Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

1. Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care Theories of communication

2. One–to–one communication • This involves the two-way process in which each person tries to understand the viewpoint of the other person. • Good one-to-one communication involves the process of checking understanding, using reflective or active listening.

3. Michael Argyle (1972) • Skill that had to be learned that is like driving a car. • Like driving a car you have to change your method to match the road conditions. • Involves a constant cycle of watching what is happening then adapting to it.

4. Argyle (1972)Communication Cycle • Ideas occur • Message encoded • Message coded • Message Sent • Message Received • Message Decoded • Idea understood

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCmHia-nTpA

6. Group communication • Groups are collections of people who come together because they have a common purpose or goal and who gradually develop a shared sense of belonging or group identity.

7. Types of Groups • Primary groups Face to face situations in which group members know each other • Secondary groups Widely distributed membership. Many group members who may never meet each other.

8. Types of groups in H & S care settings • Report or handover meetings between care team members • Case conferences and discharge planning meetings • Support meetings for team members to share experiences and offer support. • Therapeutic groups. • Meetings with management staff, service users and relatives. • Educational Groups and classes.

9. Tuckmans theory of group formation (1965)

10. Homework • Describe how the communication cycle works. • Name two main forms of communication. • What are the two things that people have to do during verbal communication? • Describe two ways that care workers might use their verbal communication skills in a care setting. • Identify three different examples of non-verbal communication. • Describe how an individual with communication problems might use technological or human aids to communicate with others. • Identify the two main contexts of communication in health and social care settings.