Qualification / BTEC Level 3
Unit number and title / Unit:1 Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care
Hand out Date
Hand in Date
Assessor name
Assignment title / Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care
fective
Communication in Health
and Social Careveloping Effective
Communication in Health
and Social Care
Life Stages Development Through the
Life Stages
Criteria Assessed / P1 explain the role of effectivecommunication and interpersonal interaction in a health and social care context
P2 discuss theories of communication
P3 explain factors that may influence communication and interpersonal interactions in health and social care environments
P4 explain strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions
P5 participate in a one-to-one interaction in a health and social care context
P6 participate in a group interaction in a health andsocial care context.
M1 assess the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in health and social care with reference to theories of communication
M2 review strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions
M3 assess their communication and interpersonal skills in relation to each interaction.
D1 evaluate strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions
D2 evaluate factors that influenced the effectiveness of each interaction
The purpose of this assignment is to:
enable you to understand effective communication, the barriers that may exist and
ways to overcome these. The unit will give you the opportunity to gain the interpersonal skills needed to embark on a career within the health or social care sectors.
Scenario – As members of a health profession you will be expected to show effective communication with clients and other health care professionals and relatives. You have been asked by your manager to prepare a presentation for staff which shows effective communication and the barriers that might hinder the process. You have decided to conduct a staff training session with some of your colleagues to ensure you cover the main points about communication skill.
TASK ONE
P5. This task requires you to video yourself and a group undertaking a one to one interaction and a group interaction. You need to prepare a role play of an interaction with a patient or client from a care setting. The following are examples of role plays you may perform. You can, of course, choose a scenario of your own making.
One to one Scenarios.
a)An angry parent wants to see you about her child who she alleges is being bullied.
b) Mrs Germain is an elderly client who is refusing to get out of bed to have a bath. Role play how you as a care worker will deal with this situation.
c)You are the manager of a care home and one member of staff is persistently late and rushes her/his work. The other carers have noticed a change in the carers behaviour. How will you deal with this?
Complete the table ( handout 1) to show your skills in these areas.
Write a reflective account about what you have learned about your skills from this particular task.
TASK TWO
P6, P1,2,3,and 4. M3 Group Scenario.
Form small groups and plan a board game for new staff to play which explains the importance of effective communication (P1) including the theories of communication.
You may use Argyle’s stages of the communication cycle or Tuckman’s stages of group
interaction.
Video the planning meeting and then play it back and write a reflective account of your own skills of communication in a group setting .
TASK THREE
P3/4
Make the board game you have planned and include
  • factors that may influence communication and interpersonal interactions in health and social care environments(P3)
  • strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions (p4)
Include all forms of communication such as;
NVC, text messaging, written, oral, signing, symbols, touch, music and drama, objects of reference, arts and crafts, technology.
The barriers to include could be;
type of communication (difficult, complex, sensitive), language needs/preferences,
sensory impairment, disability, personality, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, aggression, submissiveness, assumptions, value and belief systems, jargon, cultural variations, use and abuse of power, effects of alcohol/drugs.
Individual extension work for Merit grades.
Write an essay of no more than 1800 words ( and no less than 1500) using the following title ;
‘Effective communication in Health and Social Care settings is fraught with difficulty ’
Discuss this statement evaluating the role of communication making reference to communication theory and evaluating the strategies that might be used to overcome the barriers that may arise.
Guidelines for completion and the outcomes covered .
M1 and D1 Assess and evaluate the role of effective communication and interpersonal interaction in health and social care with reference to theories of communication and
M2 and D2 Review and evaluate strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions
Ensure that you cover the following;
  • Identify the communication theories you wish to refer to.
  • Describe what effective communication is giving examples.
  • Evaluate how effective communication can improve care.
  • Discuss the sorts of barriers that poor communication may lead to.
  • Give examples of strategies used to overcome these and evaluate how useful these are.
Indicative reading for learners
Textbooks
Indicative reading for learners
Textbooks
Barett S (editor) – Communication Relationships and Care (Routledge, 2004) ISBN 9781412922852
Collins S – Effective Communication (Jessica Kingsley, 2009) ISBN 9781843109273
Langridge E, Bossons L, Boys D, Mitchie V, Roe J – BTEC National Health and Social Care Book 1
(Nelson Thornes, 2007) ISBN 9780748784042
Nolan Y – NVQ/SVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care Candidate Handbook, 2nd Edition (Heinemann, 2008)
ISBN 9780435466992
Mamen M – Understanding Non-Verbal Learning Disability (Jessica Kingsley, 2007) ISBN 9781843105930
Moss B – Communication Skills for Health and Social Care (Sage Ltd, 2007) ISBN 9781412922852
Poutney J – Your Role as a Disability Support Worker (Heinemann, 2007) ISBN 9780435500009
Stretch B, Whitehouse M – BTEC National Health and Social Care Book 1 (Heinemann, 2007)
ISBN 9780435499150
Stretch B (editor) – Core Themes in Health and Social Care (series) (Heinemann, 2007)
ISBN 9780435464257
Stretch B and Whitehouse M – BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Health and Social Care Student Book 1 (Pearson,
2010) ISBN 9781846907663
Stretch B and Whitehouse M – BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Health and Social Care Student Book 2 (Pearson,
2010) ISBN 9781846907470
Thompson N – People Skills (Palgrave McMillan, 2009) ISBN 9780230221123
Audio/visual
Creative Conversations (a video aimed at supporting people with profound learning disabilities)

