Our GMC endorsed course provides training for professionals aiming to master compassionate and effective care planning and communication. Good care planning with clarity on legal issues and communication skills are essential for high-quality care, particularly for discussions around serious illness and end of life care

Are you feeling challenged by:

  • Handling conversations in a family conference, with anxious or conflicting family members of a person who is deteriorating?

  • Working through questions on a Treatment Escalation Plan, including DNACPR?

  • Breaking bad news of a new diagnosis or terminal prognosis?

Our courses have been designed specifically to help professionals develop new techniques, increase confidence, knowledge, and skills when communicating with people and their families through serious illness and end-of-life care. No matter how challenging the topic is, our experienced trainers can help you take your knowledge and skills to the next level by getting comfortable with handling difficult conversations.

Course Objectives

  • to understand your role in having communication around end-of-life care

  • to recognise common themes and blocks in having difficult conversations

  • to improve knowledge, confidence, and skills on having effective and compassionate conversations and care planning

  • to learn use of our, trademarked, SCARS communication framework

  • to define capacity, care planning vs advance care planning

Specifics

  • This training uses a mix of presentation, interactive peer-learning practice, video demonstration, and informal discussion

  • Currently all training is delivered remotely via an online video conferencing platform

  • Group sizes can range from a minium of 6 persons to a max of 24 persons per workshop/group

  • Workshops typically last between 3 - 3.5 hours (shorter or full day workshops can be discussed if required)

Example Agenda for End of Life Care Planning and Communication Skills Masterclass:

1.    Introductions, objectives and welcome

2.   Interactive seminar and group work

  • People’s experiences and roles around end-of-life care

  • Examples of Difficult Conversations

  • Blocks, challenges, enablers for Difficult Conversations

  • Effective Care Planning including evidence

  • Overview of Advance Care Planning documentation and legal issues

3.    Communication Framework – SCARS®

4.    Simulated case scenarios 

5.    Consolidation of learning

We can also add modules on further discussion of your requirements

Endorsed by: General Medical Council (GMC) & Royal College of GPs South London Faculty

Note: The SCARS® communication framework has undergone a formal, independent evaluation with Cecily Saunders Institute, Kings College London. 

Brighton L.J. et al (2017). ‘Difficult Conversations’: evaluation of multiprofessional training. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care

The course has been specifically designed to help all members of the team GPs Nurses, social workers to prepare for those numerous difficult conversations and assist you with all the preparation for that as well as all the legal aspects" GP South London

We are passionate about making a difference to how patients and their families/carers are helped to face a life limiting diagnosis and death. We are a social enterprise and you can read more about our social impact here.