Career Goals

In this personal development plan, I will discuss why I preferred to study a degree in Health and Social Care and why this is essential to me. I will also talk about my 3 SMART goals which are short term, medium term and long term goals; however I will use SWOT analysis to identifying my strengths and weaknesses, opportunity and threats. Also, I will review the gaps in my skills and involvements in my CV, my learning needs and networking will be evaluated. 

I have passion in support individual who are vulnerable especially children, older people and individual who are physically disabled. Personally I like to put a smile on people face. In other to carry out this duty in a professional manner I decided to educate myself and prepare for more challenging ahead. Being a support work is hard enough without training so as a future manager in a care setting I felt it will be unwise not to be educated to a level where I can be comfortable to work with other professional. It is my plan to be able to train other in this industry too. 

A grade in Health and Social Care will creates an opportunity for me to obtain my dreams and create support towards obtain assurance fashionable interactive through training my colleagues. Degree in health and social care (HSC) will motivate me and give me some important understanding of guidelines and ideas to work and train in Health and Social Care Sector.  At this moment my ultimate goal is to complete an appropriate university discipline and acquire knowledge that will offer me the assurance to contribute importantly to the development of care industry. It is my dream to work toward an advanced level in my employment, career and profession. However, equally certain positions must be sure at level of academic qualification as a requirement. I will not want poor academic qualification to be an impediment to my career, even when I feel I am capable of doing the work.

What are your career goals? Identify one short term, one medium term and one long term SMART goal that relate to your career aspirations, (beyond successful completion of your degree). 

The main reason of personal development is to acquiring new skills, updating practice, learning, and career development. Whether you are employee, employer, self-employed and a student, Personal Professional Development (PPD) is very significant to everyone. 

Short Term Career Goal

Personal development plan is very significant to my career as a health care worker or a student of Health and Social care professional. This can be long term, medium term, short term. 

In the short term plan of my career I want to be care manager. I need to acquire some advanced skills and techniques, such as effective way to solve a particular problem, conducting interview, outstanding negotiation skill, organizational structure development skills, employee salary structure development skills, develop retail and recruitment policy and advanced budgeting skills. I am planning to acquire all the skills before I move on to my final year.  

I want to be a compliant manager I need to develop certain skills and knowledge that are necessary for my career, such as communication skills, decision making skill, leadership skill, prioritizing skill, motivational skill, valuing other people, analysis skill, delegating skill and reporting skill,  IT skills, improving presentation skills, learning human resources management, negotiation policy, being well-mannered, learning people’s psychology, knowing different types of acts and legislations related to health and social care, making appropriate decision, acquiring knowledge about medicine, improving communication skills and gaining better leadership skills can be included to my personal development plan (Study Mode 2015). After achieving these skills, I need to make a proper plan for my future career progression plan. 

In 2021, I want to be a director of a care company. I believe I have what it takes to be a capable director. In order to achieve my goal, I will learn the management process and the way it can be done effectively. I hope I can reach my aim within the tenure of five years. In order to do so, I will utilize my potentials and skills to learn and gain experience as much as I can from my short term and medium term goals. I believe that with the help of hard work, devotion I can achieve this objective. I will perform all the responsibilities and duties which will be given to me. I will give importance to the interests of the employees and staffs who will be working under me. I will try my best to promote the goodwill of the organization, ensuring the organization gets the success it deserves. I will help to establish relationship with the customers and the other business clients. I will ensure that the reputation of the organization is kept constant and the high level of service of the care company is maintained throughout. I will provide the necessary care which is demanded from the director of a care company and proper diligence and skill I will observe all the important functions and operations which needs to be conducted. I will give my best to prevent any kind of tension or conflict which may arise between the working members the company. With proper sense and rationale of justice and equality I will maintain the transparency (Basole et al. 2013, p.552). I will supervise and encourage training and development sessions necessary for the employees. I will always strive for further improvement and development.  

Medium Term Career Goal

Briefly outline your rationale as to how these goals will lead you in successfully achieving your goals.   

SWOT analysis (Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) 

In addition to your listing for each heading of the SWOT analysis, write a short narrative for each area as to how the things you have identified relate to your career goals. 

My Strengths: 

• Communication skill
• Team work
• Academics qualification 

Communication is one of my forte. I like to communicate and interact with people and try to understand the problems and requirements which the people need. This characteristic is very much needed for an individual who wants to become the director of a care company. Communication and establishing relationship with the employees, the customers or the health users and the other business clients is one of the major task of the director. The responsibility of the promotion of the reputation and then goodwill of the company rests on the shoulders of the director. I believe in team work and have worked with teams to participate in volunteer work in several communities (Pollack, 2017, p.61). The director also needs this quality. This is because the individual has to look after the well-being of the patients as well as the employees (Denton, B.T., 2013, p.10). The director needs to understand and work cooperatively with the employees to enable the company to provide the best effective service to the health users. In order to get the designation of the director it is necessary to have a certain background of academic qualification which is essential to fit in the role of this prestigious post.  

My Weaknesses:

• Academics writing skills
• Management skills
• ICT skills
• Time management
• Presentation skills 

In terms of weakness I have to admit my lack of proper written skills. However, I am working on it for improvement. This sis because writing ability is necessary to frame important decisions or to give important documents which is needed to conduct business operations and also for the internal operations. My management skill lacks the standard level which I have to improve for the better. This quality is required to manage the team of working members in an organized and efficient manner. I have to learn how to maintain a balance of relationship with the employees and the customers. This quality is also needed to maintain the peaceful existence of the company which is very much essential to maintain the peaceful environment of the workplace, especially necessary for the care company. ICT (information technology skills) is very much essential which the potential director needs to know (Huppertzn et al. 2014, p.197). However, I am not tech savvy hence I have to be aware of this particular skill. I lack the skill of time management which is another aspect of my weakness and I need to work on this shortcoming. Timed management skill is very much important to properly handle all the tasks and responsibilities of the director. In terms of providing presentation I have my weakness and therefore I need to develop this skill. The director of the care company possesses the task of providing valuable suggestions concerning training and development sessions, planning of important events which needs to be considered.    

