Communicating in plain language is vital to providing high quality, safe and person-health and social care services. Information about health and social care services can be complex, difficult to understand and difficult to communicate to others. Using plain language reduces misunderstandings and supports people to be more involved in their care and support. To support good communication with people using services, this national guidance was developed in collaboration with a range of stakeholders with experience of delivering and using health and social care services.

Good communication is a key focus of national standards, and this guidance supports health and social care staff in putting national standards into practice. It will help staff think about how to communicate more clearly with:

• adults, children and young people using services
• their families, friends and caregivers.

Communicating clearly ensures that everyone has the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and social care.

The guidance carries the Plain English Mark from the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), showing that it meets international Plain English guidelines. You can download the guide or read it in full on this page. You can also explore our tools to help you use plain language, including a self-assessment checklist, examples of good practice and tips for designing forms.

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