Gail Preston
Gail has been a physiotherapist for over 20 years, initially specialising in Neuro Rehab before moving into Palliative Care. Over the last 15 years she has developed and evaluated services…
Communication Skills Introduction
A practical introduction to building essential communication skills to support positive and effective interactions in your role
Event overview
- 08 Oct, 2026
- Half-day
- 1-4pm
- £88 plus VAT
- Online
Book online
Useful information
- Email us
- 020 8768 4656
- How to find us
- Delegate accommodation
- Cancellation policy
What is a meaningful conversation?
Perhaps you are a receptionist, porter, caterer, or health or social care assistant, who finds yourself supporting individuals or families in distress. This course will give you the confidence to hold a meaningful conversation in challenging situations.
Try out a conversation with one of our virtual humans:
Build your confidence and communication skills to respond with empathy, without the stress of real-time role play. It’s interactive, research-based, and offers practical tools for handling sensitive conversations, relevant across care, support, and even retail settings.
How is the course delivered?
By attending the course, you will have access to a range of realistic scenarios to practise your skills in a safe and supportive environment, with personalised formative feedback to guide ongoing improvement.
We’re excited to partner with Virti to bring you an innovative learning experience using AI-powered adaptive learning. This provides:
- Scenario-based learning with AI-driven Virtual Humans
- Safe, repeatable practice environment (no role play anxiety!)
- Multiple realistic scenarios to build confidence
- Personalised feedback to improve communication
- Built with psychological safety and realism in mind
Watch the video below to find out more.
This course, will build your confidence and communication skills to respond with empathy, without the stress of real-time role play. It’s interactive, research-based, and offers practical tools for handling sensitive conversations, relevant across care, support, and even retail settings.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Confidently approach difficult conversations with compassion
- Recognise common communication barriers
- Identify distress in others and manage the personal impact of difficult conversations
- Reflect on your professional role, its boundaries, and relevant policies and procedures
- Strengthen emotional resilience and adopt strategies for self-care
When you sign up to this course you will have access to ‘virtual role play’ which is an innovative learning tool that provides a safe space for you to practice your newly acquired communication skills in different scenarios. Evidence shows that simulation-based learning and the opportunity to practice skills in a range of different scenarios helps to reinforce learning.
This half-day course is for those wanting to improve on communication skills in situations where you might have more challenging or sensitive conversations.
This course is particularly aimed at:
- Receptionists
- Porters
- Health or social care assistants
- Transport services
- Catering staff
- Domiciliary care staff
- Retail staff
- Anyone interested in further developing the skills and confidence when faced with more challenging conversations in the workplace.
Book online now
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