Work with us to build your communication skills, equipping you for those important conversations.
We believe that empathic and effective communication skills are essential in delivering excellent health and social care. We would go so far as to say that these skills are helpful in all aspects of life; from negotiating screen time with teenagers, to enhancing good working relationships with colleagues, to walking a delicate line between honesty and kindness when sharing difficult news with distressed patients.
Our aim is to support you with your specific learning needs around communication skills and we offer a range of courses to support you every step of the way.
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“A powerful model to give confidence to have compassionate conversations with those who are upset”.
Who is the course recommended for?All clinical and non-clinical staff including volunteers who, through the course of their work, come into contact with people in distress.
What will I learn from this course?
The SAGE & THYME® evidence-based mnemonic has been developed as a national initiative, to help health and social care workers to support people with worries/concerns or who are in distress. By the end of the workshop, you should have a structured and memorable approach that you can use to: recognise psychological distress; avoid causing psychological harm; communicate honestly and compassionately; provide person-focused support; and know when you have reached the boundary of your competence. ©University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
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New!
Who is the course recommended for?
This short session is aimed at anyone interested in