Professional Development and Ethics

Course details

The accredited course focuses on the role and responsibilities of the first line manager in the social care and non-profit sector. It examines the personal and professional skills and capabilities required to occupy this complex role.

As well as helping you develop your current skills and competencies the course will also allow you identify areas that you will need to develop in order to meet the challenges that come with working in a first line position.

Who Is This Course For?

The course is for current and prospective first line supervisors and managers who are looking to develop their management skills in an accredited programme created specifically for the social care and non-profit sector.

It is particularly suitable for people engaged in continuing professional development. You will receive 10 educational credits towards a Level 6 Applied Management award upon successful completion that can be used to gain further qualifications.

Learning Objectives

After completing the course you should be able to:

• Recognise your current strengths as a first-line manager and identify what areas you need to improve in
• Understand the multiple roles performed by a first line manager
• Explain the concept of information management

Discuss the following key management skills:

• Time Management
• Delegation
• Negotiation
• Managing meetings
• Managing stress

• Explain the role of ethics in human services and discuss the ethical factors that have to be considered when managing a service based on outcomes for vulnerable people

Contents

Unit 1: You & Your Role as Manager

• Your Role as an Individual
• Role Sets
• The Role of the Manager
• Formal & Informal Roles
• Role Issues – Ambiguity & Varieties of Conflict
• Reducing Role Conflict
• Personal Strengths & Weaknesses
• Being Effective & Efficient
• Interpersonal Styles – Push, Pull & Moving Away
• Push Styles – Aggression, Persuasion, Credibility, Assertiveness & Working with People
• Pull Styles – Questioning, Listening, Building Rapport & Common Ground
• Moving Away Styles – Submissive Behaviour & Disengagement

Unit 2: Communication

• Communication in Organisations – Functions & Purpose
• Communication Channels
• Communication Media
• Effective Communication
• Barriers to Communication
• The Communication Process
• Sending & Receiving Messages – Guidelines
• Skills for Effective Verbal Communication
• Effective Listening
• Giving & Receiving Feedback
• The 8 Rules of Giving Feedback
• The 3 Rules of Receiving Feedback
• Making a Presentation – Planning, Organising & Delivering a Presentation
• Presenting to Small & Large Groups
• Dealing with Anxiety
• Information Control

Unit 3: Personal Effectiveness

• Time Management – Using Your Time Effectively
• The Pareto Principle
• Prioritising & Evaluating Activities
• Planning
• Delegation – The Process & Pitfalls
• Effective Negotiation – The Position & Principled Approach
• Negotiation – The Process
• Negotiation Styles (Fisher & Ury)
• Strategies & Tactics
• Eight Critical Mistakes
• Effective Meetings – The Need & Benefits
• Running an Effective Meeting
• Managing Stress
• Identifying the Causes
• Management Strategies
• Stress Triggers

Assessment

To complete the course you will need to write a 2,000-word paper that explore the relationship between the course materials and your current role as a manager. Very much a practical assignment, it will provide you with the opportunity to evaluate and expand your working practices in an environment where you have access to expert advice and the support of professional contemporaries. Having this learning community provides an opportunity to extend your management abilities in a uniquely supportive environment.

Qualification

The course is certified by QQI/HETAC as a Level 6 Award. Successful participants will be awarded a single subject Certificate in Professional Development and Ethics. Successful candidates will hold 10 credits against the Certificate in Applied Management (Non profit/Human services).