ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to use a mandatory counselling and communication skills unit in every professional training programme that incorporates a need for a person-centred approach. Communication is central to successful caring relationships and team working. It hopes and a desire that training on Relational Skills Model will go some way to assisting helping professionals to keep the client at the heart of the intervention and to embrace this person-centred model of care. Reflexive practice continues to be an integral part of learning and professional development. Changes in health-care education, practitioner training programmes, skills for health career frameworks and the introduction of the new BSc in Healthcare have resulted in the development of a more generic training entry and degree level that, it is hoped, will provide an opportunity to address one of the visions for the 2010 Government White Paper Equity and Excellence.
