INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION IN HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE OR CHILDREN’S AND YOUN PEOPLE’S SETTINGS. EXEMPLAR UNITS SCH21

Introduction to Communication

I carried out a teaching and learning session with the learners and each learner managed to collaborate and answer questions related to communication. The learners’ responses were as follows;

 

 

1.1      Identify different reasons people communicate

 

1) In order to share and exchange information;

 

2) In order to express and showcase ideas, feelings, emotions, opinions, identify needs;

 

• In order to socialize, build relationships and get to know other individuals

 

1.2 Explain how effective communication affects all aspects of own work

 

Communication is an essential tool for obtaining information about service users and helps build and develop successful relationships between support workers, clients who use the services, their friends and families, other professionals. Having good communication between all of the above mentioned parties ensures that service users are able to express their needs and requirements, knowing that these will be understood and met in a timely manner, that professionals are free to share information, express ideas and unbiased opinions amongst themselves, helps avoid distressing situations and conflicts. As a result, communication has a direct affect on the relationships in a social care setting, and subsequently, the quality of care that is being provided.

 

 

1.3 Explain why it is important to observe an individual’s reactions when communicating with them

 

When communicating to a service user, it is necessary to not only listen to what is being said, but also observe the non-verbal side of the conversation, such as the person’s body language, facial expressions, gestures, as all of these factors will also communicate a message and can indicate signs of distress, disagreement with what is being said, fear, etc. Picking up on these signs will help adjust the way of communication accordingly and meet the person’s individual’s needs in a better way.

 

 

3.1 Identify barriers to communication

 

Communication can be hindered by a number of barriers created by various physical and environmental factors, such as noisy, crowded surroundings, physical disability (e.g. hearing loss, visual impairment), speaking a different language.

 

 

3.4 Identify sources of information and support or services to enable more effective communication

 

Sources of information and support are immediately available for the social care worker from the supervisor or manager of my care home. There are also specialist services like speech language therapists, translators and interpreters. Further sources could be the internet and the library.

 

 

4.1 Explain the term ‘confidentiality’

 

Confidentiality involves ensuring that sensitive information is kept safe at all times and is only passed on to trustworthy individuals who have the right to access it, with the consent of the individual concerned.

 

 

4.3 Describe situations where information normally considered to be confidential might need to be passed

 

Information about an individual should normally only be shared on a need-to-know basis. All information held within my care home is confidential to the care home as a whole. Confidential information about individuals can be discussed with other social care workers for genuine reasons such as for one worker to hand over at the end of their shift to another who has just come on duty or when one worker has to cover the work of their colleague whilst they are on leave. General discussion about an individual which does not serve the best interest of that individual remains a breach of confidentiality… Other situations where confidential information might need to be passed on is when the individual or someone else is at risk of danger, harm or abuse.

 

 

4.4 Explain how and when to seek advice about confidentiality

 

Always to seek advice from the supervisor or manager at the earliest opportunity if and when the information about a service user was being put at risk by the careless behaviour of for example a colleague at work.