Report on Effective Communication in Health and Social Care Settings

This report examines communication within health and social care organizations, focusing on strategies to overcome barriers and improve patient care. It begins with an introduction to the importance of effective communication in healthcare settings, using a case study of a residential home in London. The report then delves into specific topics, including strategies to overcome communication barriers, the influence of values and cultural factors on communication, relevant legislation and codes of practice, and the effectiveness of organizational systems and policies. It also suggests ways to improve communication processes, such as checking for understanding, adhering to strict data protection rules, challenging discrimination, and utilizing appropriate communication means, including telehealth. The report also covers the importance of organizational structure, information sharing, and the use of proper communication mediums and concludes with a discussion on the importance of ongoing learning and training to enhance communication skills. The report draws on various sources to support its findings, and references are provided at the end.

COMMUNICATING IN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE ORGANISATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 covered in brochure.................................................................................................1
1.4 Strategies to overcome communication barriers...................................................................1
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Influenced of values and cultural factors in Communication process..................................2
2.2 Legislations and codes of practice that impacts communication process in health and
social care....................................................................................................................................3
2.3 Effectiveness of organisational systems and policies in communication process...............4
2.4 Ways of improving the communication process in a health and social care.........................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
Covered in PPT...........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Health is the first and foremost concern of the society. This report is about health and
social care communication. It is compulsory to make people aware about health and care so this
report also concerns at communicating the health awareness to the people. All the factor that
influence the communication process are being discussed in this report (Archer, 2011). In
London Nazareth House Finchley is a residential home which provides health care services and
promote health care in UK by communicating it to people. The enhancement of this health care
communication is illustrated in this report. Different factors that influences effective
communication process are also been discussed in this report.
TASK 1
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 covered in brochure
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1.4 Strategies to overcome communication barriers
Strategies are formed to achieve some goal. In communication strategies are formed so
that there is an effectiveness in communication process. There are various strategies by which
these strategies can be formed. These can be achieved by the following: Communicate When The Listener Is Alert: The information should be communicated in
the health care centre when the people are alert and listening to that carefully (Barry,
2012). A person can communicate information when people are ready to listen like in the
morning when the people are more active and attentive.
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 Sufficient Time To Conversation: The proper conversation of information takes time so
to regulate information proper time should be taken. A proper time period should be
taken to communicate the information. Making Sure That The Place Where Communication Will Take Place Is Quiet: Noise
is the major barrier to communication so to overcome this a place which is not affected
by this should be chosen to communicate (Bennett, 2010). An individual can make a hall
where the communication of information takes place. The Body Language And Postures Should Be Appropriate: The way of depicting the
message should be proper like- proper eye contact, body postures should be appropriate
etc. so that people would understand it more attentively. The person who is transferring
the information should be utilising relevant body postures. Use Of Simple Language: The use of language while communication should be easy and
understandable so that people do not get any problem in understanding the information. It
is necessary to understand the simplest way to make one understand according to their
behaviour and their reasons should be considered before any step. Keep Checking That Listeners Are Understanding: The session of delivering the
information must be interactive which will give a idea that people are understanding the
message communicated or not. A proper feedback should be taken to know whether
people are understanding or not.
 Behaviour study: A consultant should understand situation first only after that
communication must be provided. Stimuli of a person is responsible for its behaviour and
reaction.
TASK 2
2.1 Influenced of values and cultural factors in Communication process
Caring does not look after the cultural differences or any other kind off discrimination.
The service which is for one is for all. But as in the above case study Mr. Paul Jacobs has been
relocated in England's Tower hamlet caring house where there is a multicultural environment. He
do not know English language and he only know Swahili which is his countries language. So he
feels very lonely and only communicate with the care taker in the caring house. Likewise the
caring house faces many problems like this where there is a multicultural environment but they
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serve each and every people with equal services (Macnamara, 2012). The communication
process is influenced by values in such a way: Sex: The male and female in the care house feels differently so they expect to be treated
differently. The males are communicated about their health issues and the females are
likewise communicated about their. This is the way it follows in case of sex differences. Age: The problems of health are according to the age so the people are taken care care
according to that. The old-age people are more dependent on others while the younger
one are comparatively less dependent. So the communication also varies with the age. Belief: The background and the religion of the people varies so as their beliefs varies.
The health care has to communicate things to people in such a way that their beliefs are
not harmed. Ethnicity: The group or society a person belong to influences their behaviour directly or
indirectly. People may make perception about something's accordingly which may create
a communication problem to change the mindset (Lewin, 2010). So the communicator
should communicate in such a way that the person changes its mind. Language: Like in the above case Mr. Paul faces communication problem in England
because he do not know English likewise the communicator faces the problem to
communicate with different culture people who know different languages.
 Values: The people varies so as their values vary so health and care organisation faces
problem in communicating with people according to their mindset. This influences the
way of communication with the people.
2.2 Legislations and codes of practice that impacts communication process in health and social
care
The government of a country keeps on regulation some rules and regulations for the
welfare of the society in every sector so as in the health care sector government has made some
legislations. These are made to protect the interest of the one who is suffering. They have an
impact on the various organisation such as Tower hamlet and Nazareth house. They have to
follow these legislation in their business practices (Estrin, 2010). These legislations are as
follows:
Data Protection Act 1998 This act aims at protecting the threat to data the health care
houses have data of the patients which they cannot give to anyone else without permission. This
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was made for the safety and security of the patients. When a patient comes to health care it
provides information regarding itself which is personal so this act aims at providing protection in
relation to this so that there important data or very personal data is not misused in any regards.
