Care home and care agency training

• Syringe Pump – How and when to use them in palliative care: Face to face session for nurses who are new to using syringe pumps in their practice
• Syringe Pump – Refresher: Online course for nurses who are regularly using syringe pumps in their practice
• Verification by nurse of expected death: Online training for nurses who can verify an expected death in their practice
• Symptom management by nurse at the end of life: Face to face sessions on how to manage symptoms in dying residents
• Male Catheterisation: Face to face training in the practical and theory to perform male catheterisation in practice
• Venepuncture and Phlebotomy: Face to face in the practical and theory to undertake Venepuncture and Phlebotomy in practice

• Symptom management by nurse at the end of life: Face to face sessions on how to manage symptoms in dying residents
• Assessing and recording mental capacity: Online course for people who are responsible for undertaking mental capacity assessments in their practice
• Managing palliative care emergencies: Face to face session for nurses on how to recognise and manage emergencies in palliative care
• Supporting people with learning disability at the end of life: Face to face course for all clinical staff. We explore how to provide better end of life care for people with a learning disability.

• SAGE & THYME: Online or face to face training for staff who, through the course of their work, come into contact with people in distress
• The path to empathic and effective communication: This interactive, half day training is recommended for all staff across health and social care. Attendees will be grouped by background e.g. clinical, non-clinical. The course can also be tailor-made to a team.
• Talking about death and dying and how it can HELP: This short session is aimed at anyone interested in opening up conversations about dying and why these conversations can be so significant.
• Speak Up! A guide to getting your voice heard at work: This course is for clinical and non-clinical staff who would like to develop their confidence in speaking with authority in work meetings. You will learn techniques to calm your internal world and strengthen your personal presence in situations where the voices of others feel louder than your own.

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to discuss how to support your staff in their workplace.

• Becoming a Dementia Friend: Short online training open to the public to transform perceptions and actions toward dementia in our society
• What is hospice care?: Short online training open to the public to explore what hospice care can offer
• Talking about death and dying and how it can HELP: This short session is aimed at anyone interested in opening up conversations about dying and why these conversations can be so significant.

Signature Senior Lifestyle; A long-standing relationship with Princess Alice Hospice

 “For our residents and their families, the benefits are profound. They can feel assured that their loved ones are receiving the best possible care, with a focus on dignity, comfort and emotional wellbeing. Families can find peace in knowing that they are supported every step of the way, with access to compassionate professionals who understand their unique needs during this challenging time” 

 We pride ourselves on establishing and growing relationships with our local network of health and social care providers to build the skills, knowledge and confidence in end-of-life care for all. 

The relationship with Signature Senior Lifestyle is one such partnership that began in March 2017 when one of the care homes in the group successfully completed the Gold Standards Framework for Care Homes and continues to this day. 

In the Spring of 2021, Princess Alice Hospice delivered an End-of-Life Care Dementia Champion Training Programme. The training empowered carers/nurses to champion the specific needs of residents with dementia, which helped to shape the way that dementia was managed within the homes. Feedback from learners was positive and highlighted the knowledge gained;  

“It was very constructive, full of lots of useful information and there’s so many things to be taken away.  For me, bereavement in dementia was the highlight of the course and just wanted to say thank-you” 

 Between Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024, all nine of the Signature Senior Lifestyle care homes successfully completed the Six Steps to Success in End-of-Life care Programme with our Education and Research team. Sandra Nandhra-Gourlay, Client Liaison Manager at Signature Senior Lifestyle Ltd comments about the impact and importance the training has had on their organisation and the residents: 

“For our team, the training has enhanced our ability to manage complex care needs with greater confidence and compassion, improving communication, pain management and emotional support techniques. This helps us create a more comforting and supportive environment for both our residents and their families. We are proud to continue our journey of growth and learning in partnership with the amazing team at Princess Alice Hospice” 

 Since the completion of Six Steps to Success in End-of-Life care Programme, the care homes were invited to join the Share and Learn Network for Care Homes and members staff attended the Networking event in March 2024. Learners had tours of the hospice and met many of the team here at Princess Alice Hospice. 

More recently, a Clinical Trainer from Signature Senior Lifestyle attended a series of three Practical Care Workshops in our Skills Hub. The workshops aimed to impart practical skills around death and dying to care staff, who are so often undervalued and yet are at the forefront of the practical care for residents. 

Signature Senior Lifestyle’s approach to continuous learning can only serve to benefit all the staff they take time to invest in and the residents they so diligently look after. We look forward to continuing the partnership in 2025 and beyond. 

If you would like to build a stronger relationship with Princess Alice Hospice Education and Research team, we would love to hear from you – [email protected]. No question too silly or query too small.