Unit SHC 21
Introduction to
communication in
children and young
people’s settings
Miss Shepping
SHC 21
Introduction to communication in
children and young people’s settings
3 credits
This unit is all about:
• The importance of effective
communication in the work
setting
• Methods of communication
and the language needs,
wishes and preferences of
an individual
• How to reduce barriers to
communication
• Confidentiality.
Learning Outcomes
Today we are going to be learning about why communication is
important in the workplace
•
ALL will know at least one reason why individuals communicate
•
MOST will be able to explain how effective communcation
affects all aspects of work
•
SOME will be able to understand the importance of non verbal
communication
The Big Picture
Know
The content of Unit 1, ‘Intro to communication’
Why people communicate?
Understand
The effect that effective communication can have in the work
setting
Have reflected upon or developed
How it is important to observe an individual’s reactions when
communicating with them
Connector
•
•
Work with a partner
Working in a children and young people’s setting, who are
all the other people you need to communicate with?
Who does the practitioner
communicate with in the work setting?
In the work setting, it is necessary to communicate with a
range of people.
parents,
families
and
carers
colleagues
and
managers
Who does
the practitioner
communicate
with?
children
and
young
people
other
professionals,
e.g.
social
Workers, GPs etc
There are one-to-one interactions with a child, young person, parent
etc. and group interactions, e.g. group activities, case conferences and
staff meetings.
Research
• What is communication?
• Why is it important? Why do we need to communicate in
the workplace and particularly in a workplace looking after
children?
• Research in your groups and feedback to the class
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To promote relationships and offer support
Fill in your worksheet!
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To maintain relationships
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To exchange information
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To develop learning
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To negotiate and liaise with others
Why People Communicate in Children and
Young People’s settings
• To express needs and feelings
Reasons for Communicating in Work
Settings
1.1
•
•
•
•
•
The main reasons why people communicate in work
settings are:
to exchange information
Can you
to express needs and feelings
think of
to promote relationships and
Some more
examples
offer support
of these?
to maintain relationships
to negotiate and liaise with others.
You will be expected to show that you can identify
why people communicate for Learning Outcome 1.
Communication methods
Effective communication involves:
*listening
*responding
*questioning
*understanding
Communication is not just the spoken or written word.
It is also:
• facial expressions
• body language (posture, actions and gestures)
• tone of voice
• pauses
• taking turns in talking and listening.
How effective communication affects
all aspects of work in the work setting
•
•
Children and young people will learn to trust and respect the
practitioner if they communicate effectively with them.
A better relationship with colleagues, parents and other adults
will be developed if the practitioner has effective
communication skills.
Effective communication skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Warmth
Showing interest in the individual.
Listening carefully and actively.
Showing sincerity and conveying the
positive value of others.
Using appropriate body language.
Conveying warmth and understanding.
Establishing boundaries.
Reflecting on own practice.
Understanding
1.2 For each of the skills
opposite, think of examples
of the times when you have
seen an effective use of
these skills.
1.3 Are these skills something you
already have or can you learn the
skills that will improve your ability to
communicate with others?
The importance of effective
communication
Why is effective communication in the
workplace necessary?
•
•
•
•
•
with whom?
building positive relationships
maintaining good relationships with whom?
exchanging information what types of information?
negotiating and liaising with whom?
the expression of feelings and needs. what feelings?
what needs?
TASK: CASE STUDY, TEXTBOOKS, PAGE 4
Active Listening
• Work in pairs and discuss what we mean by
active listening
• Brainstorm and be ready to feedback to the
group
You have 2 minutes to do this
Active Listening
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Look interested and ready to listen
Eye contact
Hearing what is said
Remembering what is said
Checking understanding with the other person
Posture
Active Listening
Task
Active listening exercise in pairs
In turn, each partner will talk for a minute or two
while the other person listens, without saying
anything. At first, the listener is to be as attentive
as possible. After 2 minutes, the listener is to
listen less well
Do the exercise twice, with partners exchanging roles
Feedback to the class
Activity 1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB1gB6K-2A
What kinds of communication can you see in this
clip?
•FILL IN YOUR WORKSHEETS!
