Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential to the practice of effective health and social care. In communicating with others, the practitioner needs to be able to use a variety of strategies to ensure professional practice, meet health and social care needs and facilitate positive working relationships. This book provides the student with the opportunity to explore the theory that underpins communication studies and provides a unique opportunity for the reader to self-assess and improve their communication and interpersonal skills. The Health and Social Care Series This series of textbooks is aimed at students on Health and Social Care Foundation Degree programmes in FE and HE institutions. However, the books also provide short introductions to key topics for Common Foundation Programme modules and will be suitable for first-year undergraduate courses in a variety of Health and Social Care subject areas. Books in the series will also be useful for those returning to practice and for overseas nursing students. The series includes three types of textbook: Knowledge and Skills books; Theory and Practice books; Specialist books that cover specific professions, topics and issues. All titles in the series will address the common elements articulated in relevant sector skill frameworks, for example, Skills for Care, Skills for Health, the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.