EVENT OVERVIEW

Communication skills for professionals including advance care planning

About the event

This is a two day interpersonal communication skills course at intermediate level which is aimed at qualified professionals who regularly contribute to the management of care for people approaching the end of life. It aims to equip them to listen to and sensitively explore needs and preferences regarding issues of care.

Recent government policy highlights the need for greater involvement of patients and families in end of life decision making and yet there is evidence that the workforce lacks confidence and skills. Through exploration of theoretical principles of interpersonal communication and advance care planning and practical workshops, the course will encourage participants to reflect on their own misconceptions, blocks and anxieties and to develop a strategy for future practice development.

• Topics
• Who is it for
• Tutors
• Programme

• What will I learn?

  • Understand the principles of successful interpersonal communication
  • Understand the importance of good communication in end of life care
  • Explore the challenges in communicating with patients, families, carers and other professionals about end of life issues
  • Identify your own strengths and weaknesses related to communication skills
  • Develop your interpersonal communication skills through practical workshops and role play
  • Understand the importance of effective communication in advance care planning.

• Who is it for?

  • Specialist palliative and end of life care practitioners
  • Any NHS, allied health or social care professionals who regularly work with life-limiting illness of uncertain prognosis
  • Social workers, care home managers or social care managers

• Course tutors

  • Sally Mercer, Social Worker
  • Liz Bryan, Director of Education and Training, St Christopher’s
  • Dr Alison Landon, Locum Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Christopher’s

• Programme

  09.00	ARRIVE, REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS
  09.30	Welcome, introductions and reflection on pre-course assignment Course facilitators
  10.00	Introduction to Interpersonal Communication and the 5Ps (with a focus on ‘Purpose’) Liz Bryan
  11.00	BREAK
  11.15	The 5Ps ……continued – ‘Persons’ Sally Mercer
  12.15	The 5Ps ……continued – ‘Preparation, Process’ and ‘Product’ Alison Landon
  13.15	LUNCH
  14.00	Role Play 1 Course facilitators
  15.00	BREAK
  15.15	Role Play 2 Course facilitators
  16.15	Summary
  16.30	Close

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