decisions. If you believe that a young person is feeling that way because someone else is present, try and meet with the young individual alone. If there are other people present, ensure the young person is always the centre of the conversation by directing all communication to them. If a parent, carer, or support worker is present and you want to ask them a question, check with the young person if this is okay before doing so. If you need to clarify with a parent, carer, or support worker what the young individual has communicated, you should check with the young person if the correct information has been relayed. Enhancing comprehension In addition to a standard non-judgemental listening approach, there are some general things you can do to help the young person understand you more easily. Try not to assume the young person cannot understand you or that their ability to express themselves is an indication of how much they understand. Try to: – Speak clearly and slowly – Speak in a calm, quiet voice – Use simple, short statements or questions – Ask one question or make one request at a time – Use open questions to begin with, e.g. “how are you feeling?” or “tell me about…” – Use closed questions when you need to clarify something – Stop from time to time and check the young person’s understanding – if you are not sure that they have understood ask them to explain to you in their own words what you have just asked or told them
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