Communication Skills in Health and Social Care Report

This report delves into the critical role of communication within health and social care settings. It begins by highlighting the importance of effective communication skills, emphasizing their impact on patient well-being, trust-building, and the overall quality of care. The report then explores the influence of personal values and beliefs on communication styles, illustrating how these factors shape interactions with patients and clients. Furthermore, it identifies and analyzes various barriers to effective communication, such as language differences and physical obstacles, and discusses their potential impact on healthcare delivery. The report concludes by summarizing the key learnings from the module, providing insights into how effective communication can enhance patient care and improve healthcare outcomes.

COMMUNICATION IN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Importance of effective communication......................................................................................3
Own values and beliefs and their impact on health and social care services...............................5
Barriers of effective communication...........................................................................................6
Learning from this module...........................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Communication is the two-way process of sharing information. In this process at least
have two persons one is sender and second one is receiver. Communication can be more
effective when both parties are clearly understood each other opinion and message. If all the
provided information is not clearer than it not be effective communication.
Good communication is an important thing in health and social care sector because it
will improve patient health, developing communication skills that how to communicate with
patient and their clients and good communication also bring positive environment in health and
social care service (Naslund and et.al., 2016). In this study will describe importance of effective
communication skills working with patient and clients. In this study will also conclude own
values & belief and their impact on communication in health and social care. It will also show
barriers of effective communication while working with health and social care. This will study
also present learning from this module has transformed understanding of an individual.
Importance of effective communication
Its is a kind of method of defining or explaining some information in verbal speech from.
It is type of act which is share message or information which is understandable to all persons.
The effective communication a type of communication skills which allow an individual to
understand and to be understood by others (Moss, 2017). Effective communication skills also
includes 7C's of communication which are courtesy, completeness, conciseness, correctness,
concreteness and considerations.
Importance of effective communication skills working with patient and clients
Good and effective communication skills are important in each and every sector. But
specially in health and social care services it becomes huge and most important. Effective
communication skills is required when in health and social care services is describes about the
procedures of their services, for explaining about the patient needs and all the relevant data
respect the patient history (Wittink and et.al., 2016). If that all information is not discussed clear
and (effectively) than it would be become risk for the patient health such as injuries, malpractices
goes up and death etc. if in health and social care services patient is not able to explain their
actual diseases and also not be able to talk with the doctors than also it can become hurdle in task
care of themselves. So, effective communication is very much important to working with and
clients.

Effective communication skills also required when working with patient and with their
family members. It will help health and social care staff to build up trust if they are showing
compassion, empathy and understand their pain and problem without judgemental approach
(Pickles and et.al., 2016). Effective communication skills also help maximize or obviate entirely,
miscommunication, doubt and unneeded injuries and help medical staff to determining what is
the actual need of patient. The same thing is also applicable on the client.
Good communication skills also important at the time dealing with patient and clients. With the
help of effective communication skills if medical staff shows some curtsey and conciseness in
their communication then patient and clients feels relax and also show trust on them. It is also
helped medical and social care services to enhancing their goodwill and image in market.
Because patient and client trust upon services, and always suggest that specific medical services.
With effective communication skills medical staff is able to deal with their patients and clients
pleasantly. Empathy is most required in communication and also in health and social care
sectors. If medical not showing empathy towards the patients and clients it will become negative
aspect for them. Because in medical services its very necessary to build up good connection with
patient and client, because patient are able to understand health and social care staff fake gestures
and true care towards them (McCormack and et.al., 2017). If in health and social care services
staff show their genuine side towards the client and patienter than they think that medical staff
will understand them and their problem. Effective communication means understand each other,
in medical service and dealing with patient and client that approach is most required. If medical
services not understand the actual problem of patient and their clients than they are not able to
providing right treatment to the patient. It can become dangerous for patient health. So, good and
effective communication skills most important with dealing with patient and client.
In communication with patients and client emotional intelligence is also very important
approach. In these type of communication medical staff will understand the patients feelings,
pain and emotion's to solve their problem. And also emotional intelligence is very effective for
improving communication with patient and clients (Chan and Leung, 2018). With the help of
emotional intelligence medical staff strongly understand the patient that will increased awareness
about the patients. Emotional intelligence can be verbal or non-verbal., effective communication
skills also includes communication like solution focused. In this type of communication medical
staff able to define the outcomes of treatments, all the details about the patients treatment and the

