Explain the Role of Effective Communication and Interpersonal Interaction in a Health and Social Care Context

P1
Communication is a way of interacting and getting a message or several messages across using different types of methods of communication, giving and receiving a message between two or more people, also known as conveying information by speech, behaviour, visuals, signals and writing.
Communication is very important in a health and social care setting; this is because people’s needs to be met and messages have to be clear for a person to understand. Many people struggle with some ways of communicating and it’s important when working with old people for example, they need to be understood and looked after properly making sure they are being communicated with and assisted as expected.
There is a variety of ways to communicate for example; * Formal – This type of communication requires verbal and non verbal skills between two or more people for example; Face to face, formal Email, formal letter. In a health and social setting, formal communication must be used in order to get a message across properly for example; when talking to a resident, they have to be able to understand what their carer is saying.

Formal communication is required in a majority of health care settings.

* Informal – This also involves two or more people, it’s often spoken using jargon or slang. This type of communication will mostly be used in;
Groups of friends, short conversations during practical assistance and greeting people you know well.
A majority of the young generation in this day and age will use informal communication when speaking to someone whether it’s by text, instant messaging or face to face. In a health and social setting informal language cannot be used. For example; if a carer spoke to their resident using slang and the resident doesn’t understand it, it can be misunderstood.

* Oral – This is a type of communication between two or more people for example.
Customer asking a shop assistant for help, An employee speaking to their employer. This is important in a health and social care setting because everyone should be able to work together to communicate and to ensure that everyone is involved.

* Text – This way of communicating plays a big part in deaf or hard of hearing people as it helps them communicate in a simpler way with others. This is a good way of communication because instead of a phone call, a text can get messages across to anyone with hearing problems. In a health and social care setting, phones wouldn’t be used. Therefore deaf or hard of hearing residents will either use sign language to communicate with their carer and the rest of the residents although they would have signs and posters to help them if they wanted someone’s attention.

* Groups – Group communication involves a small number of people who are either working on the same thing or discussing a problem together, these are often kept as small groups as there could be a lot of conflict with many more people, and this is because there may be disagreements in the group. A group often has a leader, this way everyone in the group gets to speak and is treated equally. In a health and social setting this is important when it comes to staff meetings to discuss certain things or problems that need to be solved.

* Visual – The delivery of ideas and information which may be looked up on and read such as; Posters and leaflets in and around hospitals or doctors, on health such as smoking, sexual health, drinking alcohol and many other illnesses/diseases, the internet and Magazines/books.