In this topic we review and evaluate aims of the health and wellbeing sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. We also review and evaluate the challenges posed by the aims and other factors as well as exploring ways to manage them.
Reviewing the Aims
New Zealand’s health and wellbeing sector has key goals aimed at improving care for everyone, particularly Māori, Pasifika, and other underserved communities. You’ve already explored these aims in our first module. The aims are:
- Equitable Health Outcomes: Aiming to reduce health disparities, particularly for Māori, Pasifika, disabled and other vulnerable groups.
- Improving Health Outcomes: Enhance overall health outcomes for all New Zealanders
- Voice at the Heart of the System: Ensure that people, whānau, and communities have greater control and influence over health decisions and how services are designed
- Person- and Whānau-Centred Care: Ensuring that health services are tailored to meet the needs of individuals and their whānau.
- Integrated Care: Promoting better coordination between health services and social services to provide holistic care.
- Preventative Care and Health Promotion: Shifting the focus from treating illness to promoting wellness, reducing the burden on the healthcare system.
- A Learning Culture: Promote continuous learning, quality improvement, and innovation within the health system
Evaluating the Aims
Let’s explore and evaluate how these aims influence and guide your everyday work as a support worker. To do this, complete the reflection activity in the following documentation tool.
H5P here
Mahi pai -good work! That activity required a lot of deep thinking. If you found it challenging, don’t worry—let’s explore some possible answers to compare with your own ideas. Click the expand button to view these answers and see how they align with your thoughts. You may want to update your notes based on what you discover.
How the aims of the health and wellbeing sector influence your role
Aim 1: Equitable Health Outcomes
To ensure everyone gets the care they need, I could start by learning about the services available in my area. I can help people find the right healthcare providers and services. If someone is struggling to get help, I could offer to assist them in making appointments or navigating the health system. It's important to listen to their needs and advocate for them to receive the care they deserve.
Aim 2: Improving Health Outcomes
I can improve health outcomes by encouraging healthy habits like eating nutritious food and staying active. I might suggest simple exercises or fun activities that promote physical health. Additionally, I can help people understand the importance of regular check-ups with their doctors and support them in accessing these services, ensuring they stay healthy.
Aim 3: Voice at the Heart of the System
I can make sure that the people I support and their families are involved by asking for their opinions and listening to their preferences. I can create a welcoming space for them to express their thoughts. For example, during care planning meetings, I could encourage them to share what they want and help them feel confident in making choices about their care.
Aim 4: Person- and Whānau-Centred Care
These aims guide me to be respectful and attentive in my interactions. I will focus on listening carefully to the people I support and their whānau. I can ask open-ended questions to understand their needs better and show empathy in my responses. This way, I can provide care that is tailored to their unique situations.
Aim 5: Integrated Care
Working closely with other professionals is important for providing the best support. I can share information about the people I support with their permission, so everyone is on the same page. Good communication skills, like being clear and respectful, will help me cooperate with others. Teamwork allows us to create a better care plan that includes all aspects of a person's health.
Aim 6: Preventative Care and Health Promotion
To promote wellness, I could look for information about healthy living and share it with the people I support. I might suggest they speak with health professionals about their concerns. I can also offer encouragement by celebrating their small successes, like when they try a new healthy food or engage in physical activity. Supportive words can motivate them to continue making healthy choices.
Aim 7: A Learning Culture
I can take part in continuous learning by reading articles and attending workshops about new healthcare practices. Asking for feedback from my supervisors or experienced colleagues can help me identify areas for improvement. I can also participate in training sessions to learn new skills that will enhance the quality of care I provide to the people I support.
The aims of the health and wellbeing sector are designed to guide everyone working in the field, including support workers, in delivering the best possible care and services. By integrating these aims, we can enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities across New Zealand.
Now that you have a deeper understanding of these aims and their influence on the role of support workers, we will explore the challenges you may encounter in the workplace and how these challenges can impact your work.
Kia haere tonu tātou- Let’s continue to our next section of learning.
Understanding the challenges within the health and wellbeing sector can provide valuable insights into your role as a support worker. As mentioned in our previous leaning, some of these challenges come from the aims of the health and wellbeing sector themselves, while others come from outside factors such as workforce shortages. Workforce shortages can significantly impact your work by leading to increased demands, expanded duties and responsibilities. These challenges may affect the quality of care you provide and how effectively you can support the individuals and families you work with.
