Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

Word length: Equivalent to 2,500 words

Weighting: 100%
Due date: Sunday 12th November 2024 before 11:59pm
Task: Report and analysis of a video ‘case study’ interaction with a service user in a health and
social care setting.
The report will include an evaluation of communication techniques and the principles of
biomedical ethics in context.
Report statement:

Report and analysis of a video case study interaction with a service user in health, wellbeing and
social care. The report will include an evaluation of communication techniques and the
principles of biomedical ethics in context.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify the basic ethical principles in Health and Social Care.

2. Appraise the role of self in therapeutic relationships and identify factors that influence
verbal and non-verbal communication.
3. Understand the importance of communication skills in Health and Social Care.

Specific Guidance on the Outcomes of the Assignment:

This module will cover ethics in terms of principality and the application to scenario-based
questions. Autonomy, respect, justice and ‘doing no harm’ (beneficence versus non malevolence)
will be introduced alongside principles of confidentiality, respect, and autonomy.

Students will be asked to examine the fundamentals of communication and to critically self-
reflect using scenarios from the Health and Social Care sector (breaking bad news, assessments
and interventions in Health and Social Care, counselling, and therapeutic relationships.)

To meet yours learning outcomes you will need to:

 Study and analyze one of the 3 video scenarios.
 Use the 5R framework of reflection to make sense of the learning experience.
 Learn the relevant communication theories.
 Discuss health and social care communication strategies.
 Understand the term biomedical ethics and how it applies to health and social care.
 Be able to discuss and critique ethical scenarios within health and social care.
 Understand the principles of ethics in health and social care and apply these scenarios.
 Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

Core:
Aveyard H., Sharp, P. (2017) A beginner’s guide to evidence-based practice in Health and Social
Care, 3rd Edition (UK Higher Education OUP Humanities & Social Sciences Health & Social
Welfare) UK: Open University Press.

Beauchamp, T.L., Childress J.F. (2019) Principles of biomedical ethics, 8th Ed, Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

Cottrell, S. M. (2019) The study skills handbook, 5th edn. London: Red Globe Press.

Edwards, D., Best, S. (2020) The textbook of Health and Social Care. London: Sage.

Articles and Websites:

Bain, J., Ballantyne, R., Mills, C. & Lester, N.C. (2002). Reflecting on practice: Student teachers’
perspectives.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43505901_Reflecting_on_Practice_Student_Teachers
'_Perspectives

Context for Care (2011) Poor Communication [YouTube] Available at: Poor Communication
(youtube.com) (Accessed: 11 January 2024)

Lategan, L.O.K. and Van Zyl, G.J. (2017) Healthcare Ethics for Healthcare Practitioners.
Bloemfontein: UJ Press. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=nlebk&AN=2256589&site=eds-live
(Accessed: 11 January 2024).

Oxford Brookes University (2023) Critical thinking. Available at: Critical thinking - Oxford Brookes
University (Accessed: 11 January 2024)

Hinde, R.A. (1972) Non-verbal communication [Google Books online]. Cambridge University
Press: Cambridge. Available at: Non-verbal Communication - Google Books (Accessed: 11
January 2024)

Moss, B. (2020) Communication skills in nursing, health, and social care. Fifth edition. SAGE
Publications. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=cat09086a&AN=gbs.oai.folio.org.fs00001090.41aff737.198a.4b5
8.8934.e0b7cb172e6d&site=eds-live (Accessed: 11 January 2024).

The University of Edinburgh (2018). The 5R framework for reflection. Available at:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/5r-framework
 Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

Suggested Framework to present 2500 words:

VIDEO – Choose from one of the two video case studies:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1RY_72O_LQ
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCHHgvlktWQ
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp4PW17U_h8

Cover page

Abstract

- A summary of the whole report including important features, main findings, and
conclusions (written last)

Contents

- Add a contents page here, with page numbers.

Introduction
- Context – Outline the importance of understanding key features of a therapeutic
relationship and learning by observing others to inform future practice.
- Purpose – Identify the aim of the case study to develop knowledge of communication
and ethics.
- Approach – Indicate which theoretical tools are used in the report.

Discussion/Analysis

- Use the 5R framework of reflection (Bain et al., 2002) to produce a critical discussion of
the case study video:
 REPORT: A brief description of the communication and ethical issues you observe.
 RESPOND: What questions do you have to further your understanding of a
therapeutic relationship and the relevant communication and ethical principles?
 RELATE: Discuss how the case study you observed, relates to your own knowledge
and/or experience of a therapeutic relationship. Identify the factors that influence
communication
 REASONING: What are the significant factors that underlie the situation? Analyse and
evaluate the relevance of theoretical literature on communication and ethical
principles to this case study.
 RECONSTRUCTING: Use the theoretical literature on communication and ethical
 Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

principles that you have learned to discuss your future practice.

