Short Courses and Study Days

Why are Communication Skills Important?

Being able to communicate effectively is a core clinical skill for all professionals who have regular patient contact and, as part of that role, are required to gather or give information, break bad news or support patients to make and understand decisions related to their care and treatment.

The link between effective communication skills and the delivery of high-quality care as well as staff resilience has been highlighted in both the research literature and a number of successive national reports.

This two-day evidence-based course has been developed by a group of leading communication researchers and trainers and is aimed at doctors, nurses and senior healthcare professionals (band 6 & above) wishing to enhance their clinical communication skills with patients, carers, or colleagues.

Participants set the agenda for both days by identifying challenging communication situations they experience at work. These challenges are recreated with actors playing different roles such as a patient, family member or colleague for participants to practice key skills and principles, receive constructive feedback and test out alternative strategies.

In previous courses key areas of challenge have included:

• Managing anger or distress
• Breaking Bad News
• Handling difficult questions
• Improving communication with colleagues
• Dealing with complaints

This course covers the following areas based on the document ‘National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered healthcare Practitioners’ (Public Health England 2018) the Covid 19 Vaccination Programme Slide Set (UK Health Security Agency, last updated December 2021) and the RCN Travel Competency document ‘Travel health nursing: career and competence development’ (RCN 2012).

This course covers the following areas based on the document ‘National Minimum standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training of Healthcare Support Workers’ (Public Health England 2015) and the Covid 19 Vaccination Programme Slide Set (UK Health Security Agency, last updated December 2021) This is an assessed course with a written and oral assessment to ensure a satisfactory level of knowledge, at the end of the second day.

New and experienced practitioners can find it challenging to maintain their confidence and competence to prescribe, even within their own specialisms.  This professional development day has been designed for both current and aspiring prescribers to support you with your CPD.     

We are all aware of the distress that an unplanned admission, to hospital or a care home, can be for individuals and their families.  Those who experience health, social and/or economic inequalities have an increased risk of preventable admissions, which can be expensive for the health and care system. 

When looking at the NHS Long Term Plan we know a person-centred approach, with integrated care and support can successfully improve people’s health and wellbeing and reduce the need for unplanned hospital admissions and long-term residential care.  This informs the overarching theme for this CPD day “keeping well at home”.   

Introduction
This study day is tailored for midwives who have completed the Newborn Infant Physical Examination UK National Screening competencies and wish to review and refresh skills. The opportunity to update knowledge and skills will be the main objective for this day. Workshop activities and simulated practice will be incorporated.

Course Aims
To refresh and develop existing knowledge and skills required to examine the newborn
To consider areas for future development to enhance own practice

Learning Outcomes
To discuss and review the principles of examining the newborn
To undertake simulated skills to exam the newborn
To refresh and update knowledge and skills in relation to examining the newborn

Course Content
The NIPE update content includes:
Hypoglycaemia in the neonate
Embryology and deviations of the eye
Intra-uterine/extra-uterine circulatory adaptation
Eyes, abdomen, skin, cardiac and hips skills stations
Fetal circulation/adaptation to extrauterine life
Genetics and the NIPE

Facilitator
Kirsty Tweedie, Advanced Practitioner (Midwife)/Midwifery lecturer at UEA/Fellow of the Higher Education Academy