impact of this treatment on patient. This type of communication skills is help health and medical
care sectors to deal with patients and clients. Because it is defined all the major and basics steps
which is using in the treatment of patient. With the help of this of type of communication skills
medical staff can strongly interact with the clients. This approach deals with all kind of hard and
difficult issues of clients. Medical staff also use the person centred communication skills for
making their communication skills more effective (Pimmer and Tulenko, 2016). With the help
of this approach of communication they clearly understand the patient and their client
perspective, able to explore patient feelings and emotions illness they are the basic feature of this
method.
Own values and beliefs and their impact on health and social care services
We all have our own values and beliefs, which developing in us from our life cycles. We
learn something new about the things and person perspective and accept in our own values and
beliefs. So there are some core values and beliefs which I have i.e.:
Loyalty: I am very loyal and trust worthy person. That is my value and always consider these in
my life. As a worker in health and social care worker it is very important to have this kind of
value and belief be had. Because with the help of this value and belief I make all my patient
details hide. Because it is very sensitive detail and my belief and values say that they are not
right to share anyone. Commitment: The another value and belief of mine is commitment. I am
highly committed towards my services and duties (Reeves and et.al., 2017). I understand my task
and assign duty, perform as well as. Commitment is also very important in health and social care
services. Because it is very sensitive task and in this job role high commitment is essential. If I
not perform task (appropriately) than if can become barriers in the treatment of patient.
Consistency: The another value and belief of mine is consistency in my job role. I have to
be stable at the time of providing services of medical and health care of people. If am not stable
and constant on my job than my patient have to be survived which is negative aspect. That will
also impact by image in medical services. Honesty: In health and medical care sector honesty is
required. You have been honest towards your services and about the patient health. So, I also
have quality of honesty in my behaviour (Tse, Tang and Kan, 2015). I also be clear and
trustworthy from my patient. That quality of mind make them feel motivated. I also follow in my
personal life prospective of equality and diversity. Because in health and social care services that
is had a different place. According to term quality I mange all things in health and social care

sectors that everyone in setting has right amount of opportunity, regardless of their ability,
background and lifestyles. Diversity means comparison between individual and treatments of
peoples belief, values, culture etc. in health and social care service equality and diversity is
important and I always use that (Wright, 2016). I have to ensure my patient needs, what kinds of
services and treatments are provided them etc. I also measure that all person in health and social
care sectors receive equal treatments such as if they are disabled, illness or their age and not able
to take care themselves. This approach also decrease discrimination in health and social care
services.
That values and belief of mine also improve the communication system in health and
social care sector. Because with help of these values and beliefs I can understand persons or
patient feelings and emotions. On the bases of their feelings and emotions I will communicate
with them. It will enhance my and my patient relationship (Bradby and et.al., 2015). I also be fair
and honest towards my patient health, that factors of mine shows in my commitment and my
communication skill. I also use transactional analysis approach to improve communication in
health and social care sectors. Transactional analysis promoting effective communication. With
the help of this approach nurses and staff members of medical sectors will improve their skills to
communicating more effectively. It will also help to improving interpersonal skills between
patient and health service management. With the help of this factor, all the interactions between
patients and medical staff can be more effective and understandable.
Barriers of effective communication
There are various types of communication skills which can be useful in health and social
care sector i.e.: Verbal communication, Non-verbal communication, visual communication etc.
verbal communication a type of communication in which person is able to share their messages,
information verbal or can say it. It is also known as communication in spoken. Verbal
communication is two types such as written and oral communication. In that types of
communication styles person or individual can share their messages through the written form, or
they can say it in oral form (Schiavo, 2016). The another type of communication is non-verbal
communication, in this type of interactions individual can share their messages or information by
using the body gesture, body languages, they can use symbols and expression for convey
messages and information. Non-verbal communication is also been different types such as
Appearance, Aesthetic communication, paralanguage, physical non-verbal communication etc.

