Online training pack released to improve end of life care

An online training pack encouraging healthcare professionals to talk about end of life care has been launched by Skills for Health.

The resources include a film based on real-life experiences of a woman with motor neurone disease who gives her son and sister of her end of life wishes. The pack also includes an interactive pdf with practical messages for front line workers and a PowerPoint presentation so that professionals can carry out the training themselves to improve communication skills.

It was developed in a project in which end of life 'champions' – professionals and people who have experienced end of life care – examined what mattered to them through a series of workshops. 

The project was led by Skills for Care, in partnership with Skills for Health and the National Council for Palliative Care. The training materials are designed to encourage professionals to work together to support the dying.

Skills for Health associate Anne Barrett said: ‘These new resources help to extend the supportive environment and enthusiasm for best practice generated in the workshops – and put this into daily working practice. 

‘End of life care is a sensitive subject area but not one that should be ignored; the key messages that were developed will help those in the front line within every day practice provide even better care.’  

A second film looking at how professionals in different roles can work together to provide excellent end of life care is also available. 

All the resources were developed with Health Education North Central and East London. For more information and to download the resources: tinyurl.com/EOLCtrainingpack.