Promote communication in care settings

Introduction:

Effective communication plays a central role in dealing with the requirements and the demands of the workplace settings. The document will be addressing all the reasons and barriers of effective communication along with the impact on the workplace setting. Other than this, it will be highlighting types of communication and the specified roles associated with them. Confidentiality has also been discussed according to the Data Protection Act 1998 to highlight the policies and procedures required for the confidential information. It is a complete overview of the effective communication in workplace and healthcare settings. (Bertelsen & Goodboy, 2009)

1. LOC 1:

1.1 Care Settings:

Effective communication is the vital and vital part of the patient centred care, and NHS made it the principal component while working in the care settings. NHS has introduced various policies to both the external and the internal communication. In the care settings staff must adopt the self by meeting the demands of the individuals. For example, if a patient has dementia, then in this condition, effective communication will be playing the leading role in adult care settings. Significant interaction requires good communication, and that can only be possible by responding to a person in the healthcare setting and by listening to him completely. NHS guidelines and UK legislation has different policies in regard to this. (Limberly , 2018)

1.2 Work Setting:

In the context of a particular work role, effective communication is highly essential for supporting a work setting. Various dimensions are associated with the workplace settings and the social care scenarios like for defining the goals and expectations to the entire time. For team building, communication is required. Workplace demands effective communication without any barrier. Also, for maintaining the morale of the employee, satisfaction, productivity and efficiency; effective communication plays a highly essential role. While working in a healthcare setting, health and safety are the most prominent aspects. (Collins, 2009).

1.3 Individual:

For the individual care, effective communication is not only about a good conversation with someone, but it is about reasonably responding to that individual. Individuals do have changed behaviour in all health care and the social care settings, which can only be dealt with by the proper communication. Asking the individuals with closed individuals and supporting them in the real time, especially when they are alone are the demands of the effective communication. These dimensions of the practical communication support and care for the individuals. (Limberly , 2018)

1.4 Reasons of Communication:

Communication is essential as it is associated with a list of reasons. Without communication, interacting with individuals in any healthcare setting is not possible. So, a lot of reasons are there that supports an individual to do effective communication. First of all, for expressing the self, expressions, and the feelings that one have, effective communication is required. Other than this, for sharing the information and for discussing that information, reassurance, and asserting judgements and opinions, communication is the need. Communication focuses on building a relationship and socializing the network. Without contact, one cannot clarify the questions of the information asked. In the health care setting and social care premises, communication is required.

1.4 Affect of communication on relationship at work:

Communication favourably impacts on the healthcare setting relationship at work. In the working environment, effective communication is required for dealing with the colleagues and for developing a good relationship. (Collins, 2009). It also builds a trust level, and one can understand the needs of others. Communication enables the negotiation and helps in the prevention and resolution of a conflict. For improving the policies and the betterment of the healthcare setting, contact is required. It also prevents the outbreak of the misunderstandings in between the workers and ensures roles and responsibilities to get fulfilled. We can understand this scenario well by highlight the theory by Tuckman who discussed different stages to group interaction, which are forming, storming, norming, and performing. (Bertelsen & Goodboy, 2009)

1.5 Managing challenging situations:

Effective communication is not that much easy to implement in the work settings, as theyre a lot of challenging conditions and barriers. First of all, the challenging situation could be the fact of recognition of the signs of warnings in a particular state, which might lead to the involvement of a conflict. While working in a professional setting, meeting the policies and procedures is no less than a challenging situation. Skills and resources must also be present in individuals for dealing with the conditions and for maintaining the record and reporting the incidents of the students.

2. LOC 2:

2.1 Meeting the individual needs:

Effective communication is required while working in any healthcare setting, as it primarily identifies the unique needs of a person. For supporting the personal understanding of the requirements is highly essential, like for getting information about the language, physical disabilities, mental capacities, and the additional learning needs, communication is highly crucial. It assists in the identification of the requirements and preferences following the professional care. Recognizing the individual needs is the top site for the betterment of the working place. During communication, a suitable method must be required along with the definite medium of communication. If a person is facing some disabilities, then alternative ways of communication can be used like British sign language, symbols, images, text, finger sleeping and the communication passports. While some factors like cultures, beliefs, and values must be kept in mind for ensuring effective communication. (Kikoski, 2014)

