Hi, some suggestions which may help:
An introduction such as why do we communicate, (express feelings, build relationships, to be sociable, to offer support, guidance, to ask & answer questions, share ideas, experiences, to pass on info incl. giving a warning.)
Think about how you communicate with different people in different situations e.g. with people you know & people you don't know, situations you're familiar with & those you're not, how being relaxed & assertive impacts on how you communicate, if you're short of time or stressed how this affects how you communicate & the impact on the individual you're working with, also how these, & other factors, can affect the individual, e.g. how they might be feeling if they feel excluded from a conversation.
The words used, tone of voice, pitch & pace, personal space, how invading someone's personal space can inhibit good communication.
Think about the environment: not too noisy, hot, cold, not too bright/dark light, be aware of other individuals around, respect privacy, remove distractions if possible e.g. turn tv down/off
What can cause a breakdown in communication, e.g. messages not being passed on, consequence for yourself & individual.
The individual's preferred method of communication, you have a responsibility to use this to enable effective communication to take place.
Important to get to know the person, spend time with them, read their Support/Care Plan, Risk Assessments, speak with their family members, your colleagues, but don't judge or assume, remember confidentiality, respect the individual's right to privacy.
Identify your training needs, e.g. working with people who have a sensory impairment or people with communication difficulties, a person who has Autism or someone who has had a stroke.
The training you have received, do you require specialist training e.g. the use of Makaton, British Sign Language, Deafblind Alphabet, the use of story boards, signs, symbols, photos, objects of reference, equipment such as TypeTalk, Telecare, Text to Speech software, art therapy, music therapy
Working with other professionals such as Speech & Language Therapists, Interpreters, etc.
Re. communication equipment: it may need setting up by a qualified engineer or specialist person, individual & staff may need training on how to use it, does it need servicing, maintenance check, how often & by whom. What could be the impact on individual if the equipment wasn't working e.g. health & safety - not working in an emergency - frustration, stress, isolation. Think about a piece of equipment you use & how you'd feel if it wasn't working properly & who you would call on? |
