What is a Reflective Account?

A reflective account is a written record where you analyse your work experiences. By thinking back over what you have done, you consider your actions, decisions, and learning. This approach often comes up in health and social care, particularly during training, assessment, or professional development.

Staff at all levels use reflective accounts. For example, care assistants, nurses, and managers may complete them as part of formal qualifications, supervision sessions, or revalidation requirements. They help illustrate professional practice, personal growth, and learning.

Purpose of a Reflective Account

The main aim of a reflective account is to help you learn from your own practice. By writing about an event or set of actions, you can step back and look at what happened with a fresh perspective. This lets you recognise what you did well and spot any areas for improvement.

Typical reasons for writing a reflective account include:

• Meeting qualification standards (e.g., NVQ, diploma units)
• Illustrating continued professional development (CPD)
• Providing evidence for job interviews or appraisals
• Demonstrating that you have met required competencies

People use reflective accounts to show regulators, employers, and examiners their skills in action. These records prove that you think about your work and that you are serious about improving.

The Structure of a Reflective Account

A reflective account often follows a clear structure. This guides the writer and helps the reader understand the process. One common structure uses three main sections: What happened, What you did and why, and What you learned.

Often, people use Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988). This model steers you through a series of steps which help ensure you cover all relevant aspects. The steps break down like this:

• Description – What happened during the situation?
• Feelings – How did you feel at the time?
• Evaluation – What was good and bad about the experience?
• Analysis – What sense can you make of the event?
• Conclusion – What else could you have done?
• Action plan – What will you do if this situation rises again?

Not every account needs every stage, but most will have a combination of these elements. By following such a model, your writing stays organised and meaningful.

Why Reflection Matters in Health and Social Care

In health and social care, reflection has special value. Clients’ needs can be complex. Every day can bring challenging decisions, ethical questions, and unexpected outcomes. Written reflection helps you process your experiences and strengthens your practice.

Reflection supports:

• Personal growth: Your confidence can grow as you become clearer about your skills and achievements
• Safer, better care: Spotting mistakes or gaps lets you adapt your approaches to avoid repeating errors
• Meeting professional standards: Regulatory bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), expect evidence of reflective practice
• Team learning: Sharing reflective accounts can help colleagues learn from diverse experiences

Regular reflection is a sign of an active, responsible care worker.

Common Topics for Reflective Accounts

Not all situations merit a reflective account. Usually, you choose significant incidents—whether positive or negative—that taught you something new or tested your abilities.

Typical situations might include:

• Managing a medical emergency
• Handling a complaint from a client or their family
• Delivering sensitive news to a patient
• Supporting someone through a difficult time
• Adapting practice to meet someone’s unique cultural or language needs
• Implementing an infection control procedure

Selecting the right topic matters. The incident should illustrate a clear lesson, challenge, or development area. It does not need to be dramatic: often, routine events make strong examples.

What to Include in a Reflective Account

When writing a reflective account, keep things personal and specific. Vague or general details do not give a true picture of your learning.

Effective reflective accounts cover:

• The situation: Date, time, people involved, setting
• Your actions: What you did, said, or decided
• Your feelings: Emotions at the time and after
• Outcome: What happened after your actions
• Learning: What you would repeat, what you would change
• Links to standards: Which values or policies apply (such as Care Certificate, NMC Code)
• Feedback: Any comments from others (supervisor, client, colleague)

Remember to keep confidential details anonymous. Use general terms or initials; never include real names or identifying information.

The Writing Style of a Reflective Account

A reflective account should sound honest and self-aware. Write in the first person (‘I did’, ‘I felt’, ‘I decided’) rather than in the third person. Be truthful about your emotions and opinions, even if the situation felt uncomfortable or upsetting.

Use plain, straightforward language so anyone can follow your thinking.

An example of the right tone:

I felt very anxious when I realised the care plan was not up to date. I knew I needed to speak up, even though I worried about how my manager might react.

You do not need formal language or perfect grammar. The focus is on reflection and insight, not academic writing style.

What are the Benefits of Reflective Accounts?

