Essential Communication Skills

Thursday 30 October 2025 or Tuesday 24 March 2026

A half-day workshop for medical secretaries, ward clerks, pharmacy technicians and any frontline health and social care staff.

Overview

• Do you work at The Christie in a front line role?
• Are you interested in developing your communication skills?
• Do you sometimes struggle with knowing the ‘right thing to say’?
• Are you interested in meeting like-minded people in similar situations?

If yes, this workshop is for you.

Staff in supporting roles often face particular challenges in interactions with patients and their families. This interactive workshop will support you in developing specific skills that will help in your day-to-day work. It will build on existing skills and knowledge using real-life examples, interactive exercises and demonstrations.

What you will learn

• Tips for working with people in distressing or difficult situations
• How distress can be conveyed a exploring skills and strategies for responding to emotional reactions and/or questions
• Key communication skills for conveying difficult information (e.g. cancelled appointment), including active listening

Learning objective

The team will use a variety of methods to build on your skills and experience through discussion and a range of activities. This will include the opportunity to see skills in action using a live demonstration.

Who is the workshop suitable for?

Frontline health and social care staff, booking clerks, medical secretaries, ward/ clinic staff pharmacy staff, receptionists. If you speak with patients or their families, then this workshop is for you