2.2 Factors to consider:

While communicating, different factors must be kept in mind to prevent the barriers and the challenges to the way of communication. In this context, Agyles communication cycle must be considered, as it will help in evaluating the required factors. Agyle defines a basic model of communication which follows up multiple stages like; ideas occur, message coded, message sent, message received, message decoded, and message understood. All these factors will support effective communication. Reliance on the perceived meaning is the foremost thing to get the level of understanding and the terminology used. This must also be kept in mind that different mediums of communication have other impacts on the communication like face to face and online communication are entirely different. Tuckmans also helping in the identification of the several factors in the group of interaction. Every type of communicated information has a different impact on the individuals like complex, sensitive, formal, and informal do have different dimensions. Purpose of communication and cultural values, beliefs and ideas must be considered while communicating. (Carmon & Pearson, 2013)

2.3 Communication methods and styles:

Communication method and technique is not limited to a single one, but rather than this multiple styles and ways of communication are there like verbal, non verbal and the technological. Verbal communication requires usage of linguistics, pitch and vocabulary. Human aids in another method of communication that requires interpreters and translators. (Collins, 2009). Another communication style is the non verbal form of communication, and this type of communication involves different factors like the body language, gestures like eye contact, posture, stance, touch and behaviour. Another form of non verbal communication is a written document that includes various signs and symbols to be addressed. Written non verbal communication involves fingerspelling, Makaton, and the British sign language. On the other hand PGSS, pidgin, Breille, pictures, and the symbols are also the part of it. Last category of the communication style is technological aids, which involves several methodologies like minicom, telephone relay system, assistive learning technologies (ALT), electronic assistive technology (EAT), and emails. All these communication styles impact differently on the one being communicated. (Kikoski, 2014)

2.4 Responding to a reaction of individual:

Every communication style demands different responding manner like both the verbal and the non verbal responses are different and require additional factors to be kept in mind. in verbal responses the factors that must be considered in a sense includes tone, pitch, and silence. All these factors are involved in responding to a communication. In the case of non verbal responses, the points to be considered include body language, facial expressions, eye contact, gesture and touch. The emotional state of the individual must also be kept in mind, and the involvement of different signs are also essential that a particular set on information has bee understood. Adjusting the communication methods is highly critical here to respond to the individual.

3. LOC 3:

3.1 People from different backgrounds and communication style:

People from different backgrounds have other types of communication, and the influencing features that are involved in this include age, gender, culture, and socio economic status. Other individuals have other kind of communication, and even verbal communication has differences in language, vocabulary, dialect, and the intonations. Same is the case with non verbal communication, which is different based on the differential backgrounds like facial expressions, use of body language, eye contact, as well as the gestures. Every communication style here is interpreted in different barriers as per the different backgrounds.

3.2 Documentation of the barricades:

Effective communication is not easy to proceed, and several obstacles come in the way of communication like language differences, communication lack, different values and beliefs, environmental changes, emotional and behavioural changes, sensory impairment and mental capacity. Other barriers include the different health problems such as every person is treated differently if that person has various health issues. Also, effects of alcohol on the individuals mind and behaviour are the leading barriers. (Carmon & Pearson, 2013)

3.3 Overwhelming the barriers

Overcoming these barriers is highly essential to deliver the message. Different strategies and interventions are required here to deal with the obstacles coming in the way of communication. For overcoming these barriers, a person must have open body language, and must stay positive and non judgemental in every situation. Also, usage of both the technological and the human aids must be kept in mind for communicating the message using the right way and time. The vocabulary used for communication must suit the age of the other person. For this purpose, training of the staff and improvement in environment is highly essential for reducing distractions coming in the way of communication. (Could, 1969)

3.4 Amplification of misunderstandings:

Misunderstandings are expected during the process of communication. But preventive steps must be present in mind for clarifying all the misconceptions. For this purpose, checking upon the reason of misunderstanding will help better in the clarification. Also, body language must be appropriate for it can lead to the misunderstanding. Use of active language, repeating the main point, usage of the visual cues, and delivering clarification using different tools will help significantly in the clarification. Also, the usage of technology and adapting style and tone according to the required situation plays an essential role to transfer the message without any misunderstanding. (Kikoski, 2014)

