Our clinical education team
Our team are committed to delivering excellent clinical education and training for health and social care professionals in our community.
At present our training is delivered virtually, please see our virtual events below.
Clinical student placements
We are able to offer a range of clinical student placements across our specialist care services and host students from a wide variety of disciplines, including pre-registration adult and children's nursing, paramedic science and social work.
For more information or to discuss your individual requirements please contact our clinical education team on clinicaleducation@keech.org.uk.
Virtual education events - sign up today:
Dying Matters Week
These sessions are being delivered as part of our Dying Matters Week programme. Any health care professional or member of the public can attend.
Monday 10 May 12-2pm -
Are you in a good place to talk? (full details below)
Register your free place now
Tuesday 11 May 12-2pm -
Are you in a good place to plan? (full details below)
Register your free place now
Thursday 13 May 12pm -
Are you in a good place to think ahead? (full details below)
Register your free place now
Thursday 13 May 2pm -
Are you in a good place to think ahead? (full details below)
Register your free place now
Are you in a good place to talk?
Join Karen Hibbert the Compassionate Communities Coordinator at Keech Hospice to demystify taboos around death, dying and bereavement. Hints and tips will also be shared to help you start these life conversations and discussion to explain why these conversations are so important.
Are you in a good place to plan?
Join Chris May Lecturer Practitioner at Keech Hospice for a discussion about Advanced Care Planning to explore what an Advanced Care Plan is and when you need to consider it. The workshop will also include the topics of what is your digital legacy and what to do with it, and touch on decisions to be considered around organ donation.
Are you in a good place to think ahead?
12pm - Want to know more about the work of the funeral director? Please join Neville's for an insight into what they do and what families need to think about when planning a funeral.
2pm - Join Nigel Richards the Hospice Chaplain and Spiritual Care Coordinator for a discussion about planning your funeral. Nigel will also be including some of his own anecdotes about the very real and pastoral good which can be achieved both with families and patients who are willing to discuss this before they die.
Don't leave me now - a play written by Brian Daniels and directed by Jeni Draper
Wednesday 12 May 2021 - 7-8.45pm
Tickets only £10 - Book now
Where does love end and duty begin?
Inspired by two real stories, it explores with insight and humour the impact of early-onset dementia on family life.
“The play is subtly powerful, sympathetic and sharp, sad and funny… where dementia is the villain, words are priceless.” Howard Jacobson, Booker Prize-winning author (New Statesman 2016)
Endorsed by all major dementia charities including Dementia UK, The Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Pathfinders, Cruse Bereavement Care, Hospice UK.
Masterclass No. 6 - Children’s palliative care – support for children who are seriously ill.
With guest presenter
Dr Helena Dunbar
Director of Service Development and
Improvement - Together for Short Lives
Thursday 6 May
Register your free place now
It is a critical time for children’s palliative care. The number of children and young people with life-limiting illness has almost doubled over the last 20 years, with many living with greater clinical complexity. Despite the many excellent people supporting children and families, the reality is that the care they receive relies heavily on where they live and much of the support is dependent on the generosity of public fundraising to support it.
Helena will give an overview of children’s palliative care, explaining it’s role and addressing key challenges being currently faced. Local issues will also be addressed during the Masterclass with an opportunity for Q&A.
Dr Helena Dunbar is an experienced children’s nurse with 30 years in practice. Until recently Helena was Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning and Head of Division at De Monfort University’s Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery. Whilst there she led the design and delivery of teaching and learning in children’s nursing for the last eight years.
Helena is widely published on issues relating to child health and children’s palliative care. Her PhD focused on Place Bonding in Children’s Hospices, working closely with Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough. And earlier this year Helena was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to explore palliative care provision, education and training in an international context.
Helena has recently joined Together for Short Lives as their new Director of Service Development and Improvement, where she will be responsible for helping to meet their ambition of making sure every seriously ill child and family get the best care and support regardless of their postcode. She will lead programmes to support quality improvement, education and sharing good practice as well as overseeing our work to support families with information and advice they need.
Essential End of Life Care Rolling Programme 2021 - for registered health and social care professionals
2021 - EOL Programme
This is a free 10 week rolling programme.
