Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AS10055 Communication skills |
| Credits: 5 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Academic Year at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit the learner will be able to: * Select and use appropriate methods of communication for particular circumstances and purposes. * Identify and apply the principles of confidentiality and data protection. * State the legal and organisational requirements for handling and storing information. * Evaluate the quality of information used to support their decision-making. * Develop and present a reasoned case based on the analysis of information gathered. Skills: The professional practice for this module is that the learner must demonstrate whilst working as a Senior Practitioner that they can: * Obtain information for decision making * Record and store information. * Analyse information to support decision making * Advise and inform others Content: 1. Significant and emerging theories and principles of: a) communication b) continuous improvement c) involvement and motivation 2. Methods, techniques and processes relating to: a) analytical techniques b) communication c) continuous improvement d) information handling e) involvement and motivation f) organisational context 3. Information and facts about: a) organisational context. To obtain information for decision making the learner will need to know and understand about: Analytical techniques * how to judge the accuracy, relevance and sufficiency of information required to support decision making in different contexts * how to identify information which may be contradictory, ambiguous or inadequate and how to deal with these problems. Information handling * the importance of information management to the team and organisational effectiveness and their own role and responsibilities in relation to this * the types of qualitative and quantitative information which are essential to their role and responsibilities, and how to identify these * the range of sources of information which are available to the learner and how to ensure that these are capable of meeting current and likely future information requirements * how to identify new sources of information which may be required * the range of methods of gathering and checking the validity of such information and their advantages and disadvantages. Organisational context * the organisational values and policies and the legal requirements which have a bearing on the collection of information and how to interpret these. To record and store information the learner will need to know and understand about: Communication * different formats which may be required for presenting qualitative and quantitative information * how to select a format appropriate to different purposes and recipients of information. Continuous improvement * how to assess the effectiveness of current methods of collecting and storing information and the procedures to follow in order to make recommendations on improvements. Information handling * different methods of recording and storing information and their advantages and disadvantages * how to ensure that information is organised in a way that makes it readily accessible * principles of confidentiality - what information should be made available to which people. Involvement and motivation * the importance of providing opportunities for team members to make recommendations on improvements to systems and procedures * how to encourage and enable team members to make recommendations. Organisational context * the organisational policies and legal requirements which have a bearing on the recording and storage of information and how to interpret these. To analyse information to support decision making the learner will need to know and understand about: Analytical techniques * different approaches to, and methods of, analysing information and how to select methods appropriate to decisions which they have to make * how to analyse informationn to identify patterns and trends * how to draw conclusions on the basis of analysing information * the differences between fact and opinion, how to identify these and present them accordingly. Communication * how to develop and present a reasoned case based on the outcomes of an analysis. Information handling * the importance of the effective analysis of information; their role and responsibility in relation to this * types of information, both qualitative and quantitative, which they need to be able to analyse * how to select information relevant to the decisions they need to make and ensure such information is accurate and relevant * the importance of record keeping to the analysis of information and how such records should be kept and used. To advise and inform others the learner will need to know and understand about: Communication * how to communicate advice and information effectively both through speaking and in writing * how to develop and present a reasoned case when providing advice to others * the importance of confirming the recipient's understanding of information and advice provided, and how to do this * the importance of providing advice and information and their role and responsibilities in relation to this * the types of advice and information which people may require * how to identify information needs * situations in which it is appropriate to act on one's own initiative in giving information and advice * the importance of seeking feedback on the quality and relevance of the advice and information they provide and how to encourage such feedback. Information handling * the importance of checking the validity of advice and information provided to others * how to ensure accuracy, currency, sufficiency and relevance of advice and information * the principles of confidentiality when handling information and advice - what types of information and advice may be provided to what people. Organisational context * organisational policies, procedures and resource constraints which may affect advice given to others. |