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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Health care is the treatment of ill health and medical condition and Social care
is the care and support of vulnerable people (with or without ill health and
medical conditions) such as elderly people or children. Communication in
health and social care settings can be divided into two types:

Communication between health and social care workers.

Communication between the patient (and/or family members) and health and
social care workers.
Communication within health and social care settings is considered effective
when the receiver, either the patient, family member, or the health and social
care worker, understands clearly the message being conveyed.
Health and social care settings rely heavily on effective communication
systems and practices to ensure they deliver quality care to patients and
their clients.
The following are some of the key communication systems and practice
utilized in these settings.
Verbal Communication:
Verbal communication is the most common form of communication used in
health and social care settings. This includes face-to-face conversations,
telephone conversations, and discussions in meetings or conferences.
Verbal communication is used to convey information, instructions, and
advice, as well as to build rapport and establish a relationship with patients
and clients
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Non-Verbal Communication:
Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, and
gestures. In health and social care settings, non-verbal communication is
used to convey empathy, understanding, and support to patients and
clients.
Written Communication:
Written communication is used in health and social care settings to
document patient and client information, such as medical histories,
treatment plans, and progress reports. Within the environment that I work
in it is used also to communicate risk assessments, daily reports information
for the police social workers, Independent Reviewing Office (IRO). Within
the healthcare profession it would be doctors, nurses and they would
provide information to patients and clients
Interdisciplinary Communication:
Effective communication between different disciplines is essential in health
and social care settings. Interdisciplinary communication allows healthcare
professionals to collaborate and coordinate care ensuring that patients and
clients receive the best possible care.
Patient-Centred Communication:
Patient-centred communication is a communication approach that puts the
needs and preferences of patients and clients at the centre of care. This
approach involves actively listening to patients and clients, involving them
in any decision making and communicating in a clear and understandable
manner
In conclusion, effective communication systems and practices are critical in
health and social care settings. They help to ensure the delivery of quality
care to patients and clients, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and
build trust and rapport with patients and clients
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

So effective communication is critical in health and social care settings because

if it isn’t it can impact on the quality of care that patients and clients receive.
While there are several communication systems and practices currently
utilized all of these, there is always room for improvement. Effective
communication within health and social care settings is very important
because it can have a direct, or indirect, impact on the health and social care
provided, the overall wellbeing of the patient and on the relationships with
patients, family members or colleagues.

Many people may have difficulties in understanding information provided

because of language barriers, limited literacy, physical conditions (such as
brain damage) or age.

Standardization of Communication Practices:

Standardizing communication practices across different health and social care

settings can help to ensure that all patients and clients receive consistent, high-
quality care. This could involve the development of clear and concise
communication protocols, as well as the use of standardized forms and
templates for documenting patients and client’s information. This makes it
easier for all staff new and old.

Your employer can send staff on courses to provide training and education on
communication practices. This can be on different ways to communicate with
the client base you normally deal with. Such as the council likes their
employees to practices the PACE method, which is “Playfulness” “Acceptance”
“Curiosity” “Empathy” a way to communicate with young people so that they
feel safe it is not a de-escalation tool but a way to work with people during
your normal working day.
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Any form of training which helps communication within the workplace will
always be a good thing, it ensures that all staff are equipped to communicate
effectively with patients and clients and hopefully be all working off the same
page.
To make communication better it could include training staff on patient-
centred communication, training in technology and the use of technology, such
as Zoom, Teams, Comcare, these systems are secure and easy for staff to
communicate between each other and access information securely and
quickly. Also, it is a good way for patients and people within your care to be
kept informed.