Long Term Career Goal

My Opportunities: 

• Family commitment
• Maturity
• Career
  Prospect 

However, to some extent I have certain level of opportunities which I hope to utilize to enter in this responsible field. I have 3 kids at home and I have the responsibility of manage the kids. This daily experience at home can be very useful to let me know about time management and handling critical circumstances. The sector of healthcare provides a lot of opportunities to those people who are willing to work for the betterment and the development of the wellbeing of the society and the people. I have acquired certain level of maturity to acknowledge and understand the limitation which I possess. However, with this I also have the sense the sense with the help of which I can overcome my limitations with proper devotion and commitment to work in the sector.

My Threats:

• Age
• Distraction
• Shortage of funds 

Considering the factor of distraction, I should state the usual tendency to mix and confuse the two aspects of life, personal and professional. If a proper balance is not maintained between these two aspects of life, then it can become a potential threat which can hamper both the personal and professional life (Chen et al. 2014, p.753). Taking into account the present economic condition of the nation, my age can be a threat to get employment. The expense of the projects or programs which are needed in this sector can be a problem due my shortage of funds.

What are the gaps in skills and experience for the career that you have in mind?  

It is true that I do not have the required academic skill of writing which can create a problem for my career problem. Hence this issue I am striving to resolve as early as I can. The amount or the knowledge of management skills which I possess is not sufficient for the career which I have selected for myself. Therefore, I need to work on these shortcomings. ICT skills or the capability of computing is something with which I am not much comfortable. However, in present times, this quality is very much needed so I am trying to educate myself in this field. The art of presentation is another aspect in which I have to improve. In spite of possessing these shortcoming I believe that I can overcome these obstacles with necessary hard work to commitment to do better work by utilizing my strengths.     

What do I need to learn? (What areas of knowledge, skills and experience do I need to address to achieve the learning outcomes?)	What will I do to achieve this? (What activities will I  undertake to gain this knowledge, skills and experience in my practice base learning or elsewhere?)	What evidence will I provide to show that I have succeeded? What is the target date?
I need to have a high level of confidence in terms of communication, both verbal and written.	In order to attain the objectives of learning I must be involved in the practice of reading and writing. I have to put the necessary report in the practice sessions with the accompany of my children and peers.	I hope to show my level of communication improvement within the end of the year 2015.
I need to acquire the knowledge which is essential to know more about the sector of health and social care. In order to do this, how detailed analysis can be conducted.	Detained research will be necessary, for the purpose I will try to come across and read as many relevant journals and articles as possible along with the database which is provided in the google scholar and other authentic sites of healthcare.	I hope to improve the standard of my grades within the end of 2018.
I have to gain further the experience of professionalism in the sector of healthcare.	I hope to attain necessary training and development session and to engage myself in practical situation to level my professionalism aspect.	I hope this objective is fulfilled by 2018.
I need to acquire the experience involved in patient care.	I have thought of assisting with the doctors and health providers to get first-hand experience in the field of patient care.	I will fulfil this objective within 2017.
I have to know how to know and find better ways to interact with the employees in a way which can increase the effectivity of the care company	In order to gain this objective, I will try to hold conversation with the employees and the care staffs to know their suggestions and opinions regarding the particular work structure.	I will fulfill this goal within 2016. Feedback can be obtained from the employees with whom I have interacted.
I should use the challenging and critical situations as opportunities with the help of which I can enhance my capability of professionalism.	I hope to work as an assistant under the director of a care company son that I can observe, handle and know the method of resolving conflicts and issues.	Opinions regarding my learning can be achieved from the director and the officials with whom I will be working.

Name and details of network	Type and overview of network	Rationale for including this network	What’s your involvement?	How will you evaluate the effectiveness of this network?
Facebook	Social networking sites	It has helped me to look for relevant pages related to healthcare	I have provided valid suggestions and comments	Very useful to know about different communities and groups
YouTube	Social sites	Information regarding healthcare	I have made relevant videos	Helpful to get proper guidance
Google Scholar	For peer reviewed journals	In-depth knowledge about the sector	Reading and gaining information and data	Helpful to get theoretical knowledge
Home	Wharton University	Management of healthcare	Have taken part in the communication process	Helpful to get genuine information and idea

Reference List

Huppertz, J.W., Strosberg, M., Burns, S. and Chaudhri, I., (2014). The uniqueness of US healthcare management: A linguistic analysis of competency models and application to health administration education. Journal of Health Administration Education, 31(3), pp.197-214.

Basole, R.C., Bodner, D.A. and Rouse, W.B., (2013). Healthcare management through organizational simulation. Decision Support Systems, 55(2), pp.552-563.

Denton, B.T., (2013). Handbook of healthcare operations management. Springer.

Pollack, M.D., (2017). Faculty Introduction: Genesis of the Anthology & This Issue. Reflections on Healthcare Management, 1(1), p.3.

Chen, H., Cheng, B.C., Liao, G.T. and Kuo, T.C., (2014). Hybrid classification engine for cardiac arrhythmia cloud service in elderly healthcare management. Journal of Visual Languages & Computing, 25(6), pp.745-753.