3.5 Stimulating and complex situations and behaviours:

Different conditions and actions require different communication styles while they also create a challenging environment to communicate. In the workplace and the health care setting, multiple patients face other problematic behaviours like distressing and traumatic events, e.g. bereavement or any accidental situation. Alternatively, threatening and violation are also the sensitive situations occurring as barriers. Every problem has different consequences and results that will surely be problematic for the workplace. Also, every individual has different personal nature like the involvement of sensitive or confidential information. The person with disabilities and the cognitive differences also play a part in complex situations. (Could, 1969)

3.6 Using communication skills to manage situations and behaviours:

Different communication skills are required for the effective management of the conditions and actions. The leading communication skills as are necessary for this are adjusting the tone and pitch, dealing with the well considered responses, responding the right way, and maintaining a peaceful environment, and implementation of different diffusing challenges. Showing the other person with care, empathy, and support are also highly essential here to actively listen and welcome the individuals. Behaviour must be positive, non judgmental, valuing other peoples opinion, and positive role modelling are some of the skills required for effective communication. (Gregory, 2008)

3.7 Accessing support services:

Accessing support services are those that function to deal with the communication barriers and to promote effective communication. The leading accessing support services included here are interpreting services, speech and language services, translation services, advocacy services, and the services by the third sector organization. All these services will support the effective communication. Several third sector organizations are present in the UK for the betterment of these services like stroke association and action on the hearing loss.

3.8 Resolution and principles of sovereign advocacy:

Advocacy services have different principles and are used for multiple purposes. UK has additional advocacy services and direction to support the effective communication and to deal with the barriers. The leading advocacy services provided include support empower advocate promote (SEAP), British institute of learning disabilities (BILD), IMCAs, and action on hearing loss. Different circumstances have different purposes of substantial difficulty like assessment, planning, care review, and safeguarding. Other types of services provided here include empowerment, providing, choices, options, and speaking about others issues.

3.9 Involvement of an advocate:

Involvement of advocate is highly essential to do effective communication. Different situations require the participation of an advocate to deliver the message right away. If a workplace setting has behavioural issues like anxiety, stress, confusion, anger, inability to retain information, then, in this case, advocate is required. Also, if there is a specific type of impairment and difficulty in impression the self opinions and views, then, in this case, advocate is highly needed.

4. LOC 4:

4.1 Confidentiality:

UK law system puts a great emphasis on the secrecy as per the section of the Data Protection Act 1998. In this act, confidentiality information is the greatest asset that one must not disclose, and it is legally unethical, unfair, and unacceptable. (Simkin, 2002). According to the data protection act, different policies are made that support sharing of the confidential information. The type of information that can be shared is if it involves the sensitive information regarding law, policies, and if that information can harm the environment of the workplace setting. Considering the well being and safety are essential factors to be viewed here. While the information that can be shared is the involvement of the individual self expression, needs and opinions without harming anyone. Individuals are highly permitted to save the information that is harming no one either that information impact on anyone negatively. (Could, 1969)

4.2 Maintaining confidentiality in day by day communication:

Different mediums can be used to maintain the confidential information. The three main types of information are paper based, electronic and the verbal and hearsay. One must be involving all those individuals who are authorized to handle sensitive information. Also, a person must be acknowledging different ways to include handle verbal communication like disclosure from individuals, families, and carers.(Data protection act UK, 1998). Referral and training are also required here. Receiving the information right way and driving the sensitive data is critical here to address. Every workplace has its policies and procedures to deal with the maintenance of the confidential information. These systems include the involvement of confidentiality in various aspects like sharing of the word, legislation, policies, procedures, and verbal communication. Other functions include report writing, reporting accidents, handling the sensitive information and dealing with the roles of the individuals.

4.3 Tensions caused by confidentiality:

Maintenance of confidentiality is not an easy process, and a lot of challenges and barriers are associated with it.(Data protection act UK, 1998).  First of all, a proper consent is required before sharing the information, and the individual must know the right time to share information. Other than this, he must know need to know to deal with the policies of confidentiality. Need of transparent system and protocols to share the information are the tensions to deal with. (Gregory, 2008)

Conclusion:

In the concluding note, the essence of the document is that effective communication is a highly essential part of any workplace setting and plays a role in delivering and responding to a specific type of information. Also, multiple challenges and barriers are present regarding effective communication. These challenges come due to the people of different backgrounds and the differential policies of the organizations. The walls need to be addressed for responding to the message right away. Confidentiality is another important concept of maintaining the information and keeping that information secure as per the data protection act (1998).

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