Sometimes the patient also don't want to disclose its disease to there people which is also kept to
be safe under this act. Care Act 2014 This act makes sure that each and every individual who
requires care is being served accordingly the health and care houses have to operate in UK.
Equality Act 2010 This act is totally related to the equality of each and every person in
the health and care house nobody should be discriminated on the basis of age, sex, caste etc. The
services should not vary from person to person each and every individual should be treated equal
and the communication should be accordingly. NHS national health service is an organisation
who serves in England to take care of the one who need. It is a very successful organisation who
has set standard for every other organisation in the same sector to operate like it. The
communication process is very good in it.
European Charters It states all the rights which a citizen of UK have against any
malpractices. They protect the consumer from ill treatment so that they can get the secure and
safe services. Codes of Conduct from the General Social Care Council The general social care
council regulates the codes on which the health and care organisation has to operate so it
influences the working of the caring houses to operate according to the codes for fair practices
(Levinson, 2010). In relation with these codes the information is communicated.
2.3 Effectiveness of organisational systems and policies in communication process
The effectiveness of the communication depends on organisations environment and
structure. The plans and policies has to be set in accordance to overcome the barriers of
communication which may occur while communicating the message. For promotion of good
practices to communication the company have to improve in various sections and these sections
are: Proper Organisational Structure: The structure of an organisation must be very clear
and easy so that who has to communicate to whom is clear. There should be a proper
structure about the communication process in the organisation to overcome the confusion. Process Of Sharing The Information: The process of sharing information must be
specific and clearly stated it should not involve many people to transfer the data which
will help in overcoming the miscommunication (Greene, 2011).
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 Use Of Proper Means And Medium: The means or communication must be proper like-
verbal or non verbal communication or whichever is required should be chosen according
to the situation. This will leas to less misinformation and effective communication. Caldicott principles: This principles states that their must not be any misuse of the
information of any patient. As the usage of IT is rapidly growing government is implying
that there must be least information transfer that can identify a patient which affects the
internal structure of a home care while it is providing its services. As these means have to
be taken care.
 Information Governance: It is multidisciplinary structure which have some plans and
procedure to protect the informations stored in any kind of a place. In a home care when
information regarding patient is stored than it must not be misused which is an obligatory
duty of IG.
2.4 Ways of improving the communication process in a health and social care
There are many reliefs available to improve the effectiveness of the communication in the
health and care centre (Kitson, 2013). There are various threats to communication which can be
overcome by the following: Check whether the people are understanding or not: Meanwhile the communication is
given it should be checked by interaction that if the people are understanding or not this
help in enhancing the process of communication by knowing that who understood and
who do not. Nurses can be appointed for the same in district areas so that they can
promote and communicate health measures to people of the society. Strict Rules: There must be strict rules to protect the data of the patients in the health
care. No data should be transferred without proper code of conduct. And the health care
must follow the legal legislations by the government. Challenging Discrimination: The Health care should not discriminate on any means and
they should serve people with best services they can equally. This will enhance the
process of communication by appointing different language speaker for the centre (Du
Pré, 2010). Following the codes and conducts: The codes and conducts made by the government
and the NHS should be followed by the organisation in its operation to communicate this
will lead to effective communication.
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 Proper use of communication means: The proper means like the proper and
knowledgable person for communicating the things, language should be proper, signs
used should be relevant and the way to communicate should be appropriate. Tele-health: People who are associated with a home care can be informed through tele
health which means by using telephone they can be informed about their regular check-
ups or the disease which is being popular and for which precautions can be taken. Learning new communication: A person can learn by experiences about how to
communicate with people and deal with them which will make the communication
process more strong and effective. This can be initiated by training employees in health
care so that they can learn new ways to communicate health care. Record Keeping: The records of people who have been treated by utilising computers
and latest technologies can be done which will help in keeping records in a manageable
manner for a longer period of time. Augmented and alternative communication: This is a type of communication which
utilise the use of various alternative sources like audio and symbols to interact with
people in an effective way. This will improve the intellect of health care people in order
to communicate by using various new ideas.
 Communication Passports: This is a way of communication with vulnerable person so as
to make it understand things. Mostly it is used for the patient of autism in health care
centre and can result as a best practice to have effectiveness to make people understand.
TASK 3
Covered in PPT
CONCLUSION
The working and operation of health and care organisation in UK has been concluded in
this report. Nazareth organisation has to use many communication tools to effectively operate the
the communication process to achieve the efficiency. The importance of communication in an
organisation is also being discussed in the above report. This is a very useful informative report
which also states the use of ICT in the operations of the HSC organisation. All the legal rules and
regulation formed by government in respect to protect the crime against communication is also
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demonstrated in the above report. The proper practice of business in health and care sector with
the use of proper communication means is also been concluded in the report.
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REFERENCES
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Bennett, P., 2010. Risk communication and public health. Oxford University Press.
Du Pré, A., 2010. Communicating about health: current issues and perspectives.
Estrin, D. and Sim, I., 2010. Open mHealth architecture: an engine for health care innovation.
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Lewin, S and et. al., 2010. Lay health workers in primary and community health care for
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