Communication in a health and social care setting can have a direct or indirect effect on the health and wellbeing of the people you’re working with. Communication is about more than just the words you speak. It’s also about your body language, listening skills, empathy, written communication, and more.
Mastering effective communication skills will make you the best carer you can be, and bring an edge to your care practices. This will make you stand out from the crowd and build a lasting relationship with your patients.
To exchange information and build lasting relationships, you need to master the art of effective communication. If you’re treating vulnerable people, the need for trust and rapport is more important than ever.
In health and social care, effective communication is achieved when the person on the receiving end of your communication understands your message and feels supported. It’s a simple enough premise, right? However, there are several factors that determine how successful your communication is.
So, how do you level up your communication skills and bring your best self to the table? Well, there are a few things you need to strive to be to communicate effectively:
Not sure where to start? Well, you’ll usually be required to go through some specific training on your communication skills so you can support your patients in a care setting. If you’re not there yet, here are some tips you can use to set you off on the right path:
Use plain and simple language to talk to your patients. Repeat phrases if you need to, use visuals, monitor body language, and encourage patients to ask questions. There’s no need to overcomplicate your speech, so keep things simple.
Patients with limited literacy or English skills, or even those who use sign language, face a big barrier in their care. This can have a direct impact on their health. Always consider the needs of your patients, and be inclusive where you can by offering the appropriate resources.
Sometimes, when we’re not being verbal, our bodies do the talking. If you’re stressed or anxious, you may be conveying this to your patients physically, which could make them distressed. So take some time to self-regulate and be aware of your body language.
Vulnerable people may have limited literacy skills, language barriers, or restrictive physical conditions that affect how they process information. To overcome these barriers and improve the health and wellbeing of your patients, you need to be able to communicate effectively.
The right communication skills will help you build an invaluable bond with your patients. This will directly impact their care needs. You’ll have a clearer insight into a patient's wants, needs, and mental state, which can help you determine how best to treat and support them.
Empathy is at the heart of health and social care. Empathy is the ability to understand a patient's personal experience without forming a bond with them. Mastering the art of empathy will help you build up a strong, trusting connection with the people in your care simply by putting yourself in their shoes. Empathy also provides a valuable insight into a patient's life and wellbeing and helps you to provide a more personal approach to different types of care.
Empathy is an important communication skill to have under your belt. When you work in health and social care, your patients look to you for support, trust, and advice. You need to be as empathetic as possible to make them feel comfortable and meet their care needs.
Some notable empathy-building strategies include:
Choosing a career in care is about more than just showing up and getting the job done. To be a carer, you need to be compassionate and nurturing, and have those all-important communication skills in your back pocket.
Patience, empathy, and positivity are at the core of health and social care. If you think you have what it takes to break into care, contact Kent Care Professionals today to kickstart your career.
As part of the development of recruitment around the care sector in Kent - Kent Care Professionals have a number of roles live and readily available now. Please click here to search for those roles and apply for your next step in social care in Kent.
