FACULTY OF MEDICAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES Communication and Dress Code for Students at The Universit of Manchester

All health and social care professionals are bound by the guidance and rules of conduct set out by the Department of Health and the relevant regulatory or representative body, e.g. the General Dental Council (GDC), General Medical Council (GMC), ursing and Mid!ifery Council ( MC), "oyal #harmaceutical $ociety of Great %ritain and #harmaceutical $ociety of orthern &reland, the Health #rofessions Council (H#C), the %ritish #sychological $ociety (%#$) and the General $ocial Care Council (G$CC). 'hese in turn define the standards for health and social care education in the () in settings in !hich a student is interacting !ith patients, clients or service users. Communication, both verbal and non*verbal, including dress code, is an important element in ensuring that these standards are maintained. Communication 'he General Medical Council document +Good Medical #ractice, - defines the basic components of effective communication as. listening to patients, clients and service users, as/ing for and respecting their vie!s about their health, and responding to their concerns and preferences0 sharing !ith patients, clients and service users, in a !ay they can understand, the information they !ant or need to /no! about their condition, its li/ely progression, and the treatment options available to them, including associated ris/s and uncertainties0 responding to the 1uestions of patients, clients and service users, and /eeping them informed about the progress of their care0 ma/ing sure that patients, clients and service users are informed about ho! information is shared !ithin teams and among those !ho !ill be providing their care.

All health and social care students should adhere to these principles in communication and other s/ills training, discussion and assessment. 'he GMC document also stresses the importance of ensuring, !herever practical, that arrangements are made to meet the language and communication needs of patients, clients and service users. Dress &t has been sho!n that non*verbal communication is at least as important as verbal communication, so ho! a student or health and social care professional appears to patients, clients, service users, relatives, professionals or colleagues may communicate as much as !hat is said. 23tremes of dress compromise communication channels bet!een health and social care students and other patients and professionals, regardless of either party4s gender, or cultural or ethnic bac/ground. $tyles of dress or articles of clothing that introduce barriers to communication or that compromise, or could potentially compromise, hygiene must be avoided.

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$tyles of dress should inspire confidence and add to, not detract from, effective and sensitive communication. &n general, students should be clean and smartly dressed. 'hus the follo!ing are not permitted in settings in !hich a student is interacting !ith patients, clients or service users. '*shirts !ith slogans0 8isible body art or nail varnish or e3tensions50 23tremes of hair styles90 %ody and face :e!ellery (e3cept small stud earrings and !edding rings);0 <rist bands=string>0 "evealing clothing0 ?pen*toed sandals (all foot!ear should be lo!*heeled and !ell*fitting round the an/les)@0 'rainersA0 Clothing that covers most of the face7. #ea/ed caps, hoods, and the i1ab are e3amples of unacceptable clothing in this conte3t. Clothing li/e the Hi:ab that only obscures the hair and the top of the head is, ho!ever, acceptable. 'his applies not only in clinical settings but also in educational elements of the programme !here communication s/ills are relevant, such as some types of group !or/ and role*play e3ercises. 'he (niversity also reserves the right to chec/ the identity of students !ho !ear clothing that covers most of the face (as defined above) on /ey occasions such as e3aminations0 $trong odours, perfumes or aftershavesB.

Cor cross*infection reasons, H$ 'rusts may not permit healthcare !or/ers (including students) to !ear !rist!atches and ties other than bo! ties. 'he follo!ing are e3amples of good practice. <earing approved clothing0 <earing identification badges or (niversity='rust identity passes-60 'ying bac/ of hair if it interferes !ith, or adds ris/, to a clinical interaction--.

<hen on H$ premises such as a hospital 'rust or a #rimary Care 'rust, a community setting such as a G# practice, or in the homes of patients, clients and service users, students should dress according to both the (niversity4s and the appropriate local guidelines and regulations. References
1 2

Good Medical Practice, GMC 566@, paras 55 and 59 D$tandards for $tudent Dentists and $tudent Dental Care #rofessionals4, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, pages 9*; (internal document) 3 D$tandards for $tudent Dentists and $tudent Dental Care #rofessionals4, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page ; (internal document) 4 D$tandards for $tudent Dentists and $tudent Dental Care #rofessionals4, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page 9 (internal document) 5 D$tandards for $tudent Dentists and $tudent Dental Care #rofessionals4, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page 9 (internal document) 6 Health and Safet Polic and !linical !ode of Practice, Central Manchester and Manchester Children4s (niversity Hospitals H$ 'rust Dental Division, 566>, page -A

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D$tandards for $tudent Dentists and $tudent Dental Care #rofessionals4, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page ; (internal document) # Standard$ for Student %enti$t$ and Student %ental !are Profe$$ional$, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page 9*; (internal document) & Standard$ for Student %enti$t$ and Student %ental !are Profe$$ional$, (niversity of Manchester $chool of Dentistry, 566@, page ; (internal document) 1' (niform and %re$$ !ode for %octor$) Guidance from the !entral !on$ultant$ and S*eciali$t$ !ommittee, %MA, 566A 11 (niform and %re$$ !ode for %octor$) Guidance from the !entral !on$ultant$ and S*eciali$t$ !ommittee, %MA, 566A Other Sources of Information +omorro,$ %octor$, GMC, 5669 Medical Student$) Profe$$ional -eha.iour and /itne$$ to Practi$e, GMC=M$C, 566A

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