Transcript Sharing Sensitive News with Parents

Sharing Sensitive News with
Parents
1
Agenda
• Introduction
• Why sharing news is difficult for parents and
ECEs
• How you tell makes a difference
• Strategies for Sharing News
• Planning ahead
• Sharing the information
• Wrap-up
2
Intro Activity
4 things to remember when sharing news with
parents
T ____________
E ____________
L ____________
L ____________
3
Think back to a time when you
received “sensitive” news.
What do you
remember?
How did you
feel?
What did you
do?
4
How do you think parents feel
upon hearing our news?
5
Emotional reactions
•
•
•
•
•
Pain & grief
Inadequacy
Anger
Guilt
Fear/vulnerability
6
Why it’s difficult for parents to
accept news
• Emotional Reactions
• Stage of Acceptance
• Values, Priorities,
Expectations
7
Stage of acceptance
“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it
for ourselves after a journey that no one can
take for us or spare us” - Marcel Proust
8
Journey to Acceptance:
Stages of Coping
• Denial
– Support & give information
• Resistance
– Support & be there when things “crash”
• Affirmation
– Provide appropriate information &
resources
• Integration / Acceptance
– Reinforce confidence in ability to manage
9
How do we feel about sharing
the news?
•
•
•
•
•
Sad
Inadequate
Angry
Guilty
Afraid
Information Model
Persuasion Model
10
Information Model
Poor Communication
• Jargon
• Advice in booth
• Too much information
• Power differential
• Clinician talks too
much
• Unfamiliar
environment
• Poor lighting
Good Communication
• Less jargon
• Get out of booth
• Give client time to let
you know they
understand
• Use visuals
• Support of 3rd person
11
How You Tell Makes a
Difference
1. If the deliverer of your news handled it
well, what made it successful?
2. If the news was not shared well, what
would have made it easier for you?
12
Effective Sharing:
How You Tell Makes a Difference
Planning
Acknowledge feelings
Sharing
Talk “with” not “at”
13
Plan ahead
•
•
•
•
Rapport
Setting
Message
Person’s Reaction
14
Think about a past or current
experience with a family
Refer to the handout & discuss:
1. Which “plan ahead” strategies did you
use?
2. Which other strategies could you have
used?
15
Sharing News
You try it!
• Number off & divide into groups of 3
• #1 – sharer of news
• #2 – receiver of news (act as naturally
as possible)
• #3 – observer – record strategies used
by sharer
16
Sharing sensitive news
You tried it!
1. How did you start?
2. How did you introduce the sensitive
information?
3. How did your recipient react?
4. How did you respond?
5. How did you continue to share the
information?
6. How did you conclude?
17
Sharing the News
1. Observe, Wait & Listen
2. Followed the parent’s lead
•
Get the parent’s perspective & respond
3. Take turns
4. Adjust your language
5. Extend the topic
•
•
•
Strive for agreement
Explore possible solutions
Agree on next steps
6. Scan
18
Observe, Wait & Listen
• Be comfortable & relaxed with sharing
news
• Find out what parents know & want to
know (collaborative)
• Watch for verbal &
nonverbal cues
• Deliver a warning shot
19
Follow the parent’s lead
• Build on what the parent says
• Be caring & supportive – no blame
• Use active listening – respond to words &
feelings
20
Take turns
•
•
•
•
•
Pause for parent’s perspective, reaction & questions
Ask open questions & counter-questions
Focus on informing, not disputing
Start with common interests
Agree on problem & priorities before jumping to
solution
• Brainstorm various options together
• Emphasize “we” not “I” and “you”
• Leave the final decision with the parent
“First seek to understand, then to be understood”
21
Adjust the way you talk
•
•
•
•
•
Give a little information at a time
Be clear, specific & understandable
Use visuals
Provide written material
Keep your opening statement brief
22
Extend the topic
• Inform
– Clarify the issue
– Share your observations
• Explain
– E.g. reasons for your concern & child’s behavior
• Talk about feelings and project (child, ECE, parents)
• Talk about future
– Outline what happens next
– Arrange for resources & supports
– Set up follow-up date
23
Scan
• Carefully observe reactions of all attending
the meeting
• Adapt your response to individual needs
• Encourage quieter members to share their
perspectives
24
Practice
Find the Bloopers
• Divide into groups
• Read the sample script
• Identify the “bloopers” & make suggestions
that would improve this interaction
between an ECE & a parent
25
Practice
Role play
• Divide into groups of 3
• Think of a an example of a situation where you
might have to share some sensitive news with a
parent, e.g.
– Your child’s language seems delayed
– You child isn’t talking at child care
– Your child is hitting the other children
• Refer to the hand-out for appropriate strategies
• 2 people do the role play & 1 person acts as the
coach
• Discuss how it went
26
Back to life …
• Which strategies will you use next time you
need to share sensitive news with parents?
• Which strategies will you share with your
colleagues?
27