CARE Course Topic: Person-centred care

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Eating and Drinking Towards The End of Life Workshop

Nurse and patient

A practical, interactive workshop for healthcare assistants and professionals who support people approaching the end of life.

During this workshop we will explore what to do when a person’s ability and desire to eat and drink changes, and share practical strategies for you to incorporate into your work.

This two-hour workshop will take place at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham.

As well as sharing practical strategies to support comfort, choice and enjoyment around food and drink, we will also look at person-centred approaches to managing risk of aspiration and choking at the end of life, as well as ways to support patients and their families through these changes.

Using real-life scenarios, the workshop will provide practical guidance, discussion, and ideas that can be applied in everyday practice. This will include exploring common challenges such as how to support individuals with cognitive impairments, like dementia, who may experience fluctuating swallowing difficulties.

After this workshop you will:

  • Know the principles of eating and drinking and changes towards the end of life
  • Understand how to support families when eating and drinking becomes difficult for someone who is approaching the end of life
  • Be able to apply practical strategies that support eating and drinking towards the end of life
  • Be able to evaluate products and resources to support comfort and enjoyment of eating and drinking at the end of life

The course is appropriate for all Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants, Care Home Managers and other allied health professionals 

Isla Jones

Isla Jones has worked at St Christopher’s hospice as a speech and language therapist since 2020 and prior to this has over 15 years experience working as a speech and language therapist with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties primarily in the acute setting. 
Read full profile Isla Jones

Universal Care Plan (UCP) Training for Croydon Care Homes

We are delighted to introduce the Universal Care Plan (UCP) training plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to support Care Homes in delivering consistent, person-centred care. This programme takes a staged approach to ensure that training is practical, sustainable, and embedded in daily practice.

This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting Care Homes in delivering excellent care through collaboration and shared learning.

Join us as we work together to make a lasting impact on the quality of care provided to residents.

In Year One, the focus is on building strong foundations with:

  • In-person training for Care Home Managers, providing them with the tools to lead the implementation of UCPs.
  • Online training for staff who will become UCP Champions, equipping them with the skills to facilitate Advance Care Planning conversations and promote the value of UCPs.
  • Local training sessions hosted by Lead Care Homes in Purley, Norwood, South Croydon, and Kenley, inviting neighbouring Care Homes to share and learn from UCP-based practices.

In Year Two, the programme continues to develop with:

  • On-site support from St Christopher’s clinical team, working directly with UCP Champions in Croydon Care Homes.
  • Online training for new Champions and refresher sessions for existing ones, ensuring skills remain sharp and effective.

UCP Training for Registered Managers (in-person at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham, London)

Training for UCP Champions (online)

More dates to be announced

If your Care Home is outside of Croydon but you are interested in this opportunity, please email education@stchristophers.org.uk

All Care Home staff in Croydon.

Gill Early

Gill started her career in a Croydon nursing home at the age of 16 years old. She trained as a nurse, graduating as a Registered General Nurse in 1986.
Read More Gill Early

By the end of the UCP training programme, you will be able to:

  1. Define the principles, benefits, and common misconceptions of Advance Care Planning (ACP) and Universal Care Plans (UCPs).
  2. Describe challenges and issues related to ACP implementation in the context of UCPs, including addressing sensitive topics with families and residents.
  3. Demonstrate effective skills for conducting difficult, sensitive, and challenging conversations about end-of-life care with residents and their families.
  4. Record and share ACPs by gathering resident information, wishes, and preferences, ensuring accurate and effective use of the UCP system.
  5. Create appropriate responses to complex scenarios, such as managing expectations, addressing cultural considerations, supporting residents with dementia, and handling emergency situations.
  6. Assess personal strategies for self-care, recognising the emotional demands of engaging in sensitive conversations and supporting end-of-life care.

These outcomes aim to empower care home staff to confidently use the UCP system, with the ability to deliver compassionate, person-centred care while enhancing collaboration and communication within your teams and with residents’ families.

End of Life Scenarios Skills Workshop

Scenario-based training to build confidence in communicating and managing a range of situations that may occur in the last days of life.

CPD accreditation logo

Participants will be able to practice skills such as assessment, decision making at the end of life and communicating with relatives. This workshop aims to provide a safe space, allowing professionals to experience what it might be like to care for someone at the end of life, encouraging them to feel more confident to do this in their place of work.

We are delighted to confirm this workshop now has CPD Accreditation.

During this workshop you will:

  • Feel more confident to care for someone at the end of life
  • Be able to discuss the communication skills needed to work with this patient group
  • Be able to discuss cultural differences with regards to end of life care

This workshop will take place at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham.

Who is it for?

The course is appropriate for all Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants, Care Home Managers and other allied health professionals looking to refresh their knowledge about end of life care.

