Assignment Task
Summary
This unit is aimed at those who work in a wide range of adult care settings. It covers the central importance of communication in adult care, and ways to overcome barriers to meet individual needs and preferences in communication.
1. Understand why effective communication is important in the work setting
2. Understand the variety in peoples’ communication needs and preferences
Communication styles, methods and skills:
- Verbal:
- Words
- Voice
- Tone
- Pitch
- Spoken
- Written
- Non-verbal:
- Body language
- Proximity
- Eye contact
- Touch
- Gestures
- Behaviour
- Additional methods to support communication:
- Signs
- Symbols and pictures
- Objects of reference
- Face-to-face communication (physically together or online), phone calls, email, letters, reports, text messages, the use of digital technology and technological aids, social networks, presentations
- Active listening skills including paraphrasing, reflection, summarising, reframing, providing encouragement
- Interpretation of non-verbal communication
- Ability to use silence to provide space and support
Others
In this context, this refers to everyone a worker is likely to come into contact with, to include:
- Individuals accessing care and support services
- Carers, loved ones, family, friends of those accessing care and support services
- Colleagues and peers
- Managers and supervisors
- Professionals from other services
- Visitors to the work setting
- Members of the community
- Volunteers
Barriers
Examples may include, but are not limited to:
- Environment
- Time
- Own physical, emotional or psychological state
- Physical, emotional or psychological state of others
- Own skills, abilities or confidence
- Own or others’ prejudices
- Conflict
- Therapeutic activity (for example, reminiscence therapy, relaxations and anxiety management, remedial games, art or music) therapy assistance (for example, physiotherapy)
Services to enable effective communication:
Examples may include, but are not limited to:
- Translation services
- Interpretation services
- Speech and language services
- Advocacy services
Poor or inappropriate communication practices:
Examples may include, but are not limited to:
- Patronising individuals
- Not listening to individuals
- Not making time to communicate effectively
- Not respecting individuals’ communication preferences, needs or strengths
- Using communication skills to control or take ownership of an interaction
- Interrupting or talking over someone
- Offering inappropriate or unsolicited advice
- Placating an individual
3. Be able to meet the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of ?