Miss: Communication and Social Care

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BTEC National Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma Health & Social Care (QCF Level 3)

Unit 1: Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Unit code: R/600/8939
QCF Level 3: BTEC Nationals
Credit value: 10
Guided learning hours: 60

Start Date: 24/04/2012
Finish Date: 19/07/2012

Teacher: Mrs Vernon
Name:

| |This unit aims to enable learners to understand effective communication, the barriers that may exist and ways to|
|Introduction |overcome these. The unit will give learners the opportunity to gain the interpersonal skills needed to |
| |embark on a career within the health or social care sectors. |
| |This is a core unit within the programme, recognising the fact that effective communication is central to all |
| |work in the health and social care sectors. Professionals within the sectors require good communication and |
| |interpersonal skills to perform their roles effectively, work cooperatively with colleagues and build supportive|
| |relationships with people using services. It is, therefore, important for all those embarking on a career in the|
| |health or social care sectors to gain knowledge, understanding and the skills associated with communication, so |
| |that they are able to develop effective interpersonal skills. Initially, learners will investigate what is meant|
| |by effective communication and interpersonal skills and how these may affect the outcomes for people who use |
| |services. Learners will consider the factors that influence communication and interactions, analysing theories |
| |which may help to explain why there may be difficulties, possible breakdowns in communication and ways to |
| |overcome these. The benefits of effective communication for people who use services will be explored. The unit |
| |will give learners opportunities to reflect on their performance, and that of others, consolidating their |
| |learning by demonstrating their skills in a one-to-one and a group interaction in a health and social care |
| |context. |
| |On completion of this unit learners should: |
|Learning outcomes |Understand effective communication and interpersonal interaction in health and social care |
| |Understand factors that influence communication and interpersonal interaction in health and social care |
| |environments |
| |Understand ways to overcome barriers in a health and social care environment |
| |Be able to communicate and interact effectively in a health and social care environment. |
| |Read the assignment brief and the assessment grid carefully and make sure you are clear about what you have to |
|Before you start |do. |
| |You will see that to obtain a Pass, Merit or Distinction you must read and complete each task carefully to |
| |ensure you do not miss anything out. |
| | |
| |Use the information from lessons as well as an independent research sensibly and do not commit plagiarism! |
| | |
| |Write yourself an action plan for the tasks. Think about |
| |What you will need for each task |
| |When you plan to start & finish the task so you meet the deadline |
| |Any meanings of words you are unsure of |
| |Leaving time to process and check work prior to handing it in |
| |Make sure you have included a bibliography listing the resources used. |
| | |
|Placement |You must use your placement to collect examples of types of communication, how the communication cycle is |
| |applied. You must plan and carry out communication activities and have your supervisor monitor your skills |
| |It must be included in work clearly. |

Record observations form placement and fill in you reflective log – don’t forget to have it signed to show your attendance and hours.
You work as the training and development manager in your work setting. You have just been appointed to this role and you want to develop a training resource that will ensure all staff are aware of the importance of effective communication between staff and the clients and other agencies. You are planning to produce a wide range of resources that can be used train the staff, this will become the handbook that will be used by all staff

