Communication skills
Verbal Communication Skills
- Good verbal communication is essential in health and social care. It is a two-way process that involves speaking clearly and listening attentively.
- Using appropriate language and tone is important to ensure the message is understood.
- Such skills are vital to ensuring the recipient’s comprehension while maintaining their dignity and respect.
- Questioning techniques can be used to check understanding, gather information, or engage in conversation.
- Healthcare professionals must be able to convey complex health-related information in a way that maintains clarity and simplicity.
Non-Verbal Communication Skills
- Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, touch, and gestures. They play a significant role in building positive relationships in health and social care.
- A simple gesture can portray a wealth of emotion or sentiment, such as empathy, reassurance, or alertness to the individual’s condition.
- A professional's body language can impact the trust and comfort level between them and the individual in their care.
- Facial expressions are paramount for displaying empathy or understanding, which encourages individuals to be more open and honest in their communication.
- Physical touch, when appropriate, can express empathy, comfort, and care, enhancing the individual’s confidence in their care provider.
Active Listening Skills
- Active listening is an essential communication skill in building positive relationships in health and social care.
- It involves not just hearing, but understanding and interpreting the information, and responding in a way that validates the individual's thoughts and feelings.
- Active listening requires maintaining eye contact, which shows respect and interest in what the individual is saying, and encourages an open and honest conversation.
- Professionals should also give verbal and non-verbal feedback to show they are engaged in the conversation.
- Engaging in paraphrasing or summarising can confirm understanding, provide clarification, and allow for any correction of misunderstood information.
Written Communication Skills
- Written communication in health and social care includes note-taking, report writing, and electronic communication. It needs to be clear, concise and accurate.
- Note-taking helps track an individual’s progress and ensures a continually updated care plan.
- Report writing involves summarising individual’s care or treatment, which may be shared with other health and social care professionals involved in the individual's care.
- Electronic communication, such as email or health records system, is also essential in modern health and social care settings, and requires high levels of accuracy and clarity in written communication.
- Written communication must adhere to confidentiality and data protection guidelines, imperative in maintaining trust and security in the health and social care relationship.