Communication – M1 – Susan Dolman – Amy Williams

Communication Cycle in Difficult, Complex and Sensitive Situations

3) Develop your communication cycle to include an explanation of how the communication cycle may be used to communicate difficult, complex and sensitive issues. (M1)

The communication cycle is a set of 6 stages that have to all be completed to ensure effective communication between people. Communication is a natural process and is easy for someone that has speech, hearing and eyesight. It is slightly more complex for those that have not got all 3 main communication skills but there are ways around them such as Braille and Sign Language.

In certain situations the communication cycle can have extra stages added in to it or taken away. This is because some circumstances have to be carefully thought over and you must watch and listen to everything that is happening while trying to communicate effectively or that you have not listened to what has been said completely and judged to soon.

Example

Your name is Sarah. You work in a children’s hospice where a 2 year old girl is living on end-of-life care. Overnight, her health has dramatically deteriorated meaning she is on life support machines that are breathing for her. You tell her single parent father Paul that she may never wake up from her coma and that he has to make a choice for her:

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Paul: I can’t believe this has happened to my beautiful little girl, this is too soon. Are you sure there’s no chance of her waking up?

Sarah: There is always a chance that she could come around but it is very rare and could lead to further damage to her health. I’m so sorry for having to put you in this situation sir, but we really need an answer for the sake of your daughter’s health and wellbeing.

Paul: If you really cared for my daughter’s health and wellbeing I would not have to make the decision whether to keep her alive ...

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