Kim Hydes

Kim is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St Christopher’s Hospice, caring and supporting individuals and their families who are at end of life in the Bromley community area. She has recently joined the Professional Learning team at St Christopher’s CARE in a seconded role as a visiting lecturer alongside her community role. She will be facilitating the ECHOs for Bromley and Croydon mental health and learning disability care homes plus the Croydon and Lambeth care homes. She will also be teaching on a range of our skills workshops on offer. Kim has worked as a palliative care nurse in the…
Read full profile Kim Hydes

Introduction to Communication Skills Workshop for Health & Social Care Staff

A photograph of two ladies, sitting down and holding hands. The ladies are looking at each other and smiling. The photograph demonstrates strong and empathetic communication.

Join this interactive workshop at St Christopher’s CARE that explores the importance of good communication and challenges we might face when doing this.

The session will allow participants to practice their communication skills in role-play scenarios. We expect learners who attend this session to fully participate in the activities. Full support will be provided to create safety through these activities.

CPD accreditation logo

You will build confidence in holding empathic and open conversations in various situations.

We are delighted to confirm this workshop now has CPD accreditation.

What will I learn?

Following this workshop you will be able to

  • Identify the components of good quality communication
  • Respond to conversation enablers openly and with empathy
  • Demonstrate empathic and open conversation with a peer

This workshop will take place at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham.

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Who is it for?

This workshop is appropriate for all Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants, support workers, Care Home Managers and other allied health professionals.

It is recommended that you have attended one of our Principles and Practice of Palliative and End of Life Care courses prior to booking this session – please contact education@stchristophers.org.uk for further information or visit here.

Kim Hydes

Kim is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St Christopher’s Hospice, caring and supporting individuals and their families who are at end of life in the Bromley community area. She has recently joined the Professional Learning team at St Christopher’s CARE in a seconded role as a visiting lecturer alongside her community role. She will be facilitating the ECHOs for Bromley and Croydon mental health and learning disability care homes plus the Croydon and Lambeth care homes. She will also be teaching on a range of our skills workshops on offer. Kim has worked as a palliative care nurse in the…
Read full profile Kim Hydes

Gail Preston

Gail has been a physiotherapist for over 20 years, initially specialising in Neuro Rehab before moving into Palliative Care. Over the last 15 years she has developed and evaluated services and worked in a variety of teams within the Hospice. Having developed her skills in teaching she found a role within the Education Team and furthering her knowledge with a Post Graduate Qualification in education then embarked on the role of Head of Professional Learning at St Christopher’s Hospice. She is passionate about development and continued learning. She is also part of ACPOPC representing the voice of palliative care physiotherapists…
Read full profile Gail Preston

Learning Disabilities and Palliative Care Skills Workshop

How can we improve palliative care for people with learning disabilities?

This is an interactive session which aims to improve participants understanding of learning disabilities and how we can meet the needs of this patient group towards the end of life. It will include case studies and opportunity for Q&A.

Topics will include: supporting communication, decisions around hospital admissions, providing person-centred care and symptom assessment for this patient group. By the end of this session you will have improved confidence in supporting individuals with learning disabilities towards the end of life.

We are delighted to confirm this workshop now has CPD Accreditation.

Two people talking
CPD accreditation logo

What will I learn?

This workshop will take place at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham.

Topics will include:

  • Advance care planning
  • Symptom assessment for people with learning disabilities
  • Communicating about death and illness.
  • Decisions around hospital admissions

Who is it for?

This workshop is appropriate for all Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants, support workers, Care Home Managers and other allied health professionals looking to refresh their knowledge about learning disabilities in palliative care.

Phoebe Mooney 

Phoebe is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for people with learning disabilities working in palliative care at St Christopher’s Hospice. She has always had a special interest in palliative care and prior to her current role Phoebe worked as an advance care planning nurse for adults with LD in East London. Phoebe also has experience of working as a community learning disability nurse in both physical and mental health. Phoebe is passionate about improving the support people with learning disabilities receive at the end of life and enjoys teaching and raising awareness about this topic.
Read full profile Phoebe Mooney 

Kim Hydes

Kim is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St Christopher’s Hospice, caring and supporting individuals and their families who are at end of life in the Bromley community area. She has recently joined the Professional Learning team at St Christopher’s CARE in a seconded role as a visiting lecturer alongside her community role. She will be facilitating the ECHOs for Bromley and Croydon mental health and learning disability care homes plus the Croydon and Lambeth care homes. She will also be teaching on a range of our skills workshops on offer. Kim has worked as a palliative care nurse in the…
Read full profile Kim Hydes

Evolve: Interdisciplinary Palliative Care for the Future

Are you motivated to enable people to achieve what matters most to them as they approach the end of their life?

Do you aspire for your team to work in a more integrated and collaborative way?

Are you grappling with increasing demands and time pressures whilst striving to maintain a person-centred approach?

The Evolve Programme logo. The word evolve in handwritten font, with 'Palliative Care for the Future' underneath.

If so, we invite you to join a group of like-minded professionals on the EVOLVE Programme – a year long course of practice transformation that will support and empower you to implement the changes you wish to see.

The EVOLVE Programme is a highly evaluated, international course that challenges you to interrogate your current palliative care practice from fresh perspectives and to implement change at patient, team and service levels. The programme is values-based, driven by the underpinning goal of enabling people to live fully until they die and a conviction that the future of palliative care must be interdisciplinary – where professionals and teams work across boundaries to achieve their fullest potential and impact.

