QIPP End of Life Care Event Report: Great Practice showcase

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: April 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell:  Showcasing best practice, this event brought together End of Life Care commissioners, End of Life Care education leads, service managers and clinical practitioners to share learning about the tools available to deliver the QIPP challenge in this sector.  Key learning is summarised and there is an overview of the presentations and links to case studies and marketplace exhibitors.

Length of publication: 15 pages

Talking about End of Life Care: right conversations, right people, right time.

Source:  National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type:  Report

In a nutshell:  This is the final report from the communication skills pilot project which considered communication skills of NHS staff working with patients at the end of life.  Communication skills training need, provision, strategy and sustainability were assessed at 12 sites .  Training needs analysis and existing provision reviewed and benchmarked against national competences and new training plans were then developed.   This report highlights the project’s findings, identifies key messages about why it’s necessary to improve communication skills and makes recommendations about how to proceed.

Length of publication: 35 pages

Croydon’s End of Life Care Training Approach – Case Study

Source:  National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication:  January 2011

Publication type: Case Study

In a nutshell:   This case study summarises the success with which Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has run End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) e-learning courses in training workshops which are accessed through the National Learning Management System (NLMS) for staff directly involved in end of life care.  Participants have responded positively to the format of the training workshops which have consisted of sessions for small groups of staff with different experience and backgrounds.   The Trust plans to extend the training to staff at council-run care homes which care for residents who are physically frail or suffer from dementia.

NHS Evidence QIPP, case study: End of Life Care

Source:  NHS Evidence

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Date of publication:  November 2010

Publication type:  Case Study

In a nutshell:  The objective of this collaborative working between nursing and AHP staff working for Thames Hospicecare, an independent hospice and Berkshire East Community Services was to improve qualified staff competence and confidence in delivering end of life care (EoLC) for patients in a community hospital setting.  

Current emphasis is on providing EoLC in communities rather than the acute setting but this is not always achievable or what the patient wants. Utilising community hospitals can be a more cost-effective option and also enable the local hospice inpatient unit to focus on providing complex care for patients who need it.  The case study explicitly shows the evidence of success in terms of financial and quality of care benefits.

Length of publication:  9 pages

A framework of National Occupational Standards to support common core competences and principles for health and social care workers working with adults at the end of life

Title:  A framework of National Occupational Standards to support common core competences and principles for health and social care workers working with adults at the end of life.

Source:  Department of Health, National End of Life Care Programme

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Publication type:  Standards

In a nutshell:  This document furthers the programme to develop workforce competences and core principles in relation to end of life care which were published in July 2009.  In particular this document underpins the framework of core National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the EoLC workforce – and provides details of the standards expected of the the whole range of staff involved. The standards can support training and education, workforce development, and the development of new and enhanced posts and roles.

Length of publication:  16 pages

Social care workforce not ready to deliver dementia care

Source: Alzheimer’s Society

In a nutshell: An influential group of MPs and Peers are calling for all staff working in social care to receive dementia training appropriate to their role after a report published today (16 June).

The report revealed the workforce is unfit to deliver quality care for people with dementia. ‘Prepared to Care’ a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia found large variation in the dementia skills of the social care workforce. Barriers to delivering good care included low levels of training, ineffective regulation, lack of accreditation for trainers and a limited understanding of dementia by commissioners.

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Document Type: Website

ACT Training Grants Available

Source: ACT website

Click here to visit the ACT website

Publication type: Website 

 In a nutshell: National children’s palliative care charity, ACT has re-opened Children’s Palliative Care Training Grants programme to allow professionals, carers and family members looking after children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions to access training opportunities.   The grant programme is funded by The True Colours Trust and aims to provide grants of up to £250 to individuals and agencies who would otherwise not be able to access specialised training in the field of children’s palliative care.  Applications may be submitted up to 28th August 2009.  For full details of the grants and how to apply click here.

New international alliance launched to address urgent needs of palliative care patients worldwide

Title:  New international alliance launched to address urgent needs of palliative care patients worldwide

Source:  Help the Hospices   

Follow this link for more information:  Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance Launch 

Date of publication:  5th May 2009

Publication type:  Website

In a nutshell:  On 5th May 2009 the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) launched a new global action network designed to focus exclusively on hospice and palliative care development worldwide.  WPCA will provide a global voice to achieve this goal and undertake various activities including advocacy, education and training, policy development and research.  

WPCA is engaged in a range of activities to support professionasl working in palliative care including: 

• advocacy
• World Hospice Palliative Care Day
• education and training
• International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN)
• policy
• quality and standards
• research.

Some important notes:  The WPCA  is a registered UK charity.  The Board of Trustees is an international board with worldwide representation.