Communication is a vital component of Social Work as it’s the driving force in engagement and the building of professional relationships. Without effective communication skills, practitioners are unable to find out what the service users, carers and professionals are thinking and feeling, provide clear and accurate information, interpret complex situations accurately or negotiate, mediate and intervene sensitively, authoritatively and appropriately (SCIE, cited 11th February 2014).
Communication involves a complex web of thinking, actions and interaction and it’s not just about what’s said and how it’s said, it’s also about the method by which information is communicated and how it’s received. The way in which we communicate can be determined through many forms but many think about this only in the verbal sense. However, communication is central to effective social work practice and can take many forms including speech and language, the written word and through other devices such as recordings etc. We must ensure that we have a clear understanding of a person’s needs and their preferred method of communication to ensure it’s effective. Non verbal communication can be just as important and it’s these forms that can often lead to misinterpretation, such as body language, choice of words and language used the way a person dresses or the use of space or distance. These components can completely change the way in which we communicate and how those messages are received by others (SCIE, cited 11th February 2014).
Communication accommodation theory seeks to explain and help us to understand the impact our choices of interaction have upon our audience. Howard Giles, the founder of this theory argues that “when people interact they adj...
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...approached this with the same confidence I use in my substantive position I would have benefitted a lot more from the experience and given the service user more of an opportunity to engage with me. I will ensure that in future instead of focusing upon their additional needs and limitations in their ability to communicate in certain ways I will concentrate on their preferred method of interaction and use that to engage them more fully (NOS 9, Pi. 1 and 2).
Communication is an extremely powerful tool and we must always remain conscious that the methods we use can be interpreted differently to what it is intended. It is a vital component in our engagement with service users and we must always strive to ensure that we are doing so appropriately all the while respecting their rights and views and prioritising methods according to their ability and needs as an individual
As a result of this, interprofessional communication is important if nurses and other professionals are to deliver quality care and meet the health needs of the service user. Goodman and Clemow (2010) suggest that nurses must communicate safely and effectively with service users, professionals and other service provider using respect, care, compassion and dignity. In the same way Burnard and Gill (2014), suggest that effective communication is significant in the delivery of quality nursing care. Another reason why interprofessional communication is important is that, people with a learning disability have complex health need which requires collaborative working between professionals and collaborative working cannot function well without interprofessional communication (Lacey & Oyvry,
This assignment will give a reflective account of two main communication skills that are important for relationship-based practice in social work. Relationship based practice is important in social work, this establishes a positive relationship with professionals and service users. In agreement of Carl Rogers (2012) and Threvithick (2012) it is vital to establish relationship based practice because it demonstrates social workers are trustworthy and dependable, this will enable the service users feel more confident to disclose information, be more open rather than distrustful and taking all the support in consideration rather than being wary. Relationship based practice supports unpretentious approach with service users and carries out progressive
A strategy for clear and precise messaging recognizes when it is appropriate to be exact and when it is suitable to be vague. Using the full range of language to communicate with external and internal audiences allows for flexibility and choices for audiences (Bostrom & Associates, 1991). When Hopalong sends
Interviewing and research skills are needed within the social work profession. Effective communication skills are one of the most crucial components of a social worker’s job. Every day, social workers must communicate with clients to gain information, convey critical information and make important decisions (Zeiger, 2017). This interview experience was an opportunity to explore the daily challenges and rewards of a licensed social worker. I was excited for the opportunity to interview a social worker in the gerontology sector as this is a specialty I am considering. This meeting allowed me to explore the educational steps of being a social worker, practices of the agency, the clients who are served, and the challenges the agency has.
In health and social care effective communication a key skill all professionals should have when working with families, carers, children and young people. Having this skill helps to build trust it can also encourage the individual to use the services. Effective communication is essential when trying to establish and maintain relationships and it is a process that involves listening, questioning, responding and understanding. However there are many barriers that can effect how effective the communication is a few examples of these barriers could be: language, personality, visual or auditory impairment or a disability. In order to over come these barriers there have been many advances in the strategies that can help in situations where the communication is not effective, a strategy is a method or a plan that can help someone or something succeed in achieving a goal or result.
