LEVEL1/2 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

C O M M U N I C AT I N G A N D W O R K I N G W I T H I N D I V I D U A L S I N H E A LT H , S O C I A L C A R E A N D

E A R LY Y E A R S S E T T I N G S

TITLE: FACTORS THAT POSITIVELY INFLUENCE COMMUNICATION

What the exam board says you need to know

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS • The physical environment plays an important part in all communications in health, social care and

early years settings. There is a range of ways in which the physical environment can positively

influence communications.

Look at this picture

and identify good and

bad points about the

layout – how would

this layout help or

hinder communication?

https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=8Ox5LhIJSBE

Outside

HEATING Think about how heating could help communication in health, social care and early years settings • provides comfort - an environment that is warm and not too hot or cold can make individuals feel

comfortable and relaxed; a good environment for positive communications • minimises distraction, i.e. individuals can focus on the communication rather than on the fact they

may feel too hot or too cold • reinforces well-being - an older individual or an individual with a physical disability or condition may

require a warm environment.

• Holding a discussion with an individual in the lounge, where the temperature is warm, is inviting and more likely to engage the individual from the outset.

• Playing a quiz with young people in a room that is at a warm and comfortable temperature will promote their active participation and interest.

• Supporting an older individual with bathing in a warm bathroom encourages a more pleasant experience and increases the likelihood of them enjoying it.

Think about your own recent experiences at school – how much easier is it to learn if you are not too hot or too cold?

VENTILATION

Types of ventilation

Opening doors

Opening windows

Using air conditioning

Using fans

Explain how each of these may have a

positive influence on communication

VENTILATION

Examples of how ventilation can positively influence communications:

• Encouraging individuals to open their doors and windows will help them to feel better in

themselves as they experience the free moving air. This in turn will have an impact on their

interactions and communications with others – particularly important for individuals who are

unable to go out and leave their homes frequently.

• Ensuring an area such as a small meeting room or lounge is well ventilated, for instance by

using air conditioning or a fan, can help to ensure those environments are comfortable and

not stuffy.

ROOM LAYOUT How room layout can positively influence communications:

• Seating arrangements can encourage positive communications - seats that are close to each other and

slightly turned but not facing each other can encourage individuals to interact and communicate.

• Seating arrangements can encourage the inclusion of individuals with different needs - seats that are arranged in small groups or in pairs can encourage individuals who are shy, have limited communication, a hearing loss or a visual impairment to initiate and respond to communications.

• A room’s layout can encourage positive communications - rooms that are not cluttered, have private areas and areas of open space are perceived as more welcoming and can enable individuals, depending on their needs, to have positive communications.

• Room layout can encourage positive communications about difficult or complex topics - having a room that contains no table, comfortable armchairs and simple but pleasant furnishings can be a suitable environment to discuss an individual’s experience of a recent, difficult transition or bereavement.

Task:

Draw and label a plan view of the classroom. Annotate to give good and bad points about the layout of

the room. Annotate any other environmental factors that afftect learning in the room

LIGHTING Type of lighting:

• Natural daylight can encourage feelings of well-being, i.e. opening the curtains/blinds can make

a previously dark room seem more inviting and therefore a good environment in which to

communicate and interact with others.

• Switching on the lights and dimming the lights can create different ‘moods’ that can be more

receptive to different types of communications, i.e. low lighting creates a relaxed mood, full

lighting can create an active mood.

Use of lighting:

• Creating a mixture of dimly lit and well-lit areas can be particularly important for individuals

who have visual loss and can prepare them for different types of communications with others.

• Areas that are well lit can be particularly important for individuals who have a hearing loss, i.e.

to lip read, to reinforce non-verbal messages from facial expressions, body language and

gestures.

NOISE • Lack of noise can create peaceful, calm environments that are suitable for private

communications.

• Minimising background noise can enable individuals with specific needs to be able to hear and

concentrate more easily.

• Controlled noise can create a less intimidating environment. Having some background noise

or familiar noises can enable individuals with specific needs to not feel so anxious when

entering into a new or different environment

Task:

Watch the clip and write down how different environments can positively influence communications with

Kathy

Write a care plan for carers about the types of environments in which Kathy prefers to communicate and

interact with others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAW1khJiJiw

SPECIFICATION RECAP

You need an introduction to your power point on why positive communication is necessary in

health, social care and early years setting.

You need to add to your power point all the environmental factors that positively influence

communication:

HOW MARKS WILL BE AWARDED

TASK 1 (E)

If you use a picture or a quote in your work you MUST type underneath where it came from

Your slide presentation now needs to cover the 5 environmental factors that positively influence

communication (heating, ventilation, lighting, room layout and noise). You MUST include examples of

how these factors influence communication in health, social care and early years settings:

Setting the scene – good communication is everything

In your local area there has been a recent review of the care given in health, social care and early years settings.

One recommendation of the review is that communication needs to be improved when working in these settings.

Care workers will attend three workshops where they will learn about best practice in effective communication.

You must produce a slide presentation and fact sheets which will give clear guidance on how a care worker should

communicate in health, social care and early years settings.

Workshop 1 - the focus is on the different types of communication care workers should use and the factors

that positively influence communication.

R EMEMBER – TH IS I S ONLY PA R T OF TH E F I RST TA SK SO Y OU MUST SAVE Y OUR W ORK A S Y OU W ILL BE A DDING TO I T L ATER ON

INTERPERSONAL FACTORS

‘Interpersonal’ means ‘between people’. There are a variety of factors that could positively influence

communication. These include:

relationships,

personal space,

respecting differences in culture,

body language,

active listening

Watch the clip – discuss what sort of relationship you think the

doctor had with his patient. How well did they communicate?

