Social Care

HSC31

Promote effective communication with, for and about
individuals

Elements of Competence
HSC31a
HSC31b
HSC31c
HSC31d

Identify ways to communicate effectively
Communicate effectively on difficult, complex and sensitive issues
Support individuals to communicate
Update and maintain records and reports

About this unit 1
For this unit you need to identify ways of communicating on difficult, complex
and sensitive issues; support others to communicate and update and maintain
records and reports.
Scope
The scope is here to give you guidance on possible areas to be covered in this
unit. The terms in this section give you a list of options linked with items in the
performance criteria. You need to provide evidence for any option related to
your work area.
Communication and language needs and preferences: the individual’s
preferred spoken language; the use of signs; symbols; pictures; writing;
objects of reference; communication passports; other non verbal forms of
communication; human and technological aids to communication.
Difficult, complex and sensitive communications are likely to be:
distressing; traumatic; frightening; threatening; posing a risk to and/or having
serous implications for the individuals and/or key people; communications that
might be difficult to understand and assimilate; about sensitive issues
including those of a personal nature.
Extra support can include the use of: key people; interpreters; translators;
signers; speech and language therapists; specialist equipment to aid the
individual’s communication abilities.
Key people include: family; friends; carers; others with whom the individual
has a supportive relationship.
Your knowledge and understanding for this unit will relate to legal
requirements and codes of practice applicable to the scope of your work and
others with whom you work; the nature of the work you are undertaking; your
role and level of responsibility within your organisation (e.g. whether you have
responsibility to support...