Level 5 Certificate in Aesthetic Practice Assignment 2 : A Comparative Analysis of Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Professionals

Level 5 Certificate in Aesthetic Practice Assignment 2

Regulatory Requirements and Professional Standards in Aesthetic Practice

1. Examine the role of regulatory organisations and the regulatory requirements for the aesthetic sector, taking into account:

• statutory and voluntary regulation for healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals
• guidance and principles relating to professional standards and ethics for healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals
• skills and experience necessary for healthcare and non-healthcare professionals
• Guidelines for the safe use, management and misuse of regulated and non- regulated aesthetic medicines.

2. Evaluate the disparity in regulatory requirements and professional standards for healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals, and the benefits of working collaboratively in aesthetic practice.

The required word count for this assignment is 2500 words. It should not be more than 10% under or over the prescribed word count.

A completion date will be agreed upon for each assignment. You will be allowed a minimum of two months to complete each assignment.

Please ensure you read and follow the Assignment Writing and Harvard Referencing Guidelines.

Assignments that do not meet the guidelines will be returned to students unmarked.

Assignment Writing Guidelines

General Presentation

File format

Assignments should be written using MS Word. They can be submitted in one of the following file formats: .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx or .rtf.

Fonts

• Use Calibri font throughout.
• Use black text on a white background. Avoid coloured backgrounds or text in a colour other than black unless you have special permission to use them (for example, if you’re dyslexic).
• Use 11 or 12 point for the body of your assignment.

Spacing

• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• Leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Headings/Sub Headings

Only use bold for headings/sub-headings. Do not use underlining or italics. Many academic assignments are written without headings/sub-headings. However, should you choose to insert subheadings, it is important to ensure each section connects with the previous section and flows into the next.

Title page

Assignments require a title page, which should include the following:

• the title and number of the assignment
• the qualification
• your full name and student registration number
• the assignment submission date.

This information should be centred, starting approximately one-third of the way down the page.

Numbering

Number all pages except the title page.
Tables, figures or illustrations must be numbered and clearly labelled.

Numbered Lists and bulleted items

The use of bulleted items or numbered lists should only be used if the narrative dictates a need for clarity. For example, “The four main problems with voluntary registers are:” and then list them 1, 2, 3, 4. However, in academic writing this must then be followed by an explanation and analysis of each item.

Avoid the use of numbering and bulleted items:

in the introductory paragraph;

• in the conclusion of your assignment;
• when you need to provide more comprehensive/detailed information;
• in any quotations used.

Headers and footers

Insert a header or footer on each page (except the title page). It should contain:

• your full name
• the title and number of the assignment
• the page number.

Note: Some people find it easier to address the general layout after they have completed their assignment

Research & Plagiarism

Research

It is important that you carry out your research and reference your research sources.

Your assignment must be supported by evidence of research. e.g. data, facts, expert opinions, quotations, arguments, statistics, theories and studies. Be as specific as possible, e.g. explain how a study was carried out, its results, and provide a reference source.

Use a range of research sources, e.g. books, journals, audiovisual, online/ electronic materials, reports, illustrations, figures/diagrams/tables, etc. The quality and range of research sources used will increase your overall marks
Do not copy directly from your research, unless you are citing quotes directly from the writers/authors.

When you write your assignments, you will use the concepts and ideas of other writers and academics. This is exactly what we want to see – that you have researched the topic, used their thoughts and ideas and interpreted them in your own words.
Academic writing is about joining up your thoughts/ideas and showing how they connect with each other, rather than just listing or describing things. Avoid lifting complex language and terminology from scientists/academics. It is important to analyse the facts and present information/arguments clearly and logically using professional language.

Plagiarism

If you do not acknowledge another author's/writer's work, you could be accused of plagiarism.

The principles of academic writing go beyond understanding and avoiding plagiarism – it is key to ensuring the integrity of your work.

Note: Every assignment will be checked for Plagiarism and will be returned to you unmarked if identified.

