Introduction to Communicating with Children 2
Social Care Staff (1 day)

Social Care staff often engage with children and young people in daily living activities and are likely to share more time with children and young people and occupy a closer relationship with them than social workers. This gives social care staff the opportunity to gain an understanding of a young person’s needs and wishes in a different set of contexts than social workers can do. It also sets challenges for social care staff who have to engage with children and young people in potential situations of conflict and establishing appropriate boundaries.

Children and young people have a range of rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. One of the key rights for children and young people is participation in decision making, which puts a duty upon staff to communicate effectively with children and young people.

This course provides an overview of communication issues between children and adults. This includes developing a basic knowledge of communication theory and principles to give participants the foundation to further develop their understanding of and skills in communicating with children and young people, as well as other professionals.

The course will assist participants to look at their attitudes to communication with children and young people. Understanding the effect of power issues between children and young people and awareness of barriers to communication is part of this attitude. Recognition that there are different purposes to communication at different times and in different contexts is also an essential part of this attitude.

Along with purpose, the structure of a communication episode entails a sequence of elements of communication. Elements include different types of question, verbal and non verbal responses. Effective communication requires the appropriate sequence of communication, including observation, listening and questioning skills.

The learning objectives:

By the end of this course learners should understand:

• Their duty in promoting good communication with children and
young people in order to respect children and young people’s rights
• The effect power issues have on communication with children and
young people
• The importance of utilising observation, listening and questioning skills in order to build sequences of effective communication
• The effect that different context and purposes have upon
communication and how barriers to communication may be reduced or
rose for children and young people
• The importance of communication in establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries and safeguarding children and young people

Learning methods:

• Self evaluation exercise: skills – challenge matrix
• Tutor presentations
• Case studies
• Handouts
• Small group work
• PowerPoint
• Group Discussion