What helped positive communications?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTuQNWXEGVM

RELATIONSHIPS These can positively influence communications by providing:

feelings of well-being – positive and respectful relationships make people feel better

about themselves and others

opportunities to socialise – good relationships can build confidence and self-esteem

when interacting or communicating

meaningful activity – good relationships can provide people with stimulation and topics

for discussion

information – good relationships between service users and providers will help people

share information

reassurance – good relationships can build mutual trust and respect making good

communication easier

modelling opportunities – good relationships can provide people with ideas and

opportunities to replicate positive communications with others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAlyfPyj99Q

PERSONAL SPACE This is the physical space you maintain

between yourself and others when

communicating

Get into pairs and label yourselves A and B Stand apart, facing each other. Person A walk forwards until person B tells you to stop – this is their personal space. Would you feel comfortable with someone different standing closer to you? Who? How close would you allow your teacher to stand to you? Why?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgJ24hknbHs

PERSONAL SPACE

Personal space in communications is

important because …

it shows your respect

it helps you adapt to different situations

it conveys the correct

information and messages

it avoids misunderstandin

gs and unintentional

messages being conveyed

PERSONAL SPACE

• Sit next to each other, both facing the same way like on a bus with your shoulders almost touching - talk about pets

PERSONAL SPACE

• Sit at an angle to each other so you can see each other but are not facing each other, discuss your favourite TV programme

PERSONAL SPACE • Sit facing each other, knees 10cm apart from the other person’s -

talk about holidays

• Which of the three scenarios that you tried felt the most comfortable? Why?

• How could this be used in health, social care and early years settings

to promote positive communications? • Complete the personal space bit of ws11

RESPECTING DIFFERENT CULTURES This can:

• encourage respectful and therefore positive communications, e.g. be aware of how maintaining eye

contact can be seen as a sign of genuine interest in Western cultures and how avoiding eye contact

in Asian cultures can be seen as respectful

• avoid misunderstandings and therefore encourage positive communications eg touching an adult

on the head in Hispanic cultures can be seen as caring and compassionate, in Western cultures this

is seen as patronising and in Asian cultures as inappropriate.

• vary between individuals and groups of individuals depending on their background, experiences,

views and preferences, so it is important to not make assumptions about what an individual prefers

based on their background or culture. Ask first – doing so will ensure positive communications

• require time and a willingness to find out what the differences are and how they can be respected

for every individual.

BODY LANGUAGE

• We have covered a lot on body language in non-verbal communication – now you need to

look at how body language can be a factor in positive communication

• Positive body language can convey feelings of genuine interest and help with developing

relationships and engaging individuals – e.g. if a child approaches a childcare assistant with their

painting, the childcare assistant can show their genuine interest by lowering themselves down

to the child’s eye level, leaning towards the child and smiling while looking at the painting. The

child in turn will feel pleased, their skill and ability recognised and valued.

• Positive body language can convey feelings of reassurance and help with developing

relationships and engaging individuals – e.g. if a young person wants to speak to an activities

worker about a personal issue, the activities worker can provide reassurance and

understanding by not looking shocked, by using small, calm movements and adopting a slightly

forward stance, leaning towards the individual while respecting their personal space. The child

in turn will feel less awkward/anxious about speaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlBQxCzgRLw

ACTIVE LISTENING Active Listening – Being able to focus, understand, interpret and respond to what is being said

or expressed.

• Hearing the ‘real’ messages and their intentions - by listening to what the individual is actually

saying through both their verbal and non-verbal communication, care practitioners develop

skills to listen not just to the words and what they think these mean but to the real message

that the individual is trying to convey.

• This can promote the development of relationships built on mutual understanding, respect and

trust. Service providers can establish a good understanding of the service user and use this as

the in future communications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWe_ogA5YCU

SPECIFICATION RECAP

You need an introduction to your power point on why positive communication is necessary in

health, social care and early years setting.

You need to add to your power point all the environmental factors that positively influence

communication:

Already on power point

HOW MARKS WILL BE AWARDED

TASK 1 (F)

If you use a picture or a quote in your work you MUST type underneath where it came from

Your slide presentation now needs to cover the 5 interpersonal factors that positively influence

communication (heating, ventilation, lighting, room layout and noise). You MUST include examples of

how these factors influence communication in health, social care and early years settings:

Setting the scene – good communication is everything

In your local area there has been a recent review of the care given in health, social care and early years settings.

One recommendation of the review is that communication needs to be improved when working in these settings.

Care workers will attend three workshops where they will learn about best practice in effective communication.

You must produce a slide presentation and fact sheets which will give clear guidance on how a care worker should

communicate in health, social care and early years settings.

Workshop 1 - the focus is on the different types of communication care workers should use and the factors

that positively influence communication.

R EMEMBER – TH IS I S ONLY PA R T OF TH E F I RST TA SK SO Y OU MUST SAVE Y OUR W ORK A S Y OU W ILL BE A DDING TO I T L ATER ON

Coursework preparation: Before we move onto Task 2 about

Barriers to communication you must summarise what you have found out about factors that positively influence communication. You must explain the following giving examples specific to a HSC setting...

• Environmental: heating and ventilation; room layout; lighting; noise

• Interpersonal: Relationships; personal space; respecting differences in culture; body language; active listening

9-11 marks: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of effective communication. Students produce a thorough explanation of all the different types of communication methods related to a health, social care and early years setting. Examples given are detailed and wholly relevant to a health, social care and early years setting and link theory to practice.

ACTIVITY 4: Save in ‘Moncrieffe Health and Social Care’ as ‘RO22 LO1 Communication YOUR NAME’