H/615/3824 Communication for Health and Social Care Assignment – Level 3 diploma in Health and Social Care

Task 1

1.1: Describe the methods used to communicate in health and social care

Communication allows healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, surgeons, allied health staff and carers) and decision-making to be collaborative as well as ensuring that patients and their families are informed and involved in decision-making. Communication is possible in various forms and they are verbal, nonverbal, written, formal and informal (Sharkiya, 2023; Crimlisk et al., 2022). Verbal communication is a type of communication with the use of words spoken, and is possible when talking to a doctor about a course of treatment, a nurse about a course of action when performing a surgical operation, or a multidisciplinary team about observations during a handover. Another type of communication, which is quite significant, is nonverbal, and it can also involve eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, tonal voice and posture (Gheshlagh et al., 2024).

1.2: Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both formal and informal communication methods.

Formal communication adopted and leads to reliability of interaction which especially significant for legal accountability. It implies that things are done similarly and that critical fact is not disrespected. On the other hand, informal communication is more rapid and can be more emotionally helpful. It enables the health professionals to provide and obtain feedback, establish trust with patients, and make communication more human (Zou et al., 2025). However, its informality may also pose dangers, including being misunderstood, spreading rumors or lack of reliability especially due to the lack of written record.

1.3: Outline the principles of effective communication.

The concepts of effective communication play a vital role in the delivery of messages in the right way and manner. Among the most famous models is the “7 Cs of Communication” that underline courtesy, clarity, conciseness, completeness, correctness, concreteness and credibility. Courtesy is the act of respecting and being considerate of patients and other colleagues. Clarity deals with the utilization of simple, easy to understand language, it does not use jargons unless it is essential (Coyne et al., 2025). There is brevity which makes the communication straight forward without adding unrelated information to the listener. Completeness is important because all the necessary information should be used in order to make sure that recipients comprehend the message well.

1.4: Explain potential barriers and how they can be overcome.

Although the intentions may be good, barriers to communication tend to disrupt effective communication in health and social care. Perceptual barriers can arise when the people receive the information in the wrong way, and that is mostly determined by personal prejudices which can be resolved by listening and empathy. There is also a problem of language barrier especially in cases where the patients fail to comprehend medical terminologies or where English is not their native language. They can be minimized through the use of the plain language or the hiring of interpreters (Crimlisk et al., 2022). Hierarchical culture or disrespect may prevent staffs to speak up; however, inclusivity and hierarchies can be encouraged by promoting flattening hierarchies. In some instances, the emotional barriers e.g. anxiety, fear or stress will be a hindrance to the patients expressing themselves freely, development of trust and reassurance is necessary in such situations.

Task 2

2.1: Discuss the different methods of oral and written communication found commonly in health and social care.

The health and social care communication has various forms based on the context. Oral communication is often adopted in consultation, team briefings, counselling sessions and handovers and assists professionals in comprehending patient needs, engage them in decision making and reassure. Eye contact, open body language, nodding or signs of support in nonverbal communication is important in building trust especially in cases where a patient is nervous or has difficulty in verbal communication. Another factor that is significant in maintaining accuracy and accountability is written communication (Pharm et al., 2021; Seerig et al., 2024)..

2.2: Produce an oral presentation and deliver to an audience at appropriate level. Presentations on oral presentations are widely utilized to share knowledge, train the staff or short-term teams regarding work with patients. In order to have an effective presentation, preparation is essential. The presenter should know the audience and the subject matter, to plan what he will say in his presentation logically and have visual aids ready in case of need. They should also be delivered with clarity and the right volume and tone without a monotonous reading style (Howick et al., 2024; Tahsin et al., 2023). Eye contact and involvement of the audience are the keys to keeping the interest.

2.3: Produce a written communication that is appropriate for your organisational role

To: Care Manager

Name of the subject: Resident Mr. Jones Observation Report.

Dear

I am addressing you to give an update on Mr. Jones who is one of the residents under my care.

I noticed that Mr. Jones seemed lost and inattentive during the evening round on the 15th July.

He had some abnormal behaviour such as inability to answer questions and restlessness. I made sure that he was constantly observed during the night and recorded all the observations in his care record. These observations suggest that I would advise the review of his current medication and the follow-up with his GP to guarantee his safety and wellbeing. I can be contacted to give additional information or help in coordinating the review in case of need. Kind regards, Care Support Worker

Task 3

3.1: Discuss the benefits and potential hazards of using technology in communications for organisations.

ICT has altered the communication process within the health and social care. It also facilitates the utilization of the electronic health records, telemediation, online consultations and digital care coordination and sharing of reports. ICT also enhances efficiency as less paperwork duplication is done and the accuracy of data is increased, which saves time and costs. It also supports continuity of care since it allows various medical practitioners to update and access the same patient records in real time (Gheshlagh et al., 2024; Zhu et al., 2024).. Patient portals and mobile applications are some tools that enable patients to interact with their care and track their health and learning materials.

3.2: Discuss the benefits and potential hazards of using technology in communications for service users

The gains that are accredited to ICT are broad. Telehealth enables patients to have easier access to healthcare even in rural setting. Almost real-time sharing of reports and test results can result in the faster treatment decision. It enhances coordination among teams and also decreases the

workloads of the administration. ICT is, however, associated with risks. Among the most dangerous concerns are privacy violations and unauthorized access of data.

3.3: Explain the issues around data protection and how it is implemented in health and social care

Data about patients is a legal and ethical concern in health and social care. The health services are to be in line with the laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that regulates the usage, storage and sharing of personal information. The violation should be reported in these frameworks within rigid time frames and patients should have rights to their information such as access and correction. The mitigation strategies consist of encryption, access control, multi-factor authentication, and training the personnel to be aware of the risks of data protection. With the use of these tips, healthcare providers are able to uphold confidentiality and establish trust with the patients and prevent severe legal or financial repercussions (Pharm et al., 2021).

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