Centre for Workforce Supply (CWS) Resource Hub

For many internationally educated colleagues, English is not their first language and starting work in a health setting without confidence in English can be challenging. Effective communication is key when it comes to providing safe and high-quality care. 

How patients and staff speak can make it difficult for Internationally educated colleagues to understand. This can lead to confusion and miscommunication, which could potentially put patient safety at risk. internationally educated colleagues may feel uncomfortable speaking with colleagues or patients, and this can lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety. 

You can help your colleagues by adjusting how you communicate: 

• Speak slower. 
• Consider your language, avoiding jargon, idioms, confusing expressions and slang. 
• Pay attention to colleagues’ responses and body language. Have they understood? 
• Be prepared to repeat yourself in a sensitive way. 
• Encourage colleagues to practice their language skills by asking open-ended questions. 
• Be patient, kind and attentive 

The importance of non-verbal communication 

Of course, communication is about more than language and it is important to remember that there are differences in many aspects of communication across cultures, including body-language. 

Here are some things you can do to help: 

• Educate yourself and your team: Learn about and teach the non-verbal communication styles common in the cultures represented within your team, such as gestures and personal space norms. Ask your internationally educated colleagues to help with this. 
• Promote awareness and flexibility: Encourage team members to become aware of their own non-verbal cues and to adapt their non-verbal communication to accommodate cultural differences. 
• Encourage open dialogue: Foster discussions about non-verbal communication preferences and misunderstandings to build understanding and respect 

Working with colleagues and implementing the recommendations of this guide, we can all help to create a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for internationally educated colleagues. 

This enhances the integration and retention of these valued colleagues, but also enriches the cultural competence of the entire workforce. Ultimately, this can lead to improved patient care, more cohesive teams, and a healthcare system that truly reflects and respects the diversity of the communities it serves. 

The collective impact of these measures can transform where you work into a model of inclusivity and cultural humility, showcasing the difference that understanding, respecting, and valuing diversity can make in the NHS.