Effective communications

Introduction

Hello friend and welcome

One of the first topic areas in my health and social care training was communication skills, in those earlier courses I provided presentations about the heart and diseases of the circulatory system and then later about the skeletal system and the cells that make up our bones.  These presentations were fundamental to my effectively communicating with others; being able to stand up before my peers and deliver a presentation developed my confidence in communicating with my peers.  This placed me in a good position for my interview at University and gained me my nursing place.  I had been able to demonstrate effective listening skills, confidently debated and responded to the topics being discussed.

During my nurse training my learning and development in the area of communications went another level when I had to conduct a literature search, for research into and around communications and then produce an essay to show my understanding of communications, but also demonstrate in my placement those skills of listening and responding to patients and colleagues. 

In the health and social care setting the importance of communications in everyday life of patients or residents is vital to having their needs met safely and in a timely fashion from the front line care workers, the care assistants who support them. 

There are several times we use communications, in the day, to fulfil our personal and professional needs.  These include

purchasing goods and services

engaging in warm, caring relationships with our family and friends

to create and maintain professional relationships

to issue warnings to keep self safe

to issue warnings to keep others safe

to ensure that a task is carried out safely and effectively

Communications includes:

speech, which includes direct dialogue, telephone calls, skype or other video conferencing

written documentation, which includes emails, text messages, books, diary's

non-verbal, which includes posture and body language, eye contact, tone, speed and inflection of spoken word, or even the type of language written can infer emotion

frequency, which is the repetition of the message being conveyed to the target recipient

sign language

The health and social care setting

Communicating effectively in the health and social care setting is vitally important to ensure that the delivery of care is provided safely and to ensure continuity of care provision.  Imparting information in relation to those who are cared for is a legal requirement.  Confidentiality of that information a common law obligation underpinned by principles of care and various regulations such as GDPR.

Upon completion of this course you the student will have an understanding of effective communications for the health and social care setting.  You will have lifetime and unlimited access to this course and a Udemy certificate of completion is available at the end of this course.