Unit 501

Unit 501 – Use and develop systems that promote communication

Learning outcome 1 – Be able to address the range of communication   requirements in own role

      1.1 Review   the   range   of   groups   and   individuals   whose   communication needs must be addressed in own job role

Within the job role of manager good communication skills are essential in order to develop positive relationships and share information with people using services. You also need to be able to communicate well with people’s families and/or carers as well as with your colleagues and other professionals. You need to be aware of the individual service users preferred methods of communication and also to support them to use their preferred method. People within the setting have the right to communicate through their chosen method and their choice should be acknowledged and respected by supporting them. Within my job role there are different groups of individuals with different types of communication needs. The groups of people within my job role include people with:

        * Dementia.
        * Mental health problems.
        * Physical disabilities – Stroke.
        * Age related hearing loss.
        * Age related sight loss.

All of the above can affect how an individual can communicate and the ways in which they must be supported.

Dementia

Dementia is a progressive disorder that can affect an individual’s long and short- term memory. It can also affect an individual’s recognition of people or things, speech, understanding, concentration, orientation and motivation.

Mental health problems

This is when someone experiences significant changes in their thinking, feelings or behaviour. The changes need to be bad enough to affect how the person functions or to cause distress to them or to other people.

Physical disabilities

When the physical disability affects the individual’s facial muscles or vocal cords, their verbal communication can be affected. If it affects their bodily...