Background of The British Heart Foundation
Practise based learning is an eminent feature of higher education. This helps the students to be acquainted with the real world setting and the technical skills required for practical implementation of the academic abilities.This paper aims in providing a detailed report of the placement job that was carried out in an attempt to provide practise based learning to the students related to the health and social care studies.My practise based learning had been conducted in the The British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop in Wood Green, London. The report discusses the background of the organization and the factor of the organization that needed to be assessed based on my subject knowledge.It further discusses the design and planning that needs to be carried out for assessing the need and the implementations that were required for the carrying out the project. Additionally the report states the evaluation that was done in the context of betterment of the organization as well as the impact it had on my personal skillset development, my academic abilities and professional virtue. As a conclusion it was evident that the practice based learning strategy worked well in order to introduce me to the real life situations that may arise during working as a professional in the health and social care arena in the future.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is recognized as one of the largest funder of cardiovascular research that is established in the United Kingdom. It is a charity organization that was founded in the year 1961 by some medical professionals (Bhf.org.uk. 2018). The British Heart Foundation was founded out of the concern of these medical professionals regarding the increased mortality rate of the population due to cardiovascular disease. They primarily aimed at collecting an extra research fund which will go into the research for the causes, the diagnosis, the treatment and the procedures that can implemented for the prevention of the heart diseases. This organization is acts as the major funder of the cardiovascular research. It also holds an authority over the education and the care that is provided in the context of cardiovascular diseases. BHF relies primarily on the voluntary donations that are made in the name of the organization to meet its objectives. The organization in order to increase its income and to elevate the impact of its work has joined hands with other such organizations to combat with the mortality rates, mainly the premature deaths that takes place as a result of the heart diseases (GOV.UK. 2018).
Services Provided by The British Heart Foundation
The major activities carried out by BHF includes cardiovascular research, funding almost 1000 research projects. In order to carry out sophisticated research the organization has been investing in Centres of Research Excellence. For the research the organization brings together researchers from different disciplines. The current centres of research of BHF includes the Imperial college of London, King’s college London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow and University of Oxford (nfpSynergy. 2018). Other services provided by BHF includes provision of information related to heart health problems, carrying out campaigns to implement policies that aim to reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease development. It also offers support to the patients who are searching for advice related to heart condition through the web media, information brochures or the heart helpline. BHF is also involved in providing free Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) kits to schools. The organization has been working with Department of health of the United Kingdom in order to distribute defibrillatorsthroughout the country (Just Giving Charity Support. 2018). The organization is involved in accepting donations stock and money and selling of these stocks in order to increase the income of the organization. According to reports, the British Heart Foundation had an annual income of around £133m in the year 2015. Of this £102.5 million was expended on funding the cardiovascular research and £30.8 million on prevention, survival and support activities organised by it (The Guardian. 2018).
The shop division of British Heart Foundation was founded in 1986, later this was renamed as Retail division in the year 2010. The organization runs a large chain of retail shops established all around England, Wales and Scotland which included 737 shops covering over 160 furniture and electrical shops.The British Heart Foundation were the first charity shops who started the Gift Aid by donating to get extra money by claiming the tax back from the donor.These shops are staffed by approximately 22500 volunteers headed by a shop manager and an assisted manager. BHF has over 950 health care professionals for patient care all over the United Kingdom. There has been over 3800 head start UK schemes to educate the people regarding the various emergency situation that can arise in case of cardiac emergencies (Bhf.org.uk. 2018).
There are about 10,000 charity shops in United Kingdom. This charity shops donate goods as agents of the donor. Before doing so they take written assent form the donors in order to know whether they want the proceeds of the sale to go into charity or not. This is the same case for Gift Aids. If the donor does not reply within 21 days, the Gift Aid can be claimed. The charities involved in Gift Aid should obtain a complete Gift Aid declaration (The Guardian. 2018). This scheme of Gift Aid works well for the charities like the British Heart Foundation but it requires a lot of paperwork. For carrying out the process a letter must be written after each sale. Initially the Gift Aid was intended only for cash donation only. However from the year 2006, Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs (HMRC) compliant system introduced a policy where it allowed tax on the income to be reclaimed, which is earned by the charity shops who act as the agents of the donors (GOV.UK. 2018). The charities need the HMRC-approved systemsto operate effectively. HMRC-approved systems are able to record and track the processing of each item from receipt to sale and confirm with the donor that the donation should still go ahead or not.
