Assess own communication skills in relation to each
interaction and evaluate factors that influenced the
effectiveness of each interaction.
In this essay, I will be assessing and evaluating my skills in the two interactions I took part in.
I took part in a one-to-one interaction in my work placement – which is a hospital ward –
whereby I was assisting a service user in eating her lunch. In the group interaction I also took
part in, we were discussing the nature vs nurture debate in a classroom environment, and how
much we all believe nature/nurture influences individuals’.
One-to-one interaction (M3)
In the one-to-one interaction I took part in, I was assisting an elderly lady to eat her lunch.
Because the service user was quite frail and weak, she was not able to put food on her fork
and bring it to her mouth, for her to feed herself. When I was taking place in the interaction
with the service user, I was communicating verbally with her, as she was able to talk and she
fully understood when people would speak to her. Despite her understanding, the service
user’s preferred method of communication was body and hand gestures, as well as facial
expressions. I think the communication we had going on went well because I was speaking to
her, and she was responding – not verbally, most times – which allowed a clear interaction to
take place, despite the different communication methods being used by the both of us.
However, I also used facial expressions and gestures to communicate with the service user
alongside me speaking to her verbally. This really helped support the interaction, and showed
the service user that I was open to interacting with her in the same way she was
communicating with me – showing I cared. For example, when she had finished swallowing
her food, I would occasionally make eye contact with the lady and nod and raise my eyebrows,
to confirm if she wants some more to eat still, to which she responded by nodding back, when
finally she put her hand up to the plate and shook her head – telling me that she no longer
wanted anymore.
Another communication skill I used while taking part in the interaction with the service user in
the hospital was how I responded to any questions being asked. I responded well to questions
from the service user because the lady – like mentioned – did not really communicate verbally,
but when she did she was a very quiet speaker. It was quite hard to make out what the lady
was saying initially but paying close attention, and moving slightly closer enabled me to hear
the service user. The service user had asked me what she was eating for lunch, when it was
in front of her, so I told her that she had macaroni cheese, mash, peas with gravy. Upon telling
the lady this, she appeared to be confused, which was evident from her facial expressions. So
I went about explaining to the lady that she would have chosen this food from the menu from
the day before, as all food is made one day in advance. When I told her this, she look of
confusion went from her face and she nodded, which showed me she understood and possibly
remembered choosing this meal the previous day. From the way I approached the service
user’s question and used my initiative to clear any confusion, I answered the lady’s question
effectively, helping to ensure the lady was happy with my response too.
I think the communication went well because the entire time I was helping to feed the lady, I
was watching for any kind of expression or gesture that indicated a message to me. For
example, she might not have wanted anymore to eat which she may have tried to tell me by
putting her hands up, which I wouldn’t have known about if I wasn’t paying close attention to
any signals she was displaying – as she doesn’t communicate verbally very much. This
interaction and evaluate factors that influenced the
effectiveness of each interaction.
In this essay, I will be assessing and evaluating my skills in the two interactions I took part in.
I took part in a one-to-one interaction in my work placement – which is a hospital ward –
whereby I was assisting a service user in eating her lunch. In the group interaction I also took
part in, we were discussing the nature vs nurture debate in a classroom environment, and how
much we all believe nature/nurture influences individuals’.
One-to-one interaction (M3)
In the one-to-one interaction I took part in, I was assisting an elderly lady to eat her lunch.
Because the service user was quite frail and weak, she was not able to put food on her fork
and bring it to her mouth, for her to feed herself. When I was taking place in the interaction
with the service user, I was communicating verbally with her, as she was able to talk and she
fully understood when people would speak to her. Despite her understanding, the service
user’s preferred method of communication was body and hand gestures, as well as facial
expressions. I think the communication we had going on went well because I was speaking to
her, and she was responding – not verbally, most times – which allowed a clear interaction to
take place, despite the different communication methods being used by the both of us.
However, I also used facial expressions and gestures to communicate with the service user
alongside me speaking to her verbally. This really helped support the interaction, and showed
the service user that I was open to interacting with her in the same way she was
communicating with me – showing I cared. For example, when she had finished swallowing
her food, I would occasionally make eye contact with the lady and nod and raise my eyebrows,
to confirm if she wants some more to eat still, to which she responded by nodding back, when
finally she put her hand up to the plate and shook her head – telling me that she no longer
wanted anymore.
Another communication skill I used while taking part in the interaction with the service user in
the hospital was how I responded to any questions being asked. I responded well to questions
from the service user because the lady – like mentioned – did not really communicate verbally,
but when she did she was a very quiet speaker. It was quite hard to make out what the lady
was saying initially but paying close attention, and moving slightly closer enabled me to hear
the service user. The service user had asked me what she was eating for lunch, when it was
in front of her, so I told her that she had macaroni cheese, mash, peas with gravy. Upon telling
the lady this, she appeared to be confused, which was evident from her facial expressions. So
I went about explaining to the lady that she would have chosen this food from the menu from
the day before, as all food is made one day in advance. When I told her this, she look of
confusion went from her face and she nodded, which showed me she understood and possibly
remembered choosing this meal the previous day. From the way I approached the service
user’s question and used my initiative to clear any confusion, I answered the lady’s question
effectively, helping to ensure the lady was happy with my response too.
I think the communication went well because the entire time I was helping to feed the lady, I
was watching for any kind of expression or gesture that indicated a message to me. For
example, she might not have wanted anymore to eat which she may have tried to tell me by
putting her hands up, which I wouldn’t have known about if I wasn’t paying close attention to
any signals she was displaying – as she doesn’t communicate verbally very much. This