We have previously identified the challenges you might face as a support worker as:
- Workforce Shortages
- Equitable Health Outcomes
- Funding and Resource Constraints
- Collaboration and Integration
- Cultural Competence
- Professional Development
- Emotional Impact
It would be a good idea to refresh your understanding of these challenges now by going back to module 1. Navigate to the topic ‘Introduction to the Support Worker Role’, and then to the subtopic of “Aims, Challenges and Impacts’ . Under this section you will find our discussion on the challenges and their impacts. This will help you for the next activity.
Evaluating the Challenges and Impacts
In this next learning activity, we will build on our previous discussions by examining the impacts of the challenges faced in the health and wellbeing sector. You will have the opportunity to describe these impacts and explore potential strategies for managing them.
This activity encourages you use your critical thinking skills, helping you to evaluate the challenges more deeply. By considering both the impacts and the management strategies, you are not only enhancing your understanding of these issues but also preparing yourself for your future role as a support worker.
This is also an opportunity to practice and develop your skills in learning and reflective thinking, which are essential for effective problem-solving in the workplace.
So, put on your learning caps, and let’s get started!
H5P here
How did you go with those pātai-questions? Compare your thoughts to the model answers below, there might be some other useful strategies for overcoming the challenges that you can add to your own notes.
Strategies for Managing Challenges in Support Work:
Workforce Shortages
Q1: Workforce shortages make it harder for support workers because they may need to care for more people or work longer hours. This can lead to tiredness, stress, and less time to spend with each person, which could affect the quality of care and support.
Q2: To manage this challenge, support workers could focus on staying organised by keeping a daily checklist and prioritising tasks. It’s also important for them to take regular breaks, look after their own wellbeing, and reach out for support when needed.
Equitable Health Outcomes
Q1: Achieving equitable health outcomes can be challenging because each person has unique needs. Support workers may need to adjust their approach to make sure everyone, especially those from different backgrounds, receives fair care. This can take extra time and sensitivity.
Q2: Support workers can manage this by learning about the backgrounds and needs of the people they work with. They can ask questions to understand people’s preferences and look for ways to ensure everyone feels respected and supported.
Funding and Resource Constraints
Q1: A lack of funding or resources can make it harder for support workers to do their jobs because there may not be enough equipment, time, or staff to meet everyone’s needs. This can affect the quality of care people receive.
Q2: Support workers could try to use available resources wisely by planning carefully and prioritising essential tasks. They can also communicate with other services to find extra resources or support that might be available.
Collaboration and integration
Q1: Working closely with other health and social service teams can be challenging because it requires good communication and planning. Support workers need to make sure they’re coordinating well with others to provide seamless care.
Q2: To improve collaboration, support workers could make an effort to communicate clearly and keep records organised. Regular check-ins with other teams or professionals can also help everyone stay on the same page.
Cultural Competence
Q1: Support workers may find it difficult to achieve cultural competence because it involves understanding different values, beliefs, and practices. This can be challenging when working with people from diverse backgrounds.
Q2: To develop cultural competence, support workers can take time to learn about different cultures, ask respectful questions, and keep an open mind. Training and self-reflection can also help them become more aware of their own biases and improve their approach.
Professional Development
Q1: Keeping up with professional development can be hard for support workers, as it takes time and effort to learn new skills while managing a busy workload. They might also face challenges finding access to courses or training.
Q2: Support workers can manage this by setting aside small amounts of time for learning and looking for flexible learning options, like online courses. They could also speak with supervisors about opportunities to develop skills on the job.
Emotional Impact
Q1: The emotional side of support work can be challenging because dealing with difficult situations or seeing people in distress can be hard to handle. This can sometimes lead to feelings of stress or sadness for support workers.
Q2: Support workers can take care of their mental health by talking with others about their feelings, practising relaxation techniques, and setting boundaries to ensure they’re not taking on too much. Seeking support from a supervisor or mentor can also be helpful.
End of Topic
Great stuff, you have completed another topic in this module. Evaluating how the sector’s aims and challenges influence your role is not just an academic exercise—it’s a vital part of growing in your profession. By reflecting on the connections between the sector’s goals and your own practice, have gained a deeper understanding of the impact you have and identify ways to enhance your effectiveness as a support worker.
Don’t’ miss our next topic on risk and risk management- another essential aspect of the support workers role that helps ensure safety and quality in all areas of practice.
