Communication Skills for Professional Practice - Advanced Professional Development [Level HE6] part-time

This module is for professionals, particularly in the fields of health and social care, who care for clients / carers who have palliative care needs. It can be taken as part of the BSc (Hons) Professional Studies in Supportive and Palliative Care or as a stand-alone module for professional practice development needs.

The course will enable you to develop your critical self-awareness, understand communication behaviours of clients and consider their impact on the therapeutic relationship. You will enhance your communication skills, particularly in the context of enabling you to elicit the client‚s understanding of their condition, their concerns and priorities of care and acting on those appropriately.
You will study theoretical perspectives relating to communication, self-awareness relating to communication behaviours, factors that influence communication behaviours and professional/client relationships, core interpersonal communication skills, behaviours that help/hinder effective communication and assessment skills in client understanding of their condition, concerns and priorities of care.

Effective communication improves the experience of care and reduces distress for clients facing life-limiting illnesses. In line with the aims of palliative care, effective communication is central to enabling effective assessment and management of client‚s needs in a way that is relevant to supporting their sense of well being and thus quality of life.