Word count

Include a final word count (the number of words in your assignment) at the end of the assignment, before the reference page. Your assignment should not be more than 10% under or over the prescribed word count. Remember that the title/title page and reference list/bibliography are not included in the word count.

Writing Tips

Do your research

You will be recommended some web links and resources to help you complete your assignments. However, it is important that you complete your research and reference your sources. Do not copy directly from your research sources, unless you are citing quotes directly from the writer. Your assignment will be checked for plagiarism before marking and will be returned to you if Plagarism is identified.

Plan your time

Some people prefer to complete their assignment over a few weekends, scheduling mini deadlines to keep their momentum going. Others prefer to complete the assignment over a weekend or consecutive days to maintain continuity and flow. The key thing is to plan your time and give yourself deadlines.

Plan your assignment structure

Before you start, it is advisable to create a basic assignment structure. This should contain your introductory points, your key points and arguments and your planned conclusion.

When You Start Your Assignment…

Introduction

The assignment introduction should provide an insight into the importance of the topic(s) being discussed, as well as your overall assignment objectives. You can start your introduction with specific facts and information, a quotation, a question, an anecdote, or even an image. Whatever sort of opening you choose, it should be directly related to the key topic. The length of the introduction and conclusion should be proportionate to the length and complexity of the whole assignment.

Writing effective introductions takes practice, and many students are unsure how to introduce their arguments or ideas.

The following are phrases that may help to get you started…

• This argument is developed in the first/next/following section, which explores…..
• The purpose of this assignment is to ….. It begins by ….
• This introductory section provides a brief overview of ….The first section explores..
• This assignment describes and discusses the methods used in this investigation. The first section …. The second part moves on to describe in greater detail the ….
• This assignment is divided into two/three/etc parts. The first ….
• This assignment is divided into four main sections, each of which presents

Note: Some people find it easier to write their introduction after they have completed the rest of their assignment.

Structure your Argument

As you write the body of your assignment, make sure that each point you make has some supporting evidence. Use statistics or quotes you have gathered during your reading to support your information or argument, or even as something to argue against. A good academic writer should analyse facts, present arguments and prove the point using professional language. Present your facts clearly in a way that the reader can understand without spending hours reading them. This is where structure plays a vital role. The ability to present facts in an organised manner is a skill that needs to be learnt.

Start Thinking Critically

Present facts objectively and provide factual and/or descriptive information, e.g. what, who, when and where. Include examples and support these with quotes or summarise/paraphrase source material in your own words.
Identify processes and methods, and include examples to illustrate how something is/was done.

Consider the Following:

• What are the consequences of accepting a point of view or idea?
• What is the impact of a theory or concept on an event or action?
• What is the relative importance of a piece of evidence (e.g. a point of view, an
  interpretation, etc.)?
• Why do viewpoints or researchers disagree/agree/change opinions over time
• What is the weight of evidence – how and why is the evidence convincing? Are there enough examples to illustrate this point? Look for connections between points

The difference between good academic writing and poor academic writing is the ability to think critically and present an objective opinion. Display originality in your writing. Even if you are referencing others' work, you need to have the skill to interpret it and critically evaluate it using your own words.

Cite your sources

References or creating a bibliography are skills that you have to master when writing your assignments. The Harvard referencing system is primarily used by university students to cite information sources. If you are using a lot of different sources, add them to your reference list as you go along.

Please follow the Harvard Referencing system when referencing your assignments.

Different types of citations

Citations located in the body of the text are used when directly quoting or paraphrasing a source. They quote a section of the full citation.

Example:

“After that, I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe…” (Fitzgerald, 2004). Where the author’s name is cited in your assignment and is part of the sentence, put the author’s name, followed by the year of publication, in brackets.