In health care, communication is categorised as a teamwork-related performance that helps ensure patient safety, which cannot be miscalculated. The message is shared in between verbal and non-verbal communication. (Chard and Makary, 2015). As part of a health care team it is recommended to have effective communication skills and negotiation techniques to achieve best outcomes at the same time respecting the dignity and human rights of all troubled. (Bach and Grant, 2015). Berlo, 1960 considered communication in four steps that begins from the sender sending the message through the channel to the receiver. Perugia, 2015 also support Berlo’s four steps of communication and states that as an assistant practitioner it is our responsibility to use this type of communication in our daily
Communication plays a major role in preventing and resolving behavior problems and enhancing your patient’s quality of life by allowing them to feel, even when they no longer know or recognize those around them that they are in the midst of people who care about them and are concerned about their physical and emotional well being.
Working with others and improving own learning and performance are highly essential skills in social work. In this essay I will reflect on how well I have developed these two skills and what I need to do to improve them.
Communication involves the exchange of messages and is a process which all individuals participate in. Whether it is through spoken word, written word, non-verbal means or even silence, messages are constantly being exchanged between individuals or groups of people (Bach & Grant 2009). All behaviour has a message and communication is a process which individuals cannot avoid being involved with (Ellis et al 1995).
Watson, D & West, J 2006, Social work process and practice: approaches, knowledge, and skills, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York.
The verbal communication goal is to encourage the client to fully express the changes and wants of set outcomes established. Both verbal and non- communication can have an impact on the client once interaction is met. Non-verbal communication consists of body language, facial expressions, closeness, and eye contact (Schore, 2008). If a client senses the listener is uninterested or showing signs of discomfort due to their diagnosis or disability, it can cause one to be unengaged in the conversation. Verbal communication can also result in the same disengagement due to the social worker/ therapist tone of voice. Social workers are to be mindful and educated on the background of the client being served to be aware of the different approaches to take when engaging with the individual. The social work intern effective of non-verbal communication skills as the client continued to discuss her life before her recent hospitalization. The social work intern ensured to make steady eye contact, in which the client was receptive of. The social work intern also created a posture that created empathic body language, allowing the client to be more open during
Wilson, K. et. al., 2011. Social Work ' Introduction to Contemporary Practice'. 2nd ed. Essex, England.: Pearson Education Ltd .
I feel very fortunate to have found my supervisor. She is so knowledgeable and generous with her knowledge. In our reading this week I believe my supervisor would be defined as expressive (Russell-Chapin, 2016). She is easy to talk to and she likes to hear about all of my concerns, including logistical issues. After the second week, she started to encourage me to come up with my own solutions. She no longer provided me with readings and long dialogues of what to do next, instead she would ask me what I thought. I truly enjoy these conversations and she guides me on a path to follow my own instincts and to trust my judgment.
Today’s skills session on social work interviewing skills covered the uniqueness of social work interviewing in comparison to interviews conducted in professions such as the police, doctors, employers, etc. It covered also different types of questioning and how to paraphrase. Another area covered was, what to avoid when interviewing a service user and the use of silence. I leant that interview skills are fundamental in social work and social work interviewing is unique. Social workers empathize with clients because of their knowledge of the client group and the need of help to alleviate their problems. Empathy however does not equate accepting that the client is right in what they have done or that the social worker is condoning their actions. Empathy relates to the issue of ‘trusting’ and ‘believing’ the client. In as much as a social worker should seek to establish trust in the relationship, this does not necessarily mean they should believe
The one thing that I wish I could have done was sit in on some of the more serious counseling that happened between my supervisor and some students. I was not allowed to observe/participate in these sessions due to Indiana law. However, if I was in a graduate program I would be allowed to sit in these situations and possible learn new techniques, methods, and ideas on how to handle these situations. I was allowed to sit on some cases that were not super serious, but that was only if I had permission form the parent, student, and my supervisor. My only other concern was that earlier on me and my supervisor had a hard time communicating to each other, but we resolved the issue quickly and have been in constant contact ever since.