HCP Hub

The title of the training programme for healthcare professionals is: “No Conversation Too Tough: Preparing Children for Parental Death”

As part of her legacy, Ruth Strauss was determined to support other families where a parent was facing end of life and one of the key areas identified was the need to train healthcare professionals, particularly Clinical Nurse Specialists and Palliative Care Nurses, to help parents hold conversations about death and dying with their children. The evidence demonstrates that approximately 112 children in the UK face the death of a parent every day.  Whilst several organisations offer support or bereavement and post-bereavement, there is a gap in provision of pre-bereavement support.  Evidence also indicates that children who hold open , honest communications during the pre-bereavement stage are better equipped to deal with grief and to flourish.

No, the training is completely free of charge for delegates and is fully funded by the Foundation.

Initially, please contact training@ruthstraussfoundation.com

The course comprises two elements: a pre-course e-learning programme and a one day face to face workshop.  In order to complete the course and receive a CPD accredited certificate, delegates need to complete both elements of the course.

It should take approximately two hours to complete the pre-course learning.

Yes – the pre-learning gives a good foundation and introduces theories and tools which can e put to practice on the training day.

Yes – we acknowledge that it can be very difficult for delegates to attend a face to face event , particularly close to their home or work location.   We also have some delegates who work overseas who are interested in attending the programme so we will be offering one online workshop each month to complement the e-learning.

Yes – the online learning will be available for one year after you register and will prove to be a useful reference material to support your ongoing learning and clinical practice.

Yes the programme attracts approximately 8 CPD points.

Yes.

This programme focuses on PRE- bereavement, the period between a poor prognosis and end of life which can last days, weeks , months or even years. Also , the programme specifically looks at the communications needed to support parents in holding difficult conversations with their children to prepare them for death and dying.

It is a full day with registration at 9.30 and completing by 4.30.

No, we would encourage you to rebook to a date where you can attend the full day.  The day has been structured to give you valuable learning points and the opportunity to practise sensitive conversations in a safe place.

The training days will be held across the UK in major towns and cities to ensure all delegates have an opportunity to attend an event in their region.  Where requested, we will deliver training events for dedicated teams onsite at their Trust/Health Board.

Yes, we are happy to pay for travel where required and with an individual assessment of the need.

Absolutely!  Please request this via training@ruthstraussfoundation.com giving a key contact and numbers requiring training.

Yes – we are planning to hold an online training event once a month to allow those who are unable to attend in person the opportunity to complete the course.

The training is delivered by two highly experienced facilitators, one with a Clinical Nurse Specialist background and one with expertise in child and family bereavement.

Yes. The workbook accompanies the pre-course e-learning and is a place to complete tasks, jot down notes and reflections and to access key resources on the programme.

It is a community of former delegates to continue discussions around the important topic of pre-bereavement, share experiences and best practice and to attend masterclasses hosted by experts in the field. Delegates will be invited to join the community of practice hosted on our website when they complete the course and will be able to access a hub of resources and a discussion forum.

Not currently but this may change in the future.

The target audience for the programme is CNS and palliative care nurses but not exclusively.  WE welcome healthcare professionals from all disciplines to join the programme.

The programme’s focus is to help children to communicate about the death of a parent.  However, there are topics which may be of value e.g. models of grief, holding sensitive conversations, family dynamics and wider learning which may be transferrable.