Health and Social care

• Examples of verbal communication are conversations, phone calls, interviews and discussing treatment.
• Verbal communication skills are: clarity, empathy, patience, appropriate vocabulary, tone, volume, pace and willingness.
• Non-verbal communication is the use of body language to communicate with others. It includes facial expressions, gestures, posture, touch and eye contact.
• The importance of non-verbal communication is that it can be used to show emotions or feelings without using words. For example, smiling shows happiness
• clarity: clearly stated and understandable
• Empathy: imagine yourself in another person's situation
• Patience: giving the service user time to say what they need and want
• Appropriate vocabulary: specialist terms are avoided or explained simpler
• Active listening: fully concentrating on the speaker and responding appropriately
• Tone: positive and even tone of voice, not too loud, not too quiet
• Volume: a volume suitable for where the conversation is taking place
• Pace: not rushed conversation, a nice calm pace
• Willingness: constantly working with your team whether its in person or online
• Confidentiality: keeping information private unless it needs to be shared
• Respect: treating others as equals regardless of their background
• Empathy: understanding how someone feels without necessarily feeling that way yourself
• Equality: ensuring everyone has equal opportunities
• Dignity: respecting people's privacy and independence
• Active listening: fully focusing on what the other person is saying rather than thinking about what you're going to say next
• Non-judgemental: being open minded and accepting of people's opinions even if they are different from yours
• Examples of non verbal communication are: eye contact, gestures, body language and positioning
• Barriers to effective communication include physical barriers such as hearing loss or deafness, cultural differences, age related changes, learning difficulties, mental health problems and social factors like poverty.
• Advocate: someone who speaks on behalf of an individual who is unable to speak for themselves
• People who may need an advocate are: a young child, someone with a learning disability, people with mental health problems
• Special methods of communicating include: Braille, BSL, Hearing loop, Interpreter, Makaton, Translator, Voice activated software and Picture exchange communication
• Safeguarding: measures taken to protects peoples health, well being and rights
• Individuals who may need safeguarding are: children, older adults, people with mental health conditions, people with physical and learning disabilities and vulnerable groups
• 3 types of DBS checks: standard, enhanced and enhanced with barred list
• DBS: disclosure barring service
• Personal hygiene: hair tied back, regular brushing of teeth, open wounds covered, regular showering and hair washing.
• PPE: personal protective equipment
• PPE examples: face mask, scrubs, hygiene hat, disposable gloves.
• The 6 C's are: care, commitment, compassion, courage, communication and competence.
• Examples of health care settings: dental practice, hospital, walk-in centre, GP surgery, opticians, nursing home, health centre, pharmacy
• Examples of social care settings: homeless shelter, retirement home, day centre, community centre, support group, social services department, residential care home, foodbank.
• Residential: social, no medical help needed
• Retirement: provides housing, no medical involved
• Nursing: medical help needed as well as housing.
• Rights of individuals: choice, consultation, confidentiality, equal and fair treatment, protection from abuse and harm
• Effective communication helps to support the person-centred values and individual's rights through: Empowerment, Reassurance, Feeling valued, Feeling respected and Trust