Informal communication happens whenever we are in contact with others. Working in health and social care provides constant opportunities for informal communication, including conversations and chats. Informal communication is often unplanned and therefore it is important that care workers always act in an appropriate manner in order that the highest standards are maintained.
Text is used often in care settings. This is not including handwritten information, but the increasing use of email and other electronic forms of communication. Many different types of information are communicated using text, including patient’s records, policies and procedure, letters and memos, and care plans. Care workers frequently have to spend time ensuring that the records are up to date and relevant.
Oral communication is the basis of oral communication is spoken language. However, it is not the only through words that oral communication take place. The cycle of speaking and listening can also be affected by the way which the words are spoken. The tone of voice used by a speaker can affect how the information is received.
Communication does not rely on speech and language. A lot of information is communicated visually and sometimes does not need words to explain messages. This includes the visual messages conveyed by facial expressions and body languages. The use of visual techniques to communicate can be very powerful. Advertising companies develop brand identities that no longer rely on words to convey messages. The use of a certain colour or design is enough to communicate the message.
Touch is the acceptability of touching another person varies from situation to situation. Different cultures have different norms regarding the role of touching as a method of communication. However, there are different rules about how about close people should be in relation to each other. Used appropriately, touch can convey messages of support, caring and affection. In other words, circumstance touch may be seen as suggested dominance or sexual interest. Care workers need to ensure that any circumstance in which they use touch to communicate is appropriate, welcomed and understood by the client.
Music and Drama is a way of communicating and expressing a range of feelings. They can be used when people are having difficulty in expressing themselves in other ways. For example, drama is a way of expressing yourself when you are acting or miming a story or a play and it is good for the patients to help with their communication. Music can be a clam and soothe, relaxing thing for someone.
Art and craft is a way of communication by showing paintings, sculptures, and models. What's more art can be a helpful thing for children because if the client child as a mental health problems or people with learning disabilities maybe art and other things playful to them might help them.
Communication can be also used on technology because many records are now stored electronically and the NHS has begun a massive project to introduce and electronic patient-record system. This will not only keep the details of individuals patients, but also allow GPs to book appointments with hospital consultants and give the patient a choice of which hospital to attend. Technology is also used to diagnose patients and communicate findings. For example, X-rays can be viewed by consultants working in a different hospital without need for bulky pictures to be sent manually from one centre to another.
Speech and language – the word speech and language are often used interchangeable to describe the interaction of people talking to each other. However, speech is linked with how we say words while language defines what we say. Different people have different styles of speaking. Their cultural background or communities may influence these styles.
Slang refers to words that are used in informal language. They are not of standard English expressions and are not expected to have all the words in the sentence or word. Slang words often change as new ones comes.
Dialect can influence and may affect speech and language. They may be differences in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Sometimes the differences the dialect is it words but the person speaking in dialect the way they are saying it is different. For example, Caribbean people talk very different from London English people.
Jargon is the technical or specialised language used by professionals and relates to a specific activity, profession or group. Much like slang, it develops as a kind of shorthand, to quickly express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group. In many cases, a standard term may be given a more precise or specialized usage among practitioners of a field. In many cases this may because a barrier to communication as many may not understand. Care workers need to take particular care to ensure that information has been fully understood by their clients.
Non-verbal interaction are used in everyday communication because of posture and body language for example, the way someone is sitting or standing is shows the feelings of a person in a situation and facial expression this shows what type of facial expression you are making like for example, if you are happy, sad, crying, angry or depressed over something.
Posture and body language we can send messages through the positions of the body. Sometimes the message can show by a posture or using your body language example, your body language can tell a lot about your feelings.
Facial expressions and the type of eye contact that is made are a useful indication of what another person is felling. We subconsciously take in what is being shown through facial expressions and eye contact. However, some people may try to hide their true feelings by controlling their expressions.
Touch is a communication were it is acceptable of touching another person to another while you are using communication but in different cultures have different ways of touching as a method of communication and it is a method of convey messages of support or care. For example if a lady and her friend were hugging and saying hello to each other because of their culture and someone may suggest something else or if someone is felling not well or you need to talk to someone you can help them to understand you.
Gestures can be communications were you use your arms and hand movements can be used to suggest a meaning. For example, if I wanted to wave my hand just so I can communicate to my friend by saying hi to them.
Silence can convey a message of support or care. For example, sometimes it is good to have silence because a space can give a person a sense of clam and an unrushed approach if there are in a troubled way.
Proximity is the physical space between people known as their proximity and sometimes shows how friendly or intimate the conversation is. Different cultures have different behaviours with respect to the space between people who are talking.
Reflective listening can be often understand other peoples emotion just by watching their non-verbal communication but you cant always understand someone’s thoughts without good listening skills.
Variation between cultures is we have already suggested that there may be significant variation between different cultures. These variations may be in attitudes, as well as in language and non-verbal communication.
Listening and reflecting back is communication is a two way process. It requires that messages are listened to. These are several aspects that affect the listening process: the linguistic or spoken aspects, the paralinguistic aspects, such as tone and accent, and the non-verbal aspects.