Gift Aid Scheme
During my practise based learning session I chose the project Gift Aid Filing within charity business for assessment. I had chosen this topic because this adds extra profit to the charity. The gift aid improvement projects is to provide better and easier access for the staff and the volunteers to look up a donor form since the suspension files containing the forms will be spread out more. This will also provide more space for more forms to be stored. The records that are needed to be kept in the shop are Gift Aid declaration received from donor, sold item record and letter/email copy that offers the proceeds back to the donor. A full audit trail needs to be maintained the declarations for the gift aids should contain state the donor’s name and home address, the name the charity, identifying the gift or gifts to which the declaration relates (for example, a particular donation or all donations) and confirmation that the identified gift or gifts are to be treated as Gift Aid donations (GOV.UK. 2018). In addition, for a Gift Aid declaration to be valid, the charity must provide a demonstration adequate enough to explain the donor about the personal tax implications associated with making a Gift Aid donation. This includes the responsibility to pay any difference (The Guardian. 2018). This explanation can be made separately which could be included on a Gift Aid declaration. It is mandatory that the declarations are given in writing which could include emails, fax or text messages. A declaration may cover a single donation or a number of donations. The donors can give the declaration prior to the donation, at the time of the donation, and at any time after the donation subject to the normal limit of time within which the tax is to be reclaimed (Just Giving Charity Support. 2018). However the HMRC doesn’t provide any official form for Gift Aid declarations, so a charity can design its own. However the HMRC website provides a model of Gift Aid declaration which is needs to be adapted by the charities. This reflects the period of Gift Aid donations.
For my project since I chose to work on Gift Aid filing within the charity business I would work to evaluate the current filing methods that is used by the organization in order to file the gift aids.Through planning I will also try to develop alternative methods which will help in better filing of the gift aids. This method which help the staff and the volunteers working at the British heart foundation to save time while processing the gift aid stocks (Brooksand Youngson2016).
Project Design and Planning
The design and planning will be made I away which will help me as well as the organization. The advantages of the project includes giving the opportunity to me as a worker to identify the current issues that the staff involved in the retail division of BHF is facing. It will also help to find out what the organization’s policies are with respect to filing of the sensitive information which will help me developing a better plan. The project will be based on the organization’s Wood Green shop because it is near to my locality, hence easily accessible. The design of the project planning will include methods which be provide better filing systems that is time saving for the staff. It will make sure that there is more available space for the gift aid forms to prepare for the future sign ups. This will also help to create a new layout which will be easier to look at and comprehend during the filing process. In order to maintain an auditable record of the declarations the charity shop must maintain a clear record. There should be evidences of the declarations that the HMRC accepts declaration written by the donor or a confirmation letter in the form of a checklist which the donor wants Gift Aid to apply. Apart from that it is also crucial to maintain the audio record of the declaration made by the donor. An audio recording of the declaration making by the donor or an audio recording confirming a declaration where the declaration is pre-recorded by the charity needs to be maintained (Allen et al. 2013). It could also be a computer record of a declaration template that contains all the links to the banking details of the donor, a computer ‘screen print’ of the declaration that is sent to the charity. Apart from that scanned image of a declaration along with a copy of a text message that confirms the declaration of the donor can act as evidence along with t a written record confirming their oral declaration, also act as evidences (Billett2014).