An other type of communication is visual communication, in this kind of communication
method individual can share their messages by using visual drawings, placards, illustrations or
by the presentations. In these types of communication methods various kinds of communication
barriers arises i.e.: Language barriers: In communication language barriers create huge problem
for understanding all the important message or information (Yelland and et.al., 2016). If are
using French front one not understand (French) than conveying message gone waste. Because no
one understand what is the actual message is? So, language can be the difficulty at the time of
communication. Language barriers can also become hurdle at the time of dealing with patient
and their clients. Because health and social care sector is very empathetic and emotional sector.
If in health and social care sector medical staff will not understand the language of the patient
and their family members than they are unable to operate them. So language barriers can be
difficulty in medical sectors. The another barrier in communication is the physical barriers.
Physical barriers of communication means the actual distance between sender and receiver.
Communication in today is very simple if anyone in long distance they can also communicate
with each other. This type of barriers also make impact on the health and social cares service. If
the patient is far (away) than it can become hurdle.
Some types of network issue is also arisen at the time of communicate with the patient
and client. Although various kinds of technology available in market but some times it will all
goes wrong. That will impacted the treatment of patient because they are not getting proper
communication with the doctors or medical staff. The another barrier in communication
systematic barriers (Lin, Green and Bessarab, 2016). In the systematic barriers organization and
structure are unable to supply sufficient information. It can become just because of lack of
understanding their roles and responsibilities. In this type of barriers people are unclear about
their job and task. This type of communication barrier also impacted the health and social care
sectors. Because if in health and social care sectors, medical staff is unaware about their task and
duties than they are unable to answer all the basic inquiries of the patient and their family
members. They are don't know what is the problem of patient, how can it be solved and what are
the treatments are applied on the patient's illness (Kreps, 2017). In such case it can become
hurdle and its negative impact not only affect the health and social care services but it can be
dangerous for patient. The another negative impact of systematic barriers is, it is affect the image
of health and social care service image in market. The another barriers of communication is

attitudinal barriers. Attitudinal barriers are action or conceptualization that keep people from
communication effectual. This type of communication barrier can create problem such as
conflict, poor management system, resistance to change and lack of motivation. If this type of
barrier arise in health and social care services than if can create conflicts in medical services,
management system of medical services gone wrong. That will directly impacted the patient of
hospital and their health.
Learning from this module
From the above study I have learned various things which are very helpful in my health
and social care services. With the study I can understand the exact or accurate meaning of
effective communication and also can feel their importance in health and social care sectors. I
understand how much good communications skills are important to enhancing relationship
between patient and medical staff (Schiavo, 2016). I can also understand if I in health and social
care sectors will follow effective communication skills in my job role I will better understand the
problem, disease of my patient and I will also able to build good relationship with the clients.
Effective communication quality will also helpful for me to interact with clients and patient
family members, I can feel their emotions, and they can also understand me as well. That types
of communication style also build in me courtesy, completeness, clarity etc. by using those skills
in my interactions I can enhance my commitment and my patient motivation.
I also have various good values and beliefs in me but by this study I will also improve
more values and belief in me. Those values and beliefs are also essential in my health and social
care services. I want to improve quality such as reliability, creativity, leadership in me (Lin,
Green and Bessarab, 2016). This types of values in me create a positive image of mine in front of
patient and clients. I can more understand them, they are also able and feel comfortable to
communicating with me. I want to enhance quality of creativity in me. This quality of mine make
more creative and flexibility with my patients. Just because of this study I also realize the
importance of value and belief in health and social care sectors. I can understand that how my
value and belief will make my efforts easy and will improve my patients and clients motivation.
Various times patient go crazy or I can say patient will be impatient that they don't want to
follow procedures of treatment, don't want to take medicines on times. That all hurdles I can
solve by using effective interactions or by my own values and beliefs (Kreps, 2017). I also
understand the term of transactional analysis which is helping me for improving the

communication skills with my patient. With this technique I can understand the actual feelings,
emotions, mental conditions, stress etc. of my patient and then treat them appropriately
The another learning of mine from this module is barriers of communication which are
arisen at communicate with each and every person. With this study I will understand various
kind of barriers of communication who are affect the health and social care services. I learn
about communication barriers such as language barriers, systematic barriers etc. And also how
those barriers can be hurdle in medical services (Kreps, 2017). These barriers create problem for
me to connect with my patient, because I underrated english and communicate in english but
some time my patient not understand english language and also be unable to communicate in
english. For remedies of this barrier now I would like to start learn some new language which
can reduce the barriers of language communication of mine with my patient (Yelland and et.al.,
2016). I can understand patient problem and give them better advice for improving their health.
So, all the study is very helpful to enhancing my learning aspect in effective communication in
health and social care sectors.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that how much good communication skills
are important in health and social care. In this it has been describes that importance of effective
communication skills in health and social care sectors, in this discuss how good communication
with patient and client will impact and improve good relationship and for these will also use
different communication approaches such as solution focused communication, personal centred
communication etc. Also, in this study has been included own value and belief, which are
essential in medical sectors such as loyalty, quality and diversity, honesty etc. And also
presented the impact of value and belief on health and social care sectors. For this will discussed
the transactional analysis method for improving effective communication skills in health and
social care. In above study has been describes about the barriers of communication such as
physical communication barriers, systematic barriers and how those barriers will impacted the
health and social care services. In the end of this study will represent about learning outcomes
which an individual learn from this study.

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