An Introduction to Palliative Care
One-Day Training Course for Care Home and Nursing Home Staff
This interactive one-day Introduction to Palliative Care course is designed specifically for healthcare professionals working in nursing and care homes in Knowsley and St Helens. The course aims to improve knowledge, confidence and the delivery of high-quality palliative and end of life care.
The course is heavily subsidised thanks to funding from Pilkington, enabling us to offer this high quality training at a significantly reduced cost.
This course is aimed and subsidised for Nurses and Healthcare Assistants, working in nursing or residential care homes within St Helens or Knowsley.
INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE - 1 DAY COURSE
Eligibility: Staff who work in nursing homes and care homes in the St Helens and Knowsley Borough. This course is open to all staff whose job involves contact with people with a palliative diagnosis. For example, nurses, health care assistants, catering staff and housekeepers are all welcome if there job gives them direct contact with people that have been given a palliative diagnosis and/or are nearing the end of their lives.
- This is a new and revised course that supports delegates to understand how to deliver care to people with a palliative diagnosis, meeting their physical needs while also offering reassurance, respect, and emotional support.
- It develops soft skills, particularly in sensitive communication with patients and families, recognising emotional cues, and handling challenging conversations. These skills are essential to providing care that is not only clinically sound but also compassionate and person-centred.
- The training is interactive and face to face.
- Delivered by hospice nurses who have years of real life palliative care experience as well as accredited qualifications in palliative care and teaching.
- Awaiting CPD accreditation for this course.
Course Content
The course uses a variety of teaching tools to encourage participation, discussion and shared learning.
Topics include:
- What is Palliative Care?
- End of Life Care and Potential Symptoms
- The Importance of Holistic Care
- Nutrition at End of Life
- Mouthcare at End of Life
- Pressure Area Care at End of Life
- Resilience and Wellbeing
Delegates will also have access to ongoing support following the course, including the hospice’s 24-hour advice service.
Accessibility & Additional Requirements
- Our building is fully accessible
- Please inform us of:
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- Any additional support needs
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- Any dietary requirements
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You will be asked to provide this information during the booking process.
Course Dates & Times
Each course will start at 08:45 and finish at 17:00.
- 24th March 2026
- 24th April 2026
- 15th May 2026
- 1st June 2026
- 3rd July 2026
- 15th September 2026
- 5th October 2026
- 2nd November 2026
- 8th December 2026
- 19th January 2027
- 9th February 2027
Cost
£25 pp – This rate has been heavily reduced and is part funded with thanks to the generosity of Pilkington Charities’ Fund. This rate includes:
- Refreshments
- Lunch
This course is non refundable once booked.
Feedback
This course has been trialled at Parr Nursing Home and refined based on delegate feedback to ensure it is practical, relevant and engaging.
BOOKING LINK TO FOLLOW
Learning objectives:
To understand the meaning and importance of palliative care, its background and who is involved.
- To understand the principles of end-of-life care, including recognising, managing and supporting symptoms.
- To recognise the importance and effectiveness of holistic care.
- To feel more confident to have challenging and difficult conversations with patients and families.
- To understand the significance and best practice with regards to nutrition, mouthcare and pressure area care at end of life.
- To be aware of your own well being and resilience when caring for people with a palliative diagnosis.
SYRINGE DRIVE TRAINING SESSIONS - HALF DAY COURSE
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Eligibility: Registered nurses based in nursing or care homes across Knowsley and St Helens, Merseyside. · Interactive face to face training, small groups of maximum 8 nurses to allow for an effective learning environment. · Delivered by hospice nurses who have years of real life syringe driver experience and accredited teaching qualifications. · The training supports patient safety in line with CQC recommendations by teaching safe medication delivery and use. It promotes quality of care by teaching timely and dignified symptom control, this ensures dignity and comfort and stops delays or errors which can cause unnecessary suffering to palliative patients. · A Competency checklist will be included in the training. · The training is delivered by experienced hospice nursing staff who share years of ‘real life experiences’ and have university accredited teaching qualifications. · Awaiting CPD accreditation for this course. Learning Outcomes: · To be competent to set-up a syringe driver, understand the theory behind using a syringe driver and trouble shoot common technical problems. · To be confident to manage symptoms that can require syringe driver medication including pain, nausea, respiratory secretions and agitation. · To recognise common medications that are used in syringe drivers, their doses and any contraindications. · To feel competent to discuss the reasons for the use of syringe drivers with patients and families. |
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Duration: 3 hours Cost: £15 per person
Eligibility: Registered nurses based in nursing or care homes across Knowsley and St Helens, Merseyside. |
On successful completion of the training:
- All attendees will receive a CPD certified certificate (awaiting CPD accreditation).
- Supplementary online resources available after the training.
- Ongoing support will also be available via Willowbrook Hospice’s 24/7 Advice Line.
- There will be follow up case discussion with individual care homes to track progress and effectiveness in practice.
BOOKING LINK TO FOLLOW