Non Verbal Communication at
Work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJVbu78rEfU&f
eature=related
Non Verbal Communication
Body language and facial expressions tell us a
lot! Body language includes facial expressions,
eye contact, tone of voice, body posture,
positioning within groups
Observing the reactions of others (1)
1.3
The person working with children must be able
to observe and to interpret the reactions of
children, young people, parents and other
adults. A practitioner needs to be aware that:
• facial expressions and gestures can have
different meanings in different cultures.
• non-verbal communication is just as important
as verbal communication (sometimes more so)
• How much of our communication is conveyed
in non verbal ways?
• 70%
Observing the reactions of others (1)
1.3
Pictures of babies and children:
What do each of the pictures
say? Can you tell how the
children are feeling? Report back
to the class. 2 minutes
Gestures
Do you Speak English?
What is getting in the way of the communication?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fijBUeqiW0g
FILL IN YOUR WORKSHEET!
Observing the Reactions of Others (2)
•
Why are facial expressions, body language and gestures different in
different cultures?
•
Discuss in pairs for 2 minutes and write your answers on paper to
put in your files
Observing the reactions of others (3)
• In some Western cultures, avoiding eye contact
can be a sign of someone not agreeing with
the other person. In other cultures, it is seen as
showing respect. Sometimes, others may
regard you more intensely, because they are
having difficulties understanding you or
because they don’t want to show their feelings.
Observing the reactions of others (3)
• Body posture can indicate an individual’s true
feelings.
DISCUSSION
What might arms folded tightly over chest indicate?
What might sitting with shoulders back in relaxed posture indicate?
Review
Games to test your communication skills
Everyone to get into date order of their birthday
At one end, the youngest and at the other end, the
Oldest
Use Non Verbal Communication
ONE rule: no one allowed to speak
Get into groups of 4 or 5 with paper. One person
from each group will come up to the front and be
given an object or person they have to draw. They
are not allowed to speak
The rest of the group has to guess what they are drawing
When the group have guessed correctly, a new person comes to the
front
Activity
In groups of 4, research 2 types of non verbal
communication on the internet and using your
textbooks
Create a poster for childcare professionals
describing:
a) What these can communicate
b) Why this is important in their jobs
Observing Individual’s Reactions
• In groups of 3, a 3 minute role play
• Person A is nursery nurse. Person B is the parent, Person C
is the observer
• A talks to B about the progress of their child
• They aren’t doing well at nursery and their behaviour is poor
• Observer:
Make notes on the facial expressions, gestures, eye contact
and body posture of Persons A and B. What does it show?
• Swop roles
• What did you notice about the body language of Person
A and B?
How should you communicate?
• The way we communicate with others should
take account of each individual’s needs,
wishes and preferences.
• A practitioner needs to be able to:
 listen empathetically
 give support at the appropriate time
 give confidence to those who feel
that what they are saying is not valued.
Textbook- guidelines for communicating well
with parents and carers
Role plays to act out
Communicating with parents and carers (1)
• An appropriate time for discussion needs to
be set.
• Parents and carers often need to talk as well
as listen – a practitioner needs to develop
listening skills.
A practitioner should:
speak quietly and calmly
show that they are listening
never gossip.
Communicating with parents and carers (2)
During a discussion, it is important for the practitioner:
• to maintain eye contact (if appropriate to do so) to show
that full attention is being given
• be aware of the effects of body language
• not to interrupt, instead, nod and smile every now and
then, to sum up the points made
• to say if they don’t know the answer to a question, but
agree to find out later
• to remember any cultural differences, e.g. touching and
certain gestures
• to be aware of any difficulties, e.g. a different language,
hearing impairment, disability.
Written Assignment
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1.
2.
3.
Task 1 (LO 1.1, 1.2, 1.3). The Importance of Effective Communication
Effective communication is vital when working with children and young people. As part
of your induction as a new staff member, you have been asked to answer the following
(100 words for each question), to present to your Line Manager:
What are the different reasons people communicate in the work setting? List at
least 6 reasons, with examples for each
When you work with children and young people, what are the advantages of good
communication?
When we communicate, it is not just the words spoken that are important.
3a) What are the different ways that people communicate?
3b) Can you explain why it is important to watch a person’s face and how they
react, when you talk to them?
Review
Traffic Lights – What have I learnt?
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I need extra help with:
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I am comfortable with :
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I am competent at :
What is something new that I learnt today?