Communication Challenge
JUST ADD WATER
Gill is 14 years old and comes late to the centre to go on an excursion to a water theme park across the other side of the city. The rest of the group has been waiting for him and getting impatient.
The other staff were about to leave when...
Gill, I can see that you aren't your normal self, what's going on with you today?
Gill I don't know how you expected us not to notice. You look completely wacked out, what have you taken?
You're probably pretty keen to go to the water park today but I'm worried about your safety Gill, I feel like you're avoiding eye contact and I think you were walking unsteadily, why do you think that is?
You notice Gill is walking a little differently then normal and has his head down trying to avoid eye contact. You think he may be under the influence of something but don't assume this. You observe his behaviour. While the other's get organised you think about what open-ended questions you could ask Gill respectfully to gauge where he is at. You need to do this now as it will be a high risk to manage if he gets to the theme park and is intoxicated. You alert a co-worker and then ask Gill quietly to come inside for a moment.
You ask him to have a seat and say…