Communication Skills
Our programme gives you the opportunity to explore a range of communication issues including:
- Expressing empathy
- Informed consent
- Delivering bad news
- Dealing with strong emotions (anger, anxiety, sadness)
- Disclosing an error
- Inter-professional communication
The Programme is organised around four core modules as follows:
- Module 1: Making connections
- Module 2: Core Consultation skills
- Module 3: Challenging Consultations
- Module 4: Communicating with colleagues and promoting team work
Each of the modules will have a number of additional mini‐modules on specific topics under this heading (for example staff who attend Module 3 may wish to attend a module on Informed Consent or Telephone Consultations if this area of communication is applicable to them in their role).
Staff will have different levels of knowledge, experience and skills for carrying out person‐centred consultations, however all staff can reflect on their skills and perhaps identify areas for further learning and development. The National Healthcare Communication Programme recommends that all staff attend Module 1 and all clinical staff attend Modules 2, 3 and 4 of the programme. Progress through Modules 1‐4 is not necessarily linear – some staff may want to extend learning covered in individual modules before progressing on to other modules. In addition some teams may wish to take a multi‐disciplinary approach to the Programme where all staff (clinical and non‐clinical) on their team will progress through each of the Modules.