Reflective Practice

Definition and Importance of Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is a process of evaluating one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to understand and improve upon them.
It promotes self-awareness by encouraging individuals to examine what they did, why they did it, and how they can improve.
It is a vital aspect of providing care in adult care settings, leading to improved standards of care and personal professional growth.

Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (1988): This model consists of six stages - Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action plan. It encourages thinking about these aspects after a situation or event.
Kolb’s Reflective Model (1984): This model focuses on the concept of Experiential Learning, structured around four stages - Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualisation, and Active Experimentation.

It aids in identifying strengths and weaknesses in caregiving and helps tailor care plans to individual needs.
Reflective practice supports continuous learning and development; it ensures care skills are up-to-date and relevant.
It strengthens problem-solving abilities and allows more effective and efficient care delivery.
Incorporating reflective practice fosters empathy and emotional intelligence, enhancing the quality of care provided to adults.

Reflecting can be challenging due to time constraints, emotional toll, and difficulty in admitting mistakes.
Strategies to overcome these challenges include setting aside regular time for reflection, seeking support from mentors or colleagues, and fostering a non-judgemental and supportive culture where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities.

Journaling is a widely used method to document reflective practices. It involves writing down thoughts, feelings and insights after a situation or event in care delivery.
Group discussions and feedback sessions can also be used for shared reflection among care professionals.
Documentation provides a record of learning and growth over time and can serve as evidence of personal development in a care provider’s portfolio.