Improved Record-Keeping Systems:

Improving record-keeping systems this can help to ensure that all patient and
client information is accurate and up to date. Out of date information can not
only be very misleading but dangerous. For example, someone’s risk
assessment has been changed from 1to1 to 2to1 so going into a situation
undermanned. Another example is given an asthmatic Ibuprofen because you
haven’t been trained medically to know the contraindication between
Ibuprofen and Paracetamol.
So, to help this it could involve the use of electronic health records, which can
be easily accessed and updated by healthcare professionals, as well as the use
of a secure data storage systems

Regular Review and Assessment:

Regular reviews and assessments of communication practices can help to
identify areas for improvement and to make necessary changes This could
involve conducting regular audits of communication practices, as well as
conducting regular training and education sessions for healthcare
professionals.
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Encouraging Feedback:

Encouraging feedback from patients, clients and staff can help to identify areas
that need improvement in communication practices. This could involve
conducting patient satisfaction surveys, as well as encouraging patients and
clients to provide feedback through open and direct communication with
healthcare professionals

In conclusion, there are several proposals for improving communication

systems and practices in effective communication in a health and social care
setting. These proposals include standardizing communication practices,
providing training and education, integrating technology, improving record-
keeping systems, encouraging feedback, and conducting regular review and
assessment. Implementing these proposals can help to ensure that patients
and clients receive high-quality care, while also improving the overall
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Poor communication can have serious consequences in the health and social
care setting, both for the individuals receiving care and for the care providers.
Here are a few ways in which poor communication can impact on individuals
and other.
Misunderstandings and mistakes:
Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and errors, which can
have serious consequences in a health and social care setting. For example, a
healthcare provider may misunderstand a patient's symptoms, leading to a
misdiagnosis or incorrect treatments. Or the environment I work in if a proper
handover isn’t given then the staff on the next shift may not have been
informed of a change of risk assessment, which could put staff at risk. Or the
fact that the child or young person’s medication had changed from once a day
to twice a day or the fact they have actually been taken off any medication
Increased anxiety and stress:
Individuals receiving care can become anxious and stressed when they do not
understand what is happening to them or why. This can also lead to increased
stress and burnout for carers providing the treatments.
Decreased patient satisfaction:
Poor communication can lead to decreased patient satisfaction, as individuals
may feel that their needs and concerns have not been met. This can also have
a negative impact on the reputation of the care provider
Legal and ethical implications:
Poor communication can also have legal and ethical implications. For example,
if a care provider fails to obtain informed consent from a patient due to poor
communication, they may be held liable for any harm that comes to that
individual.
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Decreased collaboration and teamwork:

Poor communication can also affect collaboration and teamwork among

healthcare providers, leading to a less cohesion and effective care team. If
people bring their own problems to work it can affect the team which in affect
can lead to low moral and when this happens people sometimes do not
communicate at their best.

In conclusion poor communication can have far reaching impacts on people

under your care. You as a care giver you must learn to prioritise and have clear
and effective communication too ensure the best outcome for the people in
you care.

Communication techniques play an important role in promoting effective

practice and overcoming poor communication.

Firstly, open communication is key to developing mutual understanding and

respect. This means that both parties should be willing to listen to one
another, express their thoughts and feelings, and be open to discussion and
compromise.

Secondly, active listening is essential. This involves paying attention to what

the other person is saying, focusing on the content and not just the words, and
responding in an appropriate way.

Thirdly, using the right body language can help to communicate your message
effectively. This includes maintaining eye contact, nodding your head to show
understanding, and using appropriate gestures.
Fourthly, it is important to use language that is appropriate for your audience.
This means understanding their level of understanding and speaking in a
language that is clear and easy to understand.

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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Finally, being mindful of the non-verbal cues you are sending is important. For
example, if you are not comfortable with someone, it is important to try to
maintain a positive and respectful attitude.

By using these techniques to support effective practice and overcome poor

communication, it is possible to create a positive environment that encourages
open dialogue and understanding.

Effective communication is essential for any workplace or organization to

function smoothly. It can support effective practice by improving collaboration,
building trust, and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. In contrast,
poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, mistakes, and conflicts.

There are some communication techniques that can be used to support

effective practice and overcome poor communication.

Active Listening: Active listening involves giving the speaker your full attention,
making eye contact, and focusing on what they are saying. This helps to
understand. Their perspective, clarify and doubts and respond appropriately.

