Effective Communication in Social Work

This course builds social workers’ communication skills for clients, colleagues, agencies, and public advocacy, emphasizing professionalism, collaboration, ethics, and clarity across diverse settings

🕒 2 CE HOURS

AUTHORS: Beth Hagan, Ph.D. and Rachel Kalina, MSW, LCSW COURSE LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

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DirectorEducation Pathways, LLC provider # 0000, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 00/00/2025–00/00/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical continuing education credits.

This online reading-based asynchronous distance learning course :

equips social workers with the essential skills and strategies for effective communication across diverse professional settings. It covers foundations of verbal and written communication, skills for client interactions, and considerations for cultural and ethical contexts.

Participants will explore interpersonal communication with supervisors and colleagues, interdisciplinary collaboration with medical and mental health professionals, and coordination with community agencies and systems. The course also addresses public communication, advocacy, and ethical use of digital platforms, emphasizing professionalism and clarity in all forms of outreach.

Through practical guidance and real‑world applications, social workers will strengthen their ability to advocate for clients, foster collaboration, and represent the profession with integrity.

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Learning Objectives:

Describe elements and barriers to effective communication.
Demonstrate strategies for navigating difficult client conversations.
Apply techniques for constructive feedback and conflict resolution.
Identify ethical and legal guidelines for interdisciplinary communication.
Compose persuasive written communication for agencies and systems.
Deliver effective public presentations and advocacy messages.

View Course Timed Agenda

1. Foundations of Effective Communication (20 min)

Importance of communication in social work
Key theories and models
Verbal and non‑verbal elements
Active listening and empathy
Barriers to communication
Ethical and cultural considerations

2. Communicating Effectively with Clients (19 min)

Building rapport and trust
Motivational interviewing
Trauma‑informed and strengths‑based communication
Navigating difficult conversations (bad news, resistance)
Working with diverse populations
Use of interpreters and translation services

3. Professional Collaboration, Feedback, and Supervision (20 min)

Collaboration and accountability
Giving/receiving constructive feedback
Conflict resolution strategies
Supervision models
Managing stress and miscommunication
Documentation and correspondence

4. Interdisciplinary Communication (16 min)

Roles in multidisciplinary teams
Ethical/legal sharing of client information (HIPAA)
Advocacy and negotiation skills
Participation in case reviews and team meetings
Communicating client needs in medical/mental health settings

5. Communication with Community Agencies and Systems (25 min)

Multi‑agency collaboration
Crafting referrals and service plans
Building collaborative goals
Advocacy and systemic change
Addressing inter‑agency conflict
Memo styles and examples

6. Public Communication, Advocacy, and Representation (20 min)

Social work in public discourse and media
Public speaking and community education
Writing for awareness (op‑eds, newsletters, blogs)
Ethical considerations in public communication
Social media and digital boundaries
Representing the profession with clarity and professionalism

🕒 Total Instruction Time

120 minutes (2 CEU Hours)

📑 Additional Materials

Test Questions
Resources and References

🌟 Key Takeaway

This course empowers social workers to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, agencies, and the public, ensuring professionalism, collaboration, and advocacy across all practice settings.

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$69.99 USD

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Certificate of Completion for Every Class

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Visual Support

All lesson content includes high-quality captions and fully searchable transcripts for easy reference and accessibility.

Learning Pace

Need extra time for assignments? We offer flexible pacing options.

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