Communication guide for work placement

Introduction: This guide will provide you information about how to communicate effectively, different forms of communication and how to overcome barriers of communication in work place.
What is communication?
Communication is the exchange of a message between two or more people. Everyone communicates in many different ways and for many different reasons. However, it is not just about the giving of information. Communication also involves listening to what others have to say and observing the non verbal signals that people send during conversation.
Contexts:
One-to-one
One-to-one communication it’s between two people communicating with another. This can be done by verbal or written communication. In health and social care setting care workers can have a one-to-one conversation with a colleague or people who use care services. This one-to-one conversation can involve formal communication and sometimes informal communication for e.g. when a care worker knows a patient or relative very well, or a colleague who is also a friend to them. One-to-one communication skills are needed for basic everyday interactions in health and social care settings. They are also needed to establish and maintain good relationships with work colleagues and people who use care services.

Groups
Group communication it’s communicating within groups of between 3 and 20 people. Interaction in group situations is important for social, intellectual and emotional development. In the health and social care settings you will use group situations when you will participate in a report of handover meetings where you will need to discuss about individual’s needs, or meetings with relatives and managers of care organisations. In a group communication you should be a good listener, to receive the correct information that is been sent. You will need to give respect and show interest, it’s also important that you speak clearly and give space.

Formal
Formal communication is a kind of verbal or written information that used in workplace or in professional setting, and avoid using slang. Formal communication in care setting it’s really important because you will need to use it every day in workplace. Care workers will need to use formal communication because you should not forget that you are in a professional setting, it also more respectful. Services users will understand easier when you speak them in a formal communication.

Informal
Informal communication it’s the opposite of formal communication. Informal communication is usually used when in face to face conversation with a friend or a person that you know well, this can also be a colleague. Informal communication is also used in written such as e-mails and texts messages. Informal communication it’s less professional, it’s usually service users that use it with their close friends or family members.
Forms of communication:
Verbal
Verbal communication is generally being a readily accepted understanding of the meaning of a series of sounds. The person transmitting the message and the person receiving the message generally must have a good knowledge that allows them to understand what those sounds have meant. It’s oral communication, to understand by sound.

Non-Verbal communication
Non- verbal communication is generally exchanging information or transmitting data without use the words. A sign is a clear form of non-verbal communication. Like the body language is an example of non-verbal communication. To understand non-verbal communication you need to have a good knowledge of the cultural and social meanings behind the symbols and signs used, some types of non-verbal communication are used in internet chat or in text message.

Written communication
Written communication involves any type of interaction that makes use of the written word. Written communication is very common in health and social care setting, so it is