In order to maintain a well arranged declaration audit trail first the declarations needs to be segregated into the different types (Billett & Choy 2013). The types if declarations include oral gift aid declarations where the person taking the declaration on behalf of the charity must verbally recite the information already held by the charity and asks the donor to confirm it. An audible recording of the oral declaration needs to be maintained by the shop. Next is the joint declarations where the spouses or the civil partners or individuals staying together can make a joint declaration on the same form. These declarations should be maintained separately and not confused with other forms. Some donations are also made by a partnership which consists of individual who are treated as underlying partners. Declarations linked to sponsored events is another type where the money raised by sponsoring event doesn’t belong to the individual who’s being sponsored and it’s not their decision to give it as a Gift Aid donation. However, individual sponsors maygive personal donationsas Gift Aid. Lastly there is the charity collections where the money is raised from collections for a charity. For example, in case of workplace charity events, Gift Aids can be obtained only if the individuals have given Gift Aid declarations (GOV.UK. 2018).
The design and planning which was developed in accordance to the better filing procedure of the Gift Aid forms was implemented by me during carrying out the practice basedearning at BHF’s retail division in Wood Green shop the filing strategy that was designed was incompliance with the British heart foundation policy and current data protection legislation.In order to implement better ways of managing the declarations of the Gift Aid in the charity shop strategies needs to be implemented which will include firstly the proper arranging of the declarations. The gift aid declarations as already discussed are of different types. Therefore care should be taken to segregate these declarations according to the different types. The declarations contain the details of the donors like the name and address (Edwards 2014) The HMRC demands an auditable trail of the declarations therefore these declarations must be arranged in an ordered and systematic way so that the staffs and the employees will not have any problem in accessing these files when it is required.
Therefore during my project I took responsibility to arrange the files in an alphabetical order according to the name of the donors for each type of declaration. In case of gifts and other donations other than cash, the gift items were also properly segregated and arranged. The date of the donation was also taken into consideration when the arranging was done. It was also my duty as a volunteer to explain the donors the personal tax implications that came along with Gift Aid donation. While a declaration was being given by a donor I took initiative to provide the donor with a check list in which they could confirm that they wanted to avail the Gift Aid along with their donation (Danieland Daniel2013). In case of oral declarations a proper audio recording should be maintained. I made sure that in such cases the recording is done properly and that the pre-recorded declaration of the charity reaches the donors. A computer record of the record is also necessary according to the HMRC guidelines therefore I tried to make a declaration template that can be filled by the donor easily. This template contained the links which directed the donors to their banking details hence making the procedure quite easy for the donors. This system would also help the other staffs and employees who face a hard time dealing with these declarations (Helyerand Lee2014). The other staffs who were involved also made sure that there was an existing emailed copy of the declaration. In order to help the organization manage the declarations more systematically a screen print of the declaration was sent to the retail division of the British Heart Foundation. Apart from these a scanned copy of the declaration was also maintained in properly labelled folders so that it could be comprehended by all the staffs who are working in the charity shop. In case of mobile text messages which is also accepted to taking declarations, a separate telecom service should be maintained by the shops. During my project I convinced the shop managers so that they should always put someone I charge of the service and maintain the records that are coming in form of text messages (Jackson et al. 2017).
In some cases the declarations that are received are rendered as invalid or cancelled. This may also occur when a charity has not maintained an auditable tract of the records (Bhf.org.uk. 2018). In such cases the charity may be able to provide validation to an invalid declaration by giving a written consent to the donor which includes a statement sent through email. The statement contains the information required for explanation to the donor that they must have paid the Income tax in order to cover the reclaim processed by the charity(GOV.UK. 2018). Therefore as a responsible volunteer I should frame these mails properly when given such responsibility. These records of failed declarations must also be maintained separately. I tried to maintain separate folders for these failed declarations and kept printed copies of the emails that were sent to the donors when such cases occurred.
The experience of working at the British Heart Foundation had helped me to develop in various aspects including the academic abilities, skill development and also develop as a person. The skills development included communication, team working, responsibility, problem management and planning (Ferns, Campbelland Zegwaard2014). During the project I had to deal with a lot of customers who visited the shop. As a volunteer there I had to communicate with these customers which needed a development in both my speaking and listening skills. Oral communication was clearly mandatory not only with the customers but also with the other volunteers who were involved. By working in this project my skills as a team worker developed the most. This is especially needed in the social work sector where the team is represented in front of the service users (Costa, Passosand Bakker2014). During my placement in the shop I worked with the team where the team member belonged to different backgrounds hence I learned to work with a multidisciplinary team. To make this project a success I had to collaborate with all the members of the team to learn the work with more efficiency. Besides team work I learnt how to handle responsibilities when entrusted with some important tasks. When any problem took place with a task or related to any other situation I learnt how to remain calm and carry out my duties according to the demand of the situation.