Feedback: Providing feedback can help improve the quality of communication.

It can be positive, reinforcing good communication, or constructive, pointing
out areas for improvements.
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Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624

Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

To promote effective communication in health and social care settings it is

fundamental to consider that this environment can be the source of anxiety
and fear for patients and people under you care.

Patients and people under your care usually react to this environment with
the same behaviour used in any other situation of anxiety and stress, and
for some individuals who are very emotional, they may need more time to
decrease their anxiety to acceptable levels and to decrease any anxiety and
to ensure efficient communication, health and social care workers must
understand the difficulties that patients face in adapting to their new
environment, new members of staff, a new area we as care givers must
support them using different strategies, such as

Listening to them and creating some space to let them vent their emotions.

Reassure and calm patients in moments of fear or anxiety.

Helping patients to stay active and facilitate connection with others

through play, acceptance and empathy.

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 Clarence Taylor Student ID 1746/299624
Level 4 in Health and Social Care Management

Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Supporting patients in this phase is key to creating a safe environment in

which they are ready to pay attention to any form of clear communication
related to their care and what is being done in the facility for them.
Communication in health and social care settings can take different
forms and styles depending on:
 The patient status (for example, a patient visiting a dental surgery for
a check-up versus a patient being hospitalised to cure cancer, or a
child versus an elderly person).
 The message being conveyed (for example, information concerning
medicine dosages, delivery timings and changes to the current
regime versus information related to the daily menu in the health and
social care facility).
Regardless of the form or style, any communication within health and
social care settings must be clear, accurate, consistent, transparent as well
as accessible and inclusive in order to be effective.
Clarity
To achieve clarity, it is recommended to:
Use plain, direct language, and avoid idioms or jargon.
If necessary, repeat phrases, re-phrase the sentences or use simpler words.
Use pictograms or visuals to explain a difficult concept and get a point
across.
Double-check if the person has understood.
Observe the body language for clues.
Encourage people to ask questions or request further information. Ask if
they would like anything in writing as a reminder or reference.
Use an interpreter if a language barrier exists.
Accuracy

Every form of communication within health and social care has to be

correct and precise to prevent any error that can potentially have a
negative impact on the health and wellbeing of patients.
Consistency

For patients, as well as for health and social care workers, consistency in
the means of communication is key to avoid confusion and reduce the risk
of missing important details.
Transparency

According to National Health Service England, transparency is key to

public and patient participation and is the means by which high-quality
and sustainable health services are provided. The same principle applies to
social care services.
Accessibility

Many people may have difficulties in understanding information provided

because of language barriers, limited literacy, physical conditions (brain
damage) or age.

National Health Service England believes it is important that information

is presented in an accessible way and, where appropriate, in a range of
languages and formats that are easily used and understood by the intended
audience.
Providing accessible information helps people to make more informed
choices about their healthcare and improves communication and
engagement among staff.
Inclusivity

The provision of accessible information can reduce inequalities and

barriers to good health. Individuals who have limited or no English, or
who use sign language or the deafblind manual alphabet, should have
access to a professional interpreter.
n any health and social care setting and circumstances it is good
practice to:
 Establish eye contact.
 Create space for questions and double-check if the message has been
understood.
 Accompany verbal language with coherent body language.
 Face the receiver at the same height, not from a dominant position.
 Try to take a positive approach.
 Show care, maintaining professionalism and respect at all times.
 Call the receiver by their name.
Depending on the circumstances, to ensure effective communication
you may need to:
 Speak clearly and slowly.
 Use very short, simple and concrete words and phrases.
 Give one message at a time.
 Use affirmative sentences.
 Encourage the patient to speak.
 Take time to capture the emotions the patients or family members
express and create space if required.
 Empathise.
 Avoid pointing out mistakes unnecessarily.
 Adapt to the patient’s language style if needed to ensure
understanding.
 Use an interpreter if there is a language barrier.