| |TASK |
|1 |P1 Explain the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in a health and social care context. |
| | |
| |Use the notes from the teaching sessions to produce an illustrated handbook explaining the role of effective communication in |
| |your selected health and social care setting. This document will be used to inform staff about each type of interaction and |
| |should contain examples you have observed while at your placement. |
| | |
| |In your introduction discuss the terms effective and ineffective and why communication is important within H&SC to help you set|
| |the scene. |
| | |
| |Include all of the contexts listed ensuring you give a scenario of the type of communication that would occur in each |
| |context.(one-to-one; groups, eg formal, informal, between colleagues, between professional and people using services, |
| |communication with professionals, multi-agency working, multi-professional working). |
| | |
| |When describing the main types of communication give details of the following |
| |( text messaging, written, oral, signing, symbols, touch, music and drama, objects |
| |of reference, arts and crafts, technology) |
| | |
| |Explain and describe the impact interpersonal interaction has on clients and staff noting how much of our communication is fact|
| |non verbal. (speech, language (first language, dialect, slang, jargon), non-verbal (posture, facial expression, touch, silence,|
| |proximity, reflective listening). |
| | |
| |Consider the needs and preferences of clients concerning effective communication. Explain how each of the examples below |
| |support effective communication and interpersonal interaction. |
| |(British Sign Language, Makaton, Braille, the use of signs, symbols, pictures and writing; objects of reference, finger |
| |spelling, communication passports, human and technological aids to communication, variation between cultures) |
| | |
| |When selecting your examples, please consider the following and support any observations with a written commentary. |
| |Examples should focus on the positive aspects of interactions and demonstrate learners’ understanding of the central role of |
| |communication in building trusting relationships, building self-esteem and providing appropriate support to meet the needs of |
| |individuals using services. Examples of how professionals use communication to assess, plan, reflect and share information |
| |should also be included |
| | |
| |In summary explain the role of effective communication within your setting. |
| |P2 Discuss theories of communication. |
|2 | |
| |Write an essay entitled Theories of Communication. Include a description of the theories listed below and include examples of |
| |these theories from your placement. Comment on their effectiveness. |
| | |
| |Theories of communication: Argyle’s stages of the communication cycle (ideas occur, message coded, message sent, message |
| |received, message decoded, message understood); Tuckman’s stages of group interaction (forming, storming, norming, performing) |
| |M1 assess the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in health and social care with reference to |
|3 |theories of communication. |
| | |
| |Use the evidence from P1, P2 and your observations from the placement to assess (weigh up the role and make comments on the |
| |effectiveness). How far do the theories have a place in your settings? Do they support effective communication? Use the |
| |examples of communication cycle as evidence and to show your understanding. How can effective communication help people to feel|
| |empowered and take an active role in their care and support? How can effective communication help provide services that are |
| |needed by clients? |
| | |
|4 |P3 Explain factors that may influence communication and interpersonal interactions in health and social care environments. |
| | |
| |Produce a section for your handbook entitled Barriers to Communication. For each barrier include the positive and negative |
| |factors which influence communication. There should be a clear explanation of how each factor, including environmental and |
| |personal factors, may influence the outcome of the interaction for each party involved. |
| | |
| |Environment: factors, eg setting, noise, seating, lighting, space, time |
| |Barriers: factors, eg type of communication (difficult, complex, sensitive), language needs/preferences, sensory impairment, |
| |disability, personality, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, aggression, submissiveness, assumptions, value and belief systems, |
| |jargon, cultural variations, use and abuse of power, effects of |
| |alcohol/drugs |
| | |
|5 |P4 Explain strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and |
| |interpersonal interactions |
| | |
| |For each barrier explained outline the strategies that your staff can employ to overcome the barriers you identified in P3. |
| | |
| |You will go onto review the strategies which may be used to overcome the effects of these factors, including the use of |
| |alternative methods of communication; both human and with technological aids. |
| |M2 review strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and |
|6 |interpersonal interactions. |
| | |
| |Review means to look over and give an examination of. Think about each of your strategies and comment on whether they would |
| |enable effective communication to happen. Are the strategies easy to apply, or would you need specialist training or resources?|
| |You need to think of what you observed in the placement and draw on your knowledge. |
| |Review the effectiveness of own communication skills in the two interactions undertaken. |
| |D1 Evaluate strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and |
|7 |interpersonal interactions. |
| | |
| |You must evaluate the strategies used to overcome barriers to communication. You should include those which are used to break |
| |down more common barriers but also those caused by more challenging and complex situations professionals working in health and |
| |social care environments face, for example communication affected by mental health problems, drugs or alcohol, or dementia. |
| |P5 Participate in a one-to-one interaction in a health and social care context AND P6 Participate in a group interaction in a |
|8 |health and social care context. |
| | |
| |Take part in 2 different interactions. You must include the following information. |
| |An outline of the activity, the client group you interacted with, a transcript of the interaction (a written outline of the |
| |interaction that includes verbal and non verbal communication. You must ask your supervisor at your placement to observe and |
| |fill in the witness statement provided. You will also have to include your own reflections of the interaction. |
| |M3 Assess their communication and interpersonal skills in relation to each interaction. |
|9 | |
| |Use the witness statement and your own review to help you with his task. Remember to look back at P1 and comment on the range |
| |of skills you wrote about there, for each skill asses how effectively you communicated with examples. Consider your strengths |
| |and weaknesses and write an action plan of what you need to work on to make your communication more effective. |
| | |
|10 |D2 Evaluate factors that influenced the effectiveness of each interaction. |
| | |
| |Consider the factors that have analysed your interactions, think about barriers, needs of service users in your placements, |
| |your communication skills, etc. For each factor consider the impact it had on your interactions. |

Appendix
Include any relevant information and witness statements you have used.

Bibliography
Use the Harvard referencing style to record all resources you have used

• You begin with the author’s surname – comma – and initials followed by a full stop.

• Then the year of publication in brackets.

• Then the book title, either underlined or in italics – comma.

• The place of publication – comma.

• Finally the publisher of the book – full stop.

e.g. Stretch, B. (2007) BTEC National Health and Social Care, Oxford, Heinmann Education Limited.

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Vocational Context

Bibliography: Use the Harvard referencing style to record all resources you have used • You begin with the author’s surname – comma – and initials followed by a full stop. • Then the year of publication in brackets. • Then the book title, either underlined or in italics – comma. • The place of publication – comma. • Finally the publisher of the book – full stop. e.g. Stretch, B. (2007) BTEC National Health and Social Care, Oxford, Heinmann Education Limited. ----------------------- Vocational Context