The importance of effective communication is well documented in health and social care. Poor communication has serious consequences in increasing clients' suffering and undermining their wellbeing. Extensive work, including that supported by the Department of Health and NICE, calls upon health educators to urgently provide additional skills-based training in an attempt to relieve this suffering.

This interprofessional module is based upon experiential learning to explore the students' own learning needs in relation to communication issues. In this module, students reflect upon the importance of good communication and explore the theory of communication in complex situations. They will have the opportunity to practice and critically review their micro-skills in a safe environment. This will enable them to develop reflexivity and increased self awareness in relation to their own performance.

The module will require students to identify stressors prevalent in this work in order to broaden their repertoire of coping strategies. The students will also explore the literature in order to develop advanced scholarship to underpin the elements of effective communication within a therapeutic relationship. Students will undertake a written assessment in the form of a critical and reflective analysis of a communication episode (max 8,000 words).

In specified deliveries the module will be co-facilitated by an approved Advanced Communication Skills Trainer (ACST) trainer and in these cases the delivery will follow a format that allows the NHS approved Advanced Communication Skills Certificate to be awarded to participating students.

Outline content

• The core skills of warmth, genuineness and unconditional positive regard
• Micro skills of communication
• Communication skills required in patient and family assessments.
• Understanding and dealing with anger and distress.
• Handling difficult issues including breaking bad news and collusion.
• Communication with colleagues.
• Caring for the self
• Professional responsibilities
• Shared decision making
• Cultural Issues

Myland Hall, Colchester:
25 September 2013
9 October 2013
5*, 6* and 13 November 2013
Submission of Assignment: 8 Jan 2014

Attendance to all sessions is important. Attendance and participation in all of the 2 practical days* is absolutely essential. Anyone not attending all of those two days will not be allowed to undertake the assessment.

Teaching days and times are for guidance only and are subject to change.

For more information please contact:

Module Operator Bridget Moss 01206 851560 bmoss@sthelenahospice.org.uk
or Claire Dalling cdalling@sthelenahospice.org.uk

Contract Officer: Margaret Parker
Tel: 0845 196 4608
Email: margaret.parker@anglia.ac.uk

Application deadline
Please note the application deadline is four weeks prior to commencement. Any application forms received after the cut-off period may not be processed.