A series of five study days looking at:

The Philosophy Of Palliative Care  (Day 1)
24th September 2009

• looking at the WHO definition of palliative care;  
• how the 5 key principles of palliative care apply in your practice setting;
• identifying ethical principles that influence practice in end of life care;
• describing the process of dying; and recognising a dying patient.

End Of Life Conversations  (Day 2) 
8th October 2009

• recognising  that end of life conversations can be difficult & identify why they  are difficult for you;
• discussing difficult questions & considering how you might respond:
• looking at  the concept of truth telling in relation to end of life conversations;
• having the opportunity to practice the skills you learn.

Pain And Symptom Management  (Day 3)  
22nd October 2009

• understanding  the importance of pain assessment:
• how to use the WHO analgesic ladder effectively:
• identifying non-drug interventions in managing pain;
• discussing the management of common symptoms in end-of-life care; recognising ethical dilemmas that arise when managing pain & other symptoms.

Loss And Grief  (Day 4) 
5th November 2009

• looking at the characteristics of loss & grief;
• considering awareness of current theories of bereavement & how these apply in practice;
• discussing cultural differences that influence responses to loss;
• explaining possible interventions when dealing with bereaved people

Looking After Yourself  (Day 5)
19th November 2009

• identifying which issues are likely to result in stress;
• how to recognize stress in yourself & others;
• the effective use of coping strategies including:- assertiveness, reflection,debriefing & clinical supervision

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: all health & social care workers who would like to increase their basic knowledge & understanding of end of life issues in relation to practice

Each day runs from  9.30am to 4.30pm at St Catherine’s Education Centre.

Each 5 day course costs £300-00 ~ includes handouts, refreshments and lunch – however,  it is possible to book individual study days at £70-00 per day.