There are several practical and professional benefits to writing reflective accounts:

• Encourages self-awareness: By looking back, you can spot both strengths and weaknesses
• Supports improved practice: Reflection can change habits and boost the quality of care
• Provides evidence: Good reflective accounts are respected proof of your work for employers and regulators
• Increases resilience: By facing difficult events, you prepare yourself better for future challenges

Many people only realise the value of reflective accounts after practising them a few times. Over time, most develop their own style and use reflection in daily thinking.

Barriers to Reflection and How to Overcome Them

People sometimes avoid writing reflective accounts because they feel self-conscious or doubt their writing ability. There may be concerns over time pressure, judgement from managers, or a worry about making mistakes public.

To address these barriers:

• Break the task into stages (e.g., jot rough notes first, then expand)
• Use a template if you’re unsure where to start
• Discuss your reflection with a trusted colleague or supervisor
• Remind yourself that honest reflection is valued, even if it means admitting error

Being open about mistakes does not mean you are incompetent. Instead, it shows maturity and dedication.

Reflective Account Examples

Below are sample outlines that show how to begin a reflective account.

Example 1: Supporting a Client with Challenging Behaviour

Description: On 15th June, I was assisting Mr H during his morning routine. He became agitated and started shouting. I remained calm and spoke to him in a soft tone, encouraging him to share how he felt.

What I did well:

• Kept my voice steady and maintained a safe distance
• Used active listening to show I was taking his concerns seriously
• Gave Mr H choices about what he wanted next

What I learned:

• Remaining calm helped de-escalate the situation
• Reflecting afterwards made me realise how much patience and empathy matter in these moments

Next time, I’ll remind myself that even a small gesture – like letting the person choose – can have a big impact.

Example 2: Administering Medication

Description: During my evening shift, a patient refused to take their medication. I explained the reasons for their prescription, listened to their worries, and respected their decision.

Evaluation:

• I followed policy by informing my supervisor
• The patient later agreed to take their medication after further discussion

Learning point:

• Patience and clear communication are essential
• I improved my understanding of informed consent

Reflective Models: Tools for Writing

Several reflective models can help structure your account. Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle is a favourite in health and social care, but others like Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle or Driscoll’s ‘What? So what? Now what?’ model can be helpful.

These frameworks prompt you to look at all angles and stay thorough.

Accessible models include:

• ‘What?’ – Describe the situation.
• ‘So what?’ – Reflect on why it mattered, what you learned.
• ‘Now what?’ – Plan what you will do in the future.

Many organisations provide their own templates, asking similar questions.

Confidentiality and Professionalism

Confidentiality must be respected in every reflective account. Always change or remove identifying information about clients, families, or staff.

Avoid sharing personal opinions about colleagues or organisations in ways that could harm professional relationships. Rather than blaming others, focus on your learning and actions.

Linking Reflection to Standards and Codes

Most health and social care roles in the UK follow strict codes of practice. These set rules for conduct and ethics. When writing your account, you can mention relevant sections from bodies like Skills for Care, the NMC, or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Think about how your actions:

• Upheld dignity and respect
• Maintained safety and quality
• Supported equality and diversity
• Followed care plans and policies

Linking your account to standards strengthens its value as evidence.

Reflection as Part of Ongoing Learning

Reflective practice should not be a one-off. Staff in health and social care often complete reflective accounts after induction, as part of CPD, or at regular intervals.

You can use reflection for:

• Appraisals and supervision meetings
• Revalidation (for nurses and midwives)
• Completing qualifications (such as Care Certificate units or SVQs)

Some organisations now encourage digital reflection—through apps or online portfolios.

Tips for Effective Reflective Accounts

You can improve your reflective accounts through some simple steps:

• Write soon after the event, while details are fresh
• Be honest about your emotions and learning
• Focus on actions you can control, rather than blaming others
• Be specific about what you will change in your future work
• Read examples from colleagues or online to get ideas

A reflective account does not need to be long. Quality matters more than word count.

Final Thoughts

Reflective accounts help you see your progress. They show how much you contribute to your team and help build a collection of your achievements. Over time, a collection of accounts paints a rich picture of how your thinking and skills develop.

By embracing reflection, you take ownership of your learning. Honest, reflective practice builds trust, both with clients and colleagues. This commitment lies at the heart of quality health and social care.

Reflective writing is a powerful tool for anyone who wishes to grow in confidence, skill, and understanding through their daily work.