Through a proven formula that integrates evidence-based principles, critical reflection and discussion, strategic action planning and expert coaching from Consultant and Thought Leader, Rebecca Tiberini, the EVOLVE Programme offers you a unique opportunity to transform your own and your team’s practice to be person-centred, interdisciplinary and fit for the future.

The EVOLVE Programme is a year long course consisting of a one day in person Masterclass, a virtual day and three virtual coaching sessions. The programme design is solution-focused, highly interactive and underpinned by implementation science to enable you to implement new thinking into practice. The programme includes:

  • ‘Evolved Palliative Care for the Future’ – a future-orientated model underpinned by research and international policy on interdisciplinary and rehabilitative approaches.
  • Key concepts and practices: ‘What matters to you?’, person-centred goal setting, interdisciplinary vs multidisciplinary working, effective role blurring, needs-based leadership
  • Critical evaluation of your current practice and that of your team, organisation and partnership working – to identify your bright spots and areas for development
  • Creation and implementation of your own EVOLVE Project and Strategic Action Plan
  • Expert coaching and a supportive community of colleagues to help you make the change happen in practice.

This programme is facilitated in collaboration with St Christopher’s who will bring the concepts of The EVOLVE Programme to life through a range of interdisciplinary practice examples.

The EVOLVE Programme is an opportunity for professionals that are motivated to deliver the highest standard of person-centred care for people approaching the end of life through highly, effective team working.

The EVOLVE Programme is open to:

  • All disciplines including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech and language therapists, social workers, psychologists, spiritual care workers, therapists, bereavement counsellors, team leaders and clinical managers.
  • All specialisms including palliative care, geriatrics, general practice, oncology, respiratory, neurology.

You may be a clinical nurse specialist or senior social worker, aspiring to support patients’ and families’ holistic needs but feeling increasingly time pressured and looking for a fresh new approach that enables you to be both person-centred and efficient.

You may be a clinical leader, palliative care consultant or inpatient manager, aspiring to lead your multidiscipinary team to be as effective and efficient as possible – in other words to work in an INTERdisciplinary way.

You may be a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian or speech and language therapist, aspiring to embed a team culture of rehabilitative palliative care that enables people to reach their personal goals and preserve autonomy up until the last moment.

You may be a senior leader, hospice or care home manager, aspiring to respond to the challenges of increasing demands on your service whilst striving to deliver quality, person-centred care and work effectively with partner services.

For each of these and many more the EVOLVE Programme is for you.

  • Day 1: Friday 5 February (in-person at Christopher’s CARE, SE26 6DZ)
  • Day 2: Friday 12 February (virtual via Zoom)

As part of The EVOLVE Programme, there will also be three online follow-up sessions:

  • Coaching session 1: Friday 5 March 2027, 9:30 – 11am
  • Coaching session 2: Friday 4 June 2027, 9:30 – 11am
  • Coaching session 3: Friday 8 October 2027, 9:30am – 12:30pm

The EVOLVE Programme covers;

  • Future challenges: aging populations, complex needs, disability and death
  • Contemporay solutions: evidence-based integrative approaches
  • Rehabilitative Palliative Care: principles, practices and cost effectiveness
  • What matters to you: the start of a culture shift
  • Interdisciplinary vs multidisciplinary working: the difference and why it matters
  • Specialist roles and shared roles: foundations for respect, value and collaboration
  • Needs-based leadership: harnessing the strengths of your team
  • Joint working: targeting efficiencies between teams, specialisms and partners
  • Motivations and frustrations: tapping into your personal drivers
  • Culture change: bringing your team culture into the spotlight
  • Strategic Action Planning: moving from concepts to implementation

Rebecca Tiberini

Rebecca Tiberini is an international consultant and coach and the founder of the EVOLVE Programme. Tired of constant discussions about the ‘problems’ facing palliative care teams, Rebecca created the EVOLVE…
Read More Rebecca Tiberini

Helena Talbot Rice

Helena joined St Christopher’s in June 2011 after thirteen years working clinically in the acute sector in the NHS. Prior to St Christopher’s, she worked in various large teaching hospitals…
Read More Helena Talbot Rice

“Collaborative and creative, truly interdisciplinary with ‘what matters most’ at its core.” – Therapy Lead

“It has allowed me to reflect on what improvements we need to make on both an organisational and a personal level to provide the highest level of care to our patients.” – Doctor

‘I really thought interdisciplinary was another word for multidisciplinary until I attended the course, have learnt so much.’ – Ward Manager

“Chance to take time out, reflect and learn and go back enthused and ready to lead change.” – Occupational Therapist

“A fantastic opportunity to learn as a team, to network, and to enhance understanding of interdisciplinary and rehabilliative palliative care.” – Nurse

“It wasn’t about coming up with something huge – it was about having the space to think.” – Physiotherapist

‘Energising, thought provoking and collaborative’ – Care Home Manager