Conclusion
- Summarise the learning from each stage of the reflection.
- Identify the key features of future practice.
 Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

Assignment A+/A (70-100%) B+/B (60-69%) C+/C (50-59%) D/D+ (40-49%) Fail
Sections
Abstract/ Accurate summary of A very good summary of A good summary of the A satisfactory summary of Fails to summarise the contents
Introduction 5/100 the contents of the the contents of the contents of the report. the contents of the report. of the report. Fails to address
report. Addresses the report. Addresses the Generally, addresses the Some of the comments the purpose of the report to
full purpose of the main purpose of the main purpose of the report focus on the purpose of inform practice.
report to inform report to inform to inform practices. the report to inform Disorganised/incoherent/missing
practice. Strong logical practice. Demonstrates Demonstrates some practice. Shows limited organisation of the information.
organisation of the sound, thoughtful organisation of the organisation of the
information. organisation of the information. information
information.
Knowledge and There is an outstanding There is an excellent Information is summarised Minimal information is The information in each stage of
Understanding synthesis of the synthesis of the effectively in each stage of summarised in each stage the reflective model is hard to
40/100 information in each information in each the reflective model. of the reflective model. follow. Absence of relevant
stage of the reflective stage of the reflective Sound, descriptive Satisfactory but limited information about the key
model. Demonstrates a model. Shows a understanding of the key understanding of the key features of communication and
detailed, accurate, systematic and accurate features of communication features of ethical principles. The
systematic understanding of the and ethical principles. communication and considerations listed are not
understanding of the Outlines some appropriate ethical principles. Uses appropriate and lacks focus
key features of
key features of considerations for practice generalised
communication and
communication and which gives general focus considerations for practice
ethical principles. ethical principles. to the work. and provides adequate
Outlines insightful Outlines appropriate but limited descriptions
considerations for considerations for
practice practice

Applying/theorising Outstanding analysis, Excellent analysis Very good analysis and Some good analysis and Absence of analysis and
20/100 displaying independent displaying independent well-organised arguments. argument but illogical and argument. Lacks any awareness
thinking and strong, thought and strong well Shows some awareness of contradictory in places. of the different theoretical
well organised organised argument. different theoretical Makes satisfactory but approaches. No evidence of any
argument. Shows well Shows developing ability approaches. Some limited comments about awareness of any limits of the
developed ability to to compare theoretical awareness of any limits of the different theoretical professional’s approach and no
 Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

compare theoretical approaches. Awareness the professional’s approaches. Limited application to solve problems
approaches. Thorough of any limits of the approach and a good awareness of any limits of and suggest solutions using
appreciation of any professional’s approach application to solve the professional’s theory.
limits of the and highly competent problems that the policy approach and a
professional’s approach application to solve maker and suggest satisfactory application to
and excellent problems and suggest solutions using theory. solve problems and
application to solve solutions using theory. suggest solutions using
problems and suggest theory.
solutions using theory.
Reflection Confidently reflects on Able to demonstrate a Recognises own strengths Beginning to recognise Distorted self-criticism leading
10/100 own strengths and degree of evaluating and weaknesses. own strengths and to an inaccurate view of the
weaknesses and the own strengths and Descriptive explanation of weaknesses. Limited situation
criteria by which such weaknesses and shows personal contribution to description of personal
judgements are made. a developing practice. contribution to practice.
Analyses personal understanding of
contribution to practice criteria for judgements.
Developing analysis of
personal contribution to
practice

Use of information Evidence of broad and Evidence of Evidence of some Evidence of reading from Little or no relevant engagement
for critical in-depth independent independent reading independent reading from appropriate sources. with the literature.
discussion reading from from a range of appropriate sources. Sound Literature is presented in a
20/100 appropriate sources. appropriate sources. application of literature descriptive way.
Clear, accurate, Literature well applied
systematic application and shows developing
with a clear ability to ability to appraise
appraise material material critically.
critically
Conclusions Conclusions show Logical conclusions are Generally sound Some relevant conclusions Lack of conclusions
5/100 critical insight and drawn which show conclusions are drawn are drawn from using the
development of some critical insight from using the reflective reflective model.
Communication and Ethics in Health and Social Care

thinking from using the from using the reflective model. Recommendations Recommendations are
reflective model. model are supported by the derived from limited
Recommendations Recommendations are literature understanding of the
relate clearly and clearly derived from the literature
logically to the relevant literature.
literature.