Reflecting on Workplace Practice

Self-Reflection:

Work Diary: Keep a record of daily activities during work experience, including details about tasks, animals worked with and encountered challenges.
Feedback and Reviews: Regularly seek feedback from supervisors or colleagues to understand areas of strength and those requiring improvement.
Personal SWOT Analysis: Evaluate personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) in terms of skills, knowledge, and attitude.
Identifying Personal Development Needs: Acknowledge gaps in personal capability and plan strategies for improvement.

Legal Compliance: Regularly consider whether work undertaken complies with current animal welfare legislation.
Animal Behaviour: Reflect on interaction with animals, and identifies instances where behaviour may indicate distress or discomfort.
Observing Animal Health: Develop skill in observing and detecting indicators of potential health issues, e.g. changes in behaviour, feeding or movement.

Communication with Colleagues: Reflect on interactions with co-workers and contemplate how effective communication improves the welfare of animals.
Following Procedures and Policies: Consider the importance of and adherence to procedures and policies in practical animal care.
Ethical Considerations: Reflect on situations where ethical dilemmas arise, and explores how these were or could have been addressed.

Professional Development: Regularly update knowledge on industry developments, new research findings, and innovative practices in animal care.
Implementing New Learning: Implement informed changes in workplace practice following research or feedback.
Goal Setting: Regularly set and review personal and professional objectives based on reflections.

Respecting Differences: Reflect on interactions with different cultures, backgrounds, or belief systems within the workplace, and consider the importance of inclusivity.
Equal Opportunities for Animals: Reflect on whether all animals are being given equal attention, respect, and care.
Addressing Biases: Identify any personal biases that impact treatment of animals and ensures they do not affect professional practice.

Risk Assessments: Reflect on knowledge of risk assessments and their importance in maintaining a safe work environment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Evaluate personal use of PPE, and the improvements it brings to personal safety and the well-being of animals.
First Aid: Assess the importance and personal knowledge of First Aid in an animal care setting.