This is a weekly rolling programme, giving you the flexibility to choose dates and times that suit you. You can book onto individual sessions or sign up for a whole programme.
What can I gain from attending?
An in-depth overview of the key areas associated with palliative and end of life care (EoLC). Opportunity for Q&A and discussion are included within each session along with principles of how to look after yourself as a healthcare professional.
Who can attend?
Any registered health and social care professional (such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, social workers etc) wishing to gain more confidence for the care of patients with a palliative and end of life care diagnosis.
Programme 1 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Tuesday 5 January - Tuesday 9 March 2021
2-3pm
Programme 2 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Tuesday 13 April - Tuesday 15 June 2021 10.30-11.30am
Programme 3 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Tuesday 6 July - Tuesday 7 September 2021 2-3pm
Programme 4 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Tuesday 28 September - Tuesday 30 November 2021 10.30-11.30am
Click on the links below to book individual sessions
Essential Conversations
Exploring conversations face to face, via video link and telephone. Gives a structure and builds confidence in communication.
Register for individual session now
Essential Advanced Care Planning
What does Advanced Care Planning entail? When should it be done? How should it be approached? Who should commence these conversations?
Register for individual session now
Essential Recognition of the Dying Patient
This session explores the complexity of the topic and gives helpful insight into the dying process and what to look for.
Register for individual session now
Essential End of Life Care Anticipatory Medication
What are the essential drugs used, and why? What are the principles involved? Includes setting up a Syringe Driver and it’s maintenance.
Register for individual session now
Essential Pain Management
How should pain be assessed in a palliative/EOLC context? What about types of pain we do not always consider – spiritual pain for example? Can all pain be alleviated? Includes pharmacological/non-pharmacological approaches.
Register for individual session now
Essential Nausea and Vomiting Management
How to assess patients with increasing symptoms, how receptors work in recognising nausea and vomiting, pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to management.
Register for individual session now
Essential Breathlessness & Secretion Management
Explores the range of conditions that may experience breathlessness, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of breathlessness and secretions, alleviation methods for breathlessness and secretions.
Register for individual session now
Essential Agitation and Delirium Symptom Control
Explores techniques to recognise agitation and delirium in end of life patients, traditional and alternative methods of symptom management.
Register individual session now
Essential Nutrition, Hydration and Mouth Care
How to be aware of the need for nutrition and hydration management in palliative care, ethics surrounding hydration in the dying patient, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of mouth care.
Register for individual session now
Essential Loss and Bereavement
An understanding of loss and bereavement, how to manage approaches to loss, strategies of recognising complexities of grief. How to look after yourself.
Principles of End of Life Care Rolling Programme 2021 - for unregistered health care professionals
2021 - EOL Programme
This is a free 5 session rolling programme.
This is a fortnightly rolling programme, giving you the flexibility to choose dates and times that suit you. You can book onto individual sessions or sign up for a whole programme.
What can I again from attending?
An overview of the key areas associated with palliative and end of life care (EoLC). Opportunity for Q&A and discussion are included wihtin each session along with principles of how to look after yourself as someone looking after a dying patient.
Wha can attend?
Any unregistered health care professional (such as health care assistants, carer, support worker etc.) wishing to gain more confidence for the care of patients with a palliative and end of life care diagnosis.
Programme 1 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Thursday 7 January - Thursday 4 March 2021 2-3pm
Programme 2 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Thursday 15 April - Thursday 10 June 2021 10.30-11.30am
Programme 3 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Thursday 8 July - Thursday 2 September 2021 2-3pm
Programme 4 - Register for whole programme now
Runs from Thursday 30 September - Thursday 25 November 2021 10.30-11.30am
Click on the links below to book individual sessions
Principles of Palliative Care
What is Palliative Care? How does it differ from EOLC or other types of care? How should I interact with these patients? What do these patients want from me? Are there principles that can help me?
Register for individual session now
Principles of Essential Communication
Conversations with palliative/Dying patients are often perceived as ‘difficult’. Is this true? What do I need to consider? Are there principles that can help me engage effectively with this patient group? This session will build your confidence in your communication skills.