This practise based project that I undertook also helped me to develop my intellectual skills like academic ability and subject knowledge development. Being a student of the health and social work sector I learnt how work is conducted in such social work based environment. Work based learning facilitated and mentored me in learning the integral parts of the providing health and social care (Hendricks2014). The aspects were learning the nature of the facilities that are provided by this sector to the service users, learning in communities of practise of practise, becoming an effective mentor for others, understanding an supporting the learnings, managing the unusual work scenarios and professional development. It helped me to assimilate theories as a student by practise. I developed better practical and technical skills and a better professional attitude. I could set personal goals which I tried to attain through my work and develop intellectual independence. I also got acquainted with the evidence based strategies which are implemented in the health and social care sector like providing patient centred quality of care services, fostering of a healthy and respectful workforce environment, efficient use of financing, ensuring efficient and accountable leadership and governance and maximising the use of health technologies (Jonesand Lomax2014).
Personal development is a major aspect of practise based learning (McNamara2013).After completing the project I was able to develop better time management skills, interpersonal skills and confidence. I was able to understand and assess any situation more quickly and tried to seek out information. The all over analytical and critical skillsets were enhanced by this practise based study. I have become more self-aware and definitely more self-critical. I have learnt to take in criticism in a much positive way than earlier. Working in the team environment has made an effective impact which has enabled me to work in diverse conditions and with diverse members of the team. This has helped me to strengthen my communication and networking skills.
Through this practise based placement I have learnt to be more patient as a person. This aspect developed mainly by working with different types of customers who were of mixed age, gender and ethnicity. Some people who visited the shop also suffered from disability and needed special care therefore I developed into a more compassionate person in order to help them with their purchase. Some other aspects of personal development also included positive and friendly attitude, respect and honesty, adaptability, flexibility and maturity (Nancarrow et al. 2013). These characteristics were developed by working in provider-customer environment. Such environment demands a positive and friendly attitude as the individuals who visit the shop needs to feel free in participating the charity services which is provided by the organization. Besides adults lots of children also visit these shops with their parents. They should also feel free to participate and make their own space. I have also learnt that while serving the society honesty becomes an important factor (Savery2015). While communicating or carrying out the role honesty should always be preserved and the work must be done sincerely.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wanted to state that during my placement in The British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop in Wood Green, London I have learnt the values of practice based learning. During the project not only I have developed better academic or professional skills but also grown as a person. The role of the volunteer in the charity shop helped me improve mu communication skills, my skills as a team worker and most importantly has inculcated the professional virtues which should me maintained. I understood the values of the customers and the care and compassion that needs to be shown towards them. The sincerity and honesty that should be maintained during the work and communication was also new to me. By working with the team not only I could communicate with more comfort but also learnt to be more organized and systematic. The job role also enhanced my technical skills as I involved myself in managing the filings of the Gift Aids. I got to learn a lot about the schemes of the Gift Aid and tried to make it better for the charity shop. In order to help the organization as well as myself I tried to arrange these declarations with utmost care. I tried to design plans implementing which will make assessing the declarations and the folders containing them easier for the all the staffs and the employees involved in the charity shop. Another aspect of mine which developed was the leadership skills. The other staff members including the managers helped me throughout so that I could be well acquainted with the leadership skills and implement them while working with the team. Apart from the interpersonal and the professional skillset development, I also developed better academic abilities. I learnt the norms of the practical workings of the health and social care sector. It taught me how to handle the customers and deal with their problems. I learnt to manage situations and solve problems in case of unique scenarios. Therefore the whole experience was an achievement for me as a student and it will help me in the long run as a dedicated professional in the health and social care sector.
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