Gaining rapport
Gaining rapport with the child and parent/carer
Gaining rapport with both the child and the parent/carer and maintaining effective communication throughout all stages of delivering care, starting with assessment, is central to establishing an effective relationship and essential to the parent/carer’s active participation in the child’s oral health care. They might be feeling stress, apprehension or guilt. All members of the practice team, including the receptionist and the dental nurse, play an important role in gaining rapport.
Agree whether the clinician or dental nurse will take primary responsibility for welcoming the child or family into the surgery, to avoid confusion.
Welcome the child as they enter the surgery.
- Make eye contact (crouch down if necessary).
- Greet them by their name.
- Say “Hello, my name is…” and something to make them smile.
Gain rapport with the parent/carer and discuss how they can support and encourage the child in the surgery.
Involve the child as much as possible in all conversations and avoid ‘talking over’ them.
For further information refer to Behaviour management.