Example:

Cormack (1994) states that ‘when writing for a professional readership, writers invariably refer to already published works’

When citing a web page, follow these guidelines;
By Author and date (where possible)
By title and date, if there is no identifiable author

Note: You should only insert the URL in-text if neither the author nor the title can be identified. If there is no author, corporate author or title of a webpage, and all you have is the URL, ask yourself if you should be citing it in your assignment and consider its academic integrity.

Example:

The latest survey by health professionals reveals that… If you are quoting short passages, integrate them into the main body of your text. Enclose the quote inside ‘quotation marks’ and provide the relevant page numbers in your citation:

Example:

Irons (1948, p.1) says of bread that ‘there is no other food to take its place’. If you are quoting larger passages of 40-50 words (approximately four lines), the text should be on a separate line, it should be paraphrased and be inset from the rest of your text.

Example:

We must realise that bread is made to eat, and that the palate and not the eye must always be the deciding factor in how much is consumed. Bread will always have a place in the diet, but… There are signs that the bread of today is lacking – often dry, mostly under-fermented – and such is not likely to maintain sales. (Irons, 1948, p.4) Indenting larger passages of text already separates them from your work, so quotation marks are not required.

Conclusion

The final conclusive statement should be engaging and interesting. Without an effective conclusion, the reader has no ‘punchline’ to explain your assessment of the subject outlined or opinions in a debate. It should go beyond the confines of the assignment and include critical analysis, allowing you to have the final say on the issues you have raised. Usually, your viewpoint will be obvious from your discussion, so allow your enthusiasm for the subject to show in how you discuss it. Avoid using the conclusion as an opportunity to engage in an overgeneralised and unfocused ‘rant’. The conclusion should also unify the key points in your assignment and link back to your introduction. e.g. reiterate a word or phrase used to establish a connection. This does not mean that you simply repeat or recap your introduction. The difference between good academic writing and poor academic writing is the ability to think critically and present an objective opinion. Display originality in your writing. Even if you are referencing others' work, you need to have the skill to interpret it and critically evaluate it using your own words. Note: Avoid using phrases like “in conclusion,” “to conclude,” “in summary,” and “to sum up.”

Referencing & Reflection

Referencing

Referencing means acknowledging all the sources of information you have used to produce your assignment. Some of the key points include:

• Title the referencing – References
• Reference entries should be in alphabetical sequence by the surname of the first author or organisational name, or by the first word of the title if there is no author. Ignore the words A, An, and The when alphabetising by title
• Start each reference with a new line, no indentation
• If the reference list includes two or more entries by the same author/s, list them in chronological order with the earliest first
• Use only the initial(s) of the author’s given name, not the full name.
• Include the date you accessed any URL

Referencing Examples:

Online personal or organisational websites:

Department of Health. (2009) Living well with dementia: a national dementia strategy. 

Book with one author:

Dooley, D. (2012). Nursing ethics: Irish cases and concerns. 2nd ed. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan

Book with two authors:

Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2016). Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. Palgrave study skills. 10th ed. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan

Journal article with four authors:

Parker, L., Halter, V., Karliychuk, T. and Grundy, Q. (2019). How private is your mental health app data? An empirical study of mental health app privacy policies and practices. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, vol. 4, pp.198-204.

Note: Journal articles require more information, such as the volume and page numbers. For further information on how to Harvard reference other sources of research materials, not included in this document, please refer to the following  Open University Guides:

Reflection

When you have completed your assignment, put your first draft aside for a day or two before re-reading it. This will give you time to read your assignment more objectively and make it easier to spot mistakes or issues.

Once you have completed your assignment, use the following checklist to see if you have met all the criteria before your submission:

Writers Block

Try different methods to get you inspired: a change of scenery, playing background music, or starting on one section of the assignment that interests you. If you find yourself unable to write, use your time to research, make notes and plan or re-read what you have already written.

Ask for help

If there is any doubt in your mind about the question or the requirements of the assignment, ask us for help or clarification. Further Help & Support Watch the following a-training YouTube video to remind you of the key Harvard.