Summative Task 2: Essay: Communication as an educational tool. “Discuss how understanding and utilising communication skills can be both educational and helpful in work with children, young people and families”.

Assignment – Essay 3,000 words.

The Assignment title/question

Component 2

Summative Task 2: Essay: Communication as an educational tool. “Discuss how understanding and utilising communication skills can be both educational and helpful in work with children, young people and families”. Summative Task 2: Essay: Communication as an educational tool. “Discuss how understanding and utilising communication skills can be both educational and helpful in work with children, young people and families”.

What are the key questions that this essay is asking you to address?

1. What does it mean to understand and utilise communication skills?
2. What is the role of the Social and Community worker in this?
3. What kinds of ways would a Social and Community Worker communicate in ways which are educational and/or helpful?

What does it mean to understand and utilise communication skills?

Understanding how communication can be received both negatively and positively is key to the role of a social and community worker. What gets bet results? What encourages people to listen/share/react? What do we have to know about others in order to communicate effectively as professionals?

What is the role of the Social and Community Worker in this?

As a Social and Community worker it will be your job to ensure that the individuals and groups you work with have access to and understanding of the resources and opportunities available to them. Your role is to understand and interpret what people are communicating to you and how you can effectively communicate to them, how they might access best resources/information/support.

What kinds of ways would a Social and Community Worker communicate in ways which are educational and/or helpful?

You will need to present yourself in a way which your clients see as non-judgemental, unthreatening, understanding and professional. Consider the ways in which we have discussed communication styles and the effect that they have on ourselves and others.

Some of the people you meet might feel angry/sad/frustrated/depressed/undervalued/helpless and so on – consider how the way in which you communicate will make them feel. How do you show you are listening and taking on board what they are saying? How can you reduce tension in a situation? How can you encourage them to communicate better within their family/friendship groups and work environments?

In your essay:

Firstly, you should write an introduction (around 500 words) which explains the focus of your essay and what you are going to write about.

Secondly, you should write about your thinking and learning around the topics you have chosen (around 2000 words). What have you learnt from the module? What theories or working practices have resonated with you? What do they mean when they are translated into everyday practice? Whose theories do you think are best suited to your attitudes and values towards the work? What are the underpinning values which you hold and will work with in your career?

Explain how your work and that of others might help to keep families and individuals on the right track and how you would know whether you had done a good job.

Finally, conclude your essay by explaining the key points in your essay. (around 500 words).