Confidentiality

Rhianna Todd

UNIT 301 Principles of communication in adult social care settings.


Understand why effective communication is important in adult social care settings

1.1 Identify the different reasons people communicate.
The aim of verbal and non-verbal communication could be to, covey a message, influence a persons behaviour, express feelings, explain behaviour or clarify another’s behaviour, form and maintain relationships, solve problems, achieve goals, resolve conflict, stimulate interest in self or others and to comfort.

The benefits of verbally communicating with a service user can mean that the service user’s problems are identified more accurately, the service user is more satisfied with their care and has a better understanding of their problems and therefore is more likely to comply with treatment or lifestyle advice.
Quality of care can be improved by ensuring that the service user’s views are taken into account and understood and as a result, risk of depression and vulnerability is lessened.  

According to Chambers English Dictionary, the definition of Effective Communication is - Successful in producing a result or effect - To succeed in conveying ones meaning to others.

1.2 Explain how communication affects relationships in an adult social care setting.
There are many factors that enhance communication between the service provider and the variety of people they come across in the care setting, including the service user.
Messages sent and received through communication can have the potential to define the relationship between various parties in the health care setting.   As Peate (2006) explains, communication is required in order to fulfil defined goals, for example, to transmit facts, feelings, meanings and information.

Trust must be earned by the service provider from the service user and their relatives. Good communicational skills can help to establish trust. This is important as the service user will often resist in expressing their...