STR - Support Time Recovery - Activity 3.2 - Communication differences

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STR / Support Time Recovery Training course

VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health

Answer to Question 1

First I would like to say that as with Activity 3.1 I object to the language and implications of the question. I will answer it to the best of my abilities, but to me "describe how you overcome these differences" implies that communicating with a service user is difficult or at least different to dealing with a "normal" person. We are all people, there should be no difference between service users and customers in any other business. I can't see a shop asking employees doing training to describe communication with two different types of customer? Not without giving more information, such as one happy customer and one complaining.

Relationship 1

A service user comes to a social group on a regular basis, you become friends and get to know the person

You can use jargon that you know they understand

You can be more relaxed and make jokes about things you know they will see the funny side of

ID is not that important, in fact the person may relax more if you are blending in!

I would be quite open and be willing to disclose some things about myself and my experiences

Relationship 2

You meet somebody for the first time as a member of the patient's council and do not know anything about the person

You cannot use jargon as they may not understand it

You have to be more serious and be careful not to offend the person

ID is very important and should be clearly shown at all times

I would be quite closed and not disclose much about myself and my experiences

Next: STR Activity 3.3 - Records
Previous: STR Activity 3.1 - Effective communication

Please note: The contents of the Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health Students workbook are copyrighted, so I have not included any of the questions, purely my answers which are only copyrighted to me! If you have access to the workbook it will make a lot more sense to you. Please do NOT copy my answers and use them as your own, I have just put them here to give you ideas for any parts you may be stuck on.