WOW, World of Work, Health and Social Care – DVD and Learning Resource File (Heinemann, 2008)
ISBN 9780435402396
Journals and magazines
Care and Health Magazine
Community Care Magazine
Disability Now
Nursing Times
Nursing Times

Handout one

Complete the following table to show your skill in these areas

Skill used / Reflective comment showing an assessment of yourcommunication and interpersonal skills in relation to each interaction. / How might I Improve this ?
Eye contact How often do you make eye contact with the person you are talking to? Do you stare at them or do
you avoid looking into their eyes? How do you feel when the person looks at you
Facial
expression
Does your face reflect what you are saying?
Do you show emotion or not?
Are you
over-exaggerating or feigning your interest?
?
Posture Does your body look too relaxed?
Are you too still and rigid?
Are your arms or legs crossed? What are you doing with your hands?
Are you facing the person you are talking to
Touch Do you touch the person you are talking to?
Why do you touch them?
Could this be interpreted differently by the other person?
Silence Are you talking non-stop? Are you allowing enough time for the other person to respond?
Are you waiting too long before giving your own response?
Proximity
Are you standing/sitting too close or too far away?
Questioning. Did you use questions?
Were they open or closed?

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HANDOUT A1

Witness statement
Learner name
Qualification / BTEC National Subsidiary Diploma Health & Social Care
Unit number and title / Unit One Developing Effective Communication in Health and Social Care
Assignment
Description of activity undertaken (please be as specific as possible)
The student named above was observed undertaking a one to one interaction and a group interaction. A role play was prepared
They were given the following written guidance to consider for their discussion and notes.
The above named student took notes and fully discussed the topic with the people in their small group. This activity took 2 hours. The tutor then assessedthe above named student’s part in a formal 10-15 minutes discussion. The above named student correctly answered direct questions from the tutor. They listened to the other members of their group and fully took part in the discussion. .
Assessment and grading criteria
This covers the grading criteria P5
The tutor performed formative assessment during the 2 hours checking on groups and helping them with discussion points.
Summative assessment: The student’s notes, their part in the small group discussion plus specific Q&A from the tutor was used for grading. Prior essay work from unit 8 helped to inform them.
How the activity meets the requirements of the assessment and grading criteria,
including how and where the activity took place
Group A:
The activity took place in classroom (Please insert the date and time )
it was not possible to complete it on . ______
Group B:
The activity took place in classroom. (Please insert the date and time)
it was not possible to complete it on. ______
Witness name / Job role / Course Tutor Health & Social Care
Witness signature / Date
Assessor name
Assessor signature / Date

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