Active Listening Skills Training Course

Effective communication is at the heart of high-quality health and social care. Active listening is a vital skill that helps professionals understand individuals’ needs, build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and deliver truly person-centred care. It goes beyond simply hearing words and involves giving full attention, showing empathy, and responding thoughtfully.

This free Active Listening Skills Training Course provides learners with a clear understanding of what active listening is, why it matters in care settings, and how to apply practical listening techniques when working with service users, families, carers, and colleagues.

Why Take This eLearning Course?

In health and social care, poor listening can lead to distress, reduced safety, complaints, and breakdowns in trust. Strong listening skills, on the other hand, support compassionate care, effective teamwork, and better outcomes for everyone involved.

This course will help learners to:

• Understand the difference between active and passive listening
• Communicate more clearly and confidently in care settings
• Strengthen person-centred and compassionate practice
• Reduce the risk of misunderstandings and errors
• Improve relationships with service users, families, and colleagues
• Reflect on and develop their own communication skills

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Define active listening and explain how it differs from passive listening.
• Explain why active listening is essential in health and social care environments.
• Describe how listening supports dignity, respect, and person-centred care.
• Identify verbal and non-verbal techniques that demonstrate active listening.
• Recognise common barriers to effective listening and how to overcome them.
• Use open and closed questions appropriately to support communication.
• Summarise and paraphrase information to confirm understanding.
• Adapt listening approaches for individuals with communication or sensory needs.
• Understand the impact of poor listening on care quality, safety, and trust.
• Use reflection and continuous development to improve listening skills over time.

Active Listening Skills in Health and Social Care Course Outline

Module 1: The Role of Active Listening in Health and Social Care
Learners will explore what active listening is and how it differs from passive listening. This module explains why active listening is essential for effective communication in care settings and how it supports person-centred and compassionate care. Learners will also understand the benefits of active listening for service users, families, and colleagues, including improved trust, safety, and outcomes.

Module 2: Key Principles and Techniques of Active Listening
This module introduces the core components of active listening. Learners will examine verbal and non-verbal techniques that demonstrate attentive listening, including eye contact, body language, and appropriate responses. The module also explores how tone, posture, and facial expressions influence meaning, and identifies common barriers to active listening—such as noise, assumptions, and emotional stress—along with practical ways to overcome them.

Module 3: Active Listening in Health and Social Care Practice
Learners will apply active listening skills to real-world care situations involving service users, families, and colleagues. The module covers the effective use of open and closed questions, summarising and paraphrasing to confirm understanding, and adapting listening approaches for individuals with communication or sensory needs. Learners will gain confidence in using active listening to promote inclusion and understanding.

Module 4: The Impact of Poor Listening and Miscommunication
This module explores how poor listening can negatively affect care quality, safety, and relationships. Learners will understand how miscommunication can lead to errors, distress, and loss of trust. The module introduces strategies to prevent misunderstandings and highlights the role of reflective practice in improving listening and communication skills over time.

Module 5: Developing and Maintaining Effective Listening Skills
In the final module, learners will reflect on their own listening strengths and areas for improvement. The module provides practical strategies for developing active listening skills and explains how continuous professional development supports clear and effective communication. Learners will also explore how to balance empathy with professional boundaries while maintaining respectful, supportive interactions.

Target Audience

This course is suitable for:

• Care workers and support workers
• Healthcare assistants and nursing associates
• Nurses and allied health professionals
• Social care professionals and managers
• Students, apprentices, and volunteers in care settings

No prior training in communication is required.

FAQ

Is this course relevant to all care roles?
Yes. Active listening is essential for anyone working with people in health or social care settings.

Will this help me communicate with people who have additional needs?
Yes. The course covers adapting listening approaches for individuals with communication or sensory difficulties.

Is the course practical or theory-based?
It combines clear explanations with practical strategies you can use in day-to-day work.

Is this course CPD accredited?
Accreditation is being added soon. A certificate is provided on completion.

Strong listening skills help people feel heard, respected, and valued. By developing active listening, you can improve care quality, build stronger relationships, and support safer, more compassionate practice.