Person-centred Communication/reflective essay on person centred communication
Assignment guidelines
Learning outcomes
• Critically evaluate a practice model and/or approach for use within the communication skills process.
• Identify and analyse own defences and limitations which hinder the development of the interpersonal relationships.
• Critically analyse and integrate learning gained from reflection on own practice and feedback from others.
• Critically analyse the evidence for the application of a person centred approach within health and social care settings.

SUMMATIVE
Four thousand word reflective case study
The student must complete a four thousand word assignment, which illustrates their knowledge and understanding of the communication process including its application to their clinical practice. The assignment will include exploration and discussion of theoretical concepts, practice models and approaches as well as relevant ethical considerations including the awareness of self. Reference to and relevance for the student’s clinical context and client groups will be expected. The work must be supported throughout by appropriate references and/or relevant sources of evidence. The discussion must be based upon sound evidence relevant to personal practice and experience, as well as a range of literature sources including appropriate research.
The student will need to discuss their ability to adapt models, skills and strategies to best fit with their client’s needs, the context and their own role as a practitioner. In addition, the student will need to discuss their awareness of personal, professional and organisational barriers and/or hindrances to the development of the person centred approach in their practice. Also the student will need to support their discussion with a reflective model and/or approach that identifies and explores strategies for sustaining new developments and change in personal practice. The assignment must be submitted by 12MD local time on the last day of the module. It will be marked by academic staff using level 6 criteria for reflective assignments.

Suggested structure
We recommend you use a reflective model to structure your essay, this will help guide you to achieve the expected academic level (level 6).
Introduction as a guide you could use about 200 words here
You introduction needs to include: a description of what is in your essay, referenced definitions of terms such as communication, person centred care, reflection, and there also needs to be a referenced confidentiality clause.
Background as a guide you could use about 1,000 words here
This section needs to provide an evidence based discussion of the key topics addressing questions such as:
What is communication?
What theories of communication are there and can these be applied to health care?
How and why is the study of communication important for nurses?
What is person centred care and communication?
What do theorists and research tell us about PCC?
How and why is important for nurses?
What is reflection?
What models / theories are available?
What is its purpose?
What model are you going to use and why?
What is your clinical area?
Why is PCC and reflection important for you in your clinical area?
Reflective Model as a guide you could use 2,500 words for the whole refection
All models expect you to give a detailed description of what happened, what you thought, what you saw, what you did.
The description should not include your opinions or how what you did was based on evidence. Description up to 500/2,500 words

All models will then lead you to analyse / discuss / explore your scenario using the available evidence base. Analysis about 1,500/2,500 words
Go through your description and ask yourself the question – does this relate to any theory, model or research I have read? What does the evidence tell me? Is there another way of doing what I did and if there is would it lead to a better outcome?

All models will then lead you to make decision about your clinical practice. You need to identify what you did well and what could be improved and this needs to be evidence based. Evaluation about 300/2,500 words

All models then expect you to identify how you will change / develop your clinical practice based on analysis and evaluation you have undertaken. There is the expectation you will clearly identify what, when, and how you will change your practice you may find using the acronym SMART useful (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely). Action plan about 200/2,500 words.

Conclusion as a guide you could use 300 words here
In this section you need to clearly state what you have undertaken in the essay (exploration of communication, person centred approaches and a reflection on your practice) and what you have learnt from it.

Reference List not part of word count
Every piece of information you have used in the text needs to be referenced and the full reference should be put in the references list.

Background as a guide you could use about 1,000 words here
This section needs to provide an evidence based discussion of the key topics addressing questions such as:
What is communication?
What theories of communication are there and can these be applied to health care?
How and why is the study of communication important for nurses?
What is person centred care and communication?
What do theorists and research tell us about PCC?
How and why is important for nurses?
What is reflection?
What models / theories are available?
What is its purpose?
What model are you going to use and why?
What is your clinical area?
Why is PCC and reflection important for you in your clinical area?