Promote Communication In People's Settings
SHC31 – PROMOTE COMMUNICATION IN CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SETTINGS
Describe factors to consider regarding effective communication
Communication has to be carried out effectively to make sure the recipient receives the information they require and that information they are giving is received correctly.
The method of communication that should be used will depend on the situation; face-to-face, letter, phone call, email, report are all forms that are commonly used. It is not always appropriate to write a letter when a simple face-to-face meeting will suffice. If the information you wish to give is lengthy and important, you may prefer to write a report or letter so that the recipient can refer back to check dates, times etc.
Face-to-face communication …show more content…
is direct and swift, it gives the opportunity to listen informally. If this type of communication is being used then a quiet place should be chosen so that there is no distraction on either side. It is very distracting if you are trying to have a conversation with someone who is looking at what is going on over the other side of the room. Alternatively, if a parent is giving some important information and there is a lot of noise in the room, then the information given may not be fully understood. So, it is beneficial on both sides to have a quiet, calm place to communicate. A disadvantage of face-to-face communication is that it is difficult to record if there is information to remember.
Personal space should be respected whilst taking to an adult as getting too close can feel threatening but this is different is you are communicating with a child as they need to know that they have your full attention and often, the only way to do this is to get down to their level and sometimes use touch to emphasise that you are fully engaged with them.
Body language is important as eye contact and posture are a great way of showing you are listening and are interested in what the other person is saying to you. If you are listening, then it is important to be fully engaged with the person talking. You should show that you understand what they are saying, use eye contact and face the person talking. Positive body language will be welcomed by the speaker as they will know they are being listening to. If someone looks bored when you are speaking to them, then it is unlikely that they are taking in what is being said to them. Cultural differences should be respected when talking to some parents as, for example, not all cultures appreciate eye contact.
Written communication can be a very effective form of communication when the need for information is permanent and the topic being written about requires explanation.
It is useful for fees letters, opening times, dates, holidays etc. It enables a permanent record to be kept and looked back on. A disadvantage of written communication is that it needs to be clear and in an easy to understand format. Also, parents without good reading skills, or parents with English as a second language; will find this type of communication difficult.
Emails are being used more and more with the new technology available and to some parents; this is a good, effective form of communication as they can have instant information, especially if they use their mobile phones for email. This type of communication won’t suit all parents and this should be kept in mind when deciding which type of communication to use. Also, emails can get lost in the system or deleted very easily.
Phone calls are ideal to get a quick response from someone or to relay a piece of relevant information swiftly but phone calls can be open to misinterpretation and can be time consuming if the person on the other end has difficulties taking in the
information.
Sometimes it may be necessary to use a form of communication that is not widely used on a day-to-day basis such as sign language or visual aids. These will benefit greatly those with hearing problems as they enable the message to get across in an alternative format.
Overall, if communication is going to be effective, then the correct method should be used to make sure our message gets across as we intend it to.
Describe factors to consider regarding effective communication
Communication has to be carried out effectively to make sure the recipient receives the information they require and that information they are giving is received correctly.
The method of communication that should be used will depend on the situation; face-to-face, letter, phone call, email, report are all forms that are commonly used. It is not always appropriate to write a letter when a simple face-to-face meeting will suffice. If the information you wish to give is lengthy and important, you may prefer to write a report or letter so that the recipient can refer back to check dates, times etc.
Face-to-face communication …show more content…
is direct and swift, it gives the opportunity to listen informally. If this type of communication is being used then a quiet place should be chosen so that there is no distraction on either side. It is very distracting if you are trying to have a conversation with someone who is looking at what is going on over the other side of the room. Alternatively, if a parent is giving some important information and there is a lot of noise in the room, then the information given may not be fully understood. So, it is beneficial on both sides to have a quiet, calm place to communicate. A disadvantage of face-to-face communication is that it is difficult to record if there is information to remember.
Personal space should be respected whilst taking to an adult as getting too close can feel threatening but this is different is you are communicating with a child as they need to know that they have your full attention and often, the only way to do this is to get down to their level and sometimes use touch to emphasise that you are fully engaged with them.
Body language is important as eye contact and posture are a great way of showing you are listening and are interested in what the other person is saying to you. If you are listening, then it is important to be fully engaged with the person talking. You should show that you understand what they are saying, use eye contact and face the person talking. Positive body language will be welcomed by the speaker as they will know they are being listening to. If someone looks bored when you are speaking to them, then it is unlikely that they are taking in what is being said to them. Cultural differences should be respected when talking to some parents as, for example, not all cultures appreciate eye contact.
Written communication can be a very effective form of communication when the need for information is permanent and the topic being written about requires explanation.
It is useful for fees letters, opening times, dates, holidays etc. It enables a permanent record to be kept and looked back on. A disadvantage of written communication is that it needs to be clear and in an easy to understand format. Also, parents without good reading skills, or parents with English as a second language; will find this type of communication difficult.
Emails are being used more and more with the new technology available and to some parents; this is a good, effective form of communication as they can have instant information, especially if they use their mobile phones for email. This type of communication won’t suit all parents and this should be kept in mind when deciding which type of communication to use. Also, emails can get lost in the system or deleted very easily.
Phone calls are ideal to get a quick response from someone or to relay a piece of relevant information swiftly but phone calls can be open to misinterpretation and can be time consuming if the person on the other end has difficulties taking in the
information.
Sometimes it may be necessary to use a form of communication that is not widely used on a day-to-day basis such as sign language or visual aids. These will benefit greatly those with hearing problems as they enable the message to get across in an alternative format.
Overall, if communication is going to be effective, then the correct method should be used to make sure our message gets across as we intend it to.