles differ between institutions so it is important to check which styles are preferred by the
institution you are creating work for.
Author and date system.
In the text use the surname of the author(s) and the year of publication.
References should then be listed alphabetically by the author at the end of the work, with the year of publication placed
immediately after the author's name.
When referencing more than one work by the same author you can distinguish between them by adding letters after the
year e.g. (Turner, 1998a) and (Turner, 1998b)
When quoting directly from a work, enclose the text in quotation marks. You must include the page number(s) of the
quotation.
Example of author and date style:
Lieber, L. and Lieber, H., 1964. The Einstein theory of relativity. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Numeric System
In the numeric system of referencing, numbers inserted in the text refer to a numerical sequence of references at the
end. The first reference is numbered 1, the second 2, and so on. The numbers can be written in superscript or in
brackets.
When quoting directly from a work, enclose the text in quotation marks. You must include the page number(s) of the
quotation.
Example of numeric style:
1. Lieber L, Lieber H. The Einstein theory of relativity. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston; 1964.
3.2: Demonstrate the ability to reference information sources.
*Evidenced - Mapped off by TC*
4.1: Explain the importance of maintaining own health and well-being.
I believe it’s important to take care of my health because taking care of myself allows me to enjoy a better quality of life.
Health problems can interfere with other parts of my life even minor health problems such as lethargy or aches and
pains. Poor health habits can reduce your quality of life short-term but also contribute to a lesser quality of life in the
long term and can even lead to major health issues later on in life such as diabetes and heart disease.
4.2: Explain measures taken to maintain own health.
Mental health should be maintained as well as physical health, mental health issues can be just as if not more disrupting
to my quality of life. Currently, I do not suffer from any mental health issues however I do have some practices that help
me prevent mental health issues as well as contribute to maintaining my physical health. The following are activities I
incorporate into my life to maintain my physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing;
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Socialising with family and friends both in real life and virtually.
Regular walking both with friends/family and alone.
Getting a good quality and good amount of sleep every night.
Having structure in work and at home, e.g. Cleaning, Re-Organizing, Decluttering, Updating Calendars and To-Do
Lists.
Visiting the beach.
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Listening to music.
4.3: Discuss obstacles to own development as an effective learner and practitioner.
*Evidenced – Discussion completed with TC*
4.4: Undertake measures to overcome potential obstacles.
*Evidenced – Discussion completed with TC*
4.5: Explain the support mechanisms that are available to learners.
*Evidenced – Discussion completed with TC*