Register for individual session now
Principles of Advance Care Planning
What is Advanced Care Planning? Is it important? When should it be done? How should it be approached? Who should commence these conversations?
Register for individual session now
Principles of care in the last days
How to recognise the dying patient, what care in the last days looks like, principles of managing the patient at end of life, recognition of aftercare.
Register for individual session now
Principles of Loss & Bereavement
How to recognise loss and bereavement and gaining understanding of helping those affected during their loss.
Stepping Back from the Edge: Managing Stress and Building Resilience
Friday 14 May 2021 at 2pm
Register now!
What can I gain from attending?
Learn strategies and ways of managing yourself and how to cope in difficult situations.
Who can attend?
Any health care professional or member of the public who wishes to learn ways of coping with difficulties.
Is there an elephant in the room?
One hour workshop
21st April 2021 at 10am
4th August 2021 at 7pm
15th December 2021 at 2pm
Register Now!
What can I gain from attending?
More understanding around history and the taboo of death. Confidence to explore conversations around death and dying and preparation for future uncertainties.
Who can attend?
Any member of the public who wishes to learn more about death and dying
Verification of Expected Death
Monday 25 October 2021 - 2-3.30pm
Friday 26 November 2021 - 10-11.30am
Monday 13 December 2021 - 2-3.30pm
Monday 17 January 2022 - 10-11.30am
Register your FREE place now
What can I gain from attending?
The course is aimed at staff who wish to develop knowledge and skills in recognising death and the process of verifying an expected death.
Who can attend?
This verification of expected death training is suitable for registered and unregistered health care staff who are interested in taking on the extended role of verification of expected death.
Intermediate Communication skills
Tuesday 18 May 2021 - 8.45am - 4pm
Wednesday 15 September 2021 - 8.45am - 4pm
Wednesday 8 December 2021 - 8.45am - 4pm
Register your FREE place now
What can I gain from attending?
This Intermediate Communication Skills training will enable you to enhance communication skills in difficult or challenging situations.
The training explores barriers to communication, strategies to manage conversations in difficult scenarios, how to explore conversations in ceilings of treatment or end of life care as wells as tools and skills to help you develop confidence.
Who can attend?
If you are from the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes area and are either:
- A specialist palliative and end of life care practitioner
- Any NHS, allied health or social care professionals who regularly work with life-limiting illness of uncertain prognosis
- Social worker, care home manager or social care manager
- Registered professionals wishing to explore more challenging conversations and communication skills.
Introduction to Palliative and End of Life Care Study Day
Thursday 23 September 2021 - 9am-4pm
Register your FREE place now
What can I gain from attending?
An increase in awareness and confidence in delivering palliative and end-of-life care to patients with a life-limiting illness.
Who can attend?
Any registered or unregistered health care professionals with an interest in palliative or end-of-life care.
What have I done to deserve this?
Addressing the needs for the LGBTQIA+ community living with a palliative illness.
Wednesday 7 July 2021 - 2-3pm
Register your free place
For people in the LGBTQ+ community there are some additional concerns and worries whilst living with a palliative illness. This session is to raise awareness of these issues and discuss how they can be challenged and overcome and what changes could be made to support people manage during this time.
What can I gain from attending?
An overview of unconscious bias and how to recognise the individual needs for the LGBTQIA+ community diagnosed with a palliative illness.
Who can attend?
Any health care professional or member of the public wanting to explore more ways of challenging diversity
Intermediate study day: Advanced Care Planning.
Thursday 24 June 9am-4pm
Register your free place now
What can I gain from attending?
The day is aimed at people who are dealing with palliative and End of Life Care regularly, whether qualified or unqualified. It will cover in some detail the various components of a good advance care plan, including a session focussing on children’s palliative care, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. The course is delivered by experts within their fields of practice.
Who can attend?
This is a Tier 2 ‘Intermediate’ Study day. Ideally, you will have attended a first-tier course, such as the ‘Essential Advanced Care Planning’ session, and are ready to build upon that knowledge and explore further.
For more information or to submit your questions please email: clinicaleducation@keech.org.uk
