Unit CU2941- Use and develop systems that promote communication.
1, Be able to address the range of communication requirements in own role. 1.1- Review the range of groups and individuals whose communication needs must be addressed in own job role.

Defining communication:
‘Communication involves the reciprocal process in which messages are sent and received between two or more people’ (Bazler Riley, 2008)
My job role requires me to be able to communicate in many ways, the client group I care for have individual communication needs. The elderly clients I care for generally have ill health, the illnesses they suffer from can be physical and mental. Physical illness ranges from minor life limiting illness like obesity, to illness that prevents clients from leaving their bed, and are cared for in bed. Mental health illness ranges from minor confusion to extreme paranoia and various levels of dementia. The diverse needs of my client group mean that I have to be aware of individual needs every time I am work and have to develop my own ways of communicating with clients , these ways have to be assessed on every shift as the nature of the client group means the client will have good days and bad days. So although I may have individual ways of communicating they have to be reassessed every shift to ensure they are still relevant. As a link senior carer I have to purvey these methods of communication with junior staff members to ensure the client’s needs are met. The main barrier to effective communication in my workplace is dementia and the unpredictable nature of the illness, dementia is a well researched illness but as yet is generally untreatable medically, but is managed to ensure the client is able to have the richest and fulfilled life possible. Although my main communication during a working day is with clients and members of care staff, I also have to communicate with multi discipline professionals and family members for the clients in my care. These include doctors, district nurses, chiropodists, dentists, opticians etc.
This is a case study of a client in my care, the study will highlight the illness of the client, the communication barriers of the client, the solutions to those needs and supervising of junior members of staff to ensure effective communication.
Mrs P is a lady in my care, Mrs P has resided at my workplace for over 3 years. Mrs P is familiar with her environment. Mrs P is unable to vocalise due to alcohol induced dementia. Alcohol induced dementia is unpredictable in the level of disability which affects the person. Along with dementia alcohol abuse can cause other health issues eg, cardiovascular illness, diabetes and stroke to name a few. Mrs P along with dementia has high cholesterol and takes a statin medication every night to control this. Mrs P before her illness was a very sociable lady, had many friends and was married and had 2 children. Mrs P is a widower but her children are both daughters and take an active role in Mrs P’s life. It is very difficult for her daughters to understand and accept what has happened to their mother, at times Mrs P doesn’t recognise her children. Whenever Mrs P’s family visit which is normally every other day, I discuss how their mother has been seen their last visit. I have to speak to them in a professional manner but also have to understand their feelings, this means I have friendly relationship with them and feel they value the updates I give them and feel their mother is well cared for. If she is not encouraged to leave her bedroom and socialise with other service users and interact with staff will spend all her time lying in bed. This could be due to being self conscious of how she sees herself, or just she feels comfortable and safe in her bedroom. Although Mrs P is unable to vocalise words she is able to shout noises and she does appear to enjoy this! This does affect other service users though who enjoy peace and quiet, their needs and wishes also have to be respected. Other members of the care team and myself are required to communicate with the other service users to assure them that she doesn’t realise she is offending them and that I will attempt to prevent her from shouting. I attempt to do this by engaging with her and stimulating her. Mrs P has poor mobility and needs a walking frame to mobilise which she does very well. Mrs P enjoys walks around the gardens, looking at and smelling the flowers. Mrs P is prone when attempting to engage with her to have a very short attention span, she is also difficult to get to engage initially. When communicating with Mrs P, short instructions and closed sentences are used to ensure Mrs P has the best chance of understanding what I am asking or telling her. I ensure effective communication with Mrs P by her reaction to what I am telling her, this can be by facial expression or literally her physically doing what I have asked. When entering Mrs P bedroom I always speak to her before entering the bedroom even if she is looking at me,” Hi Mrs P how are you feeling? I have come to assist you to breakfast for example. If Mrs P has understood this instruction she will sit on the edge of her bed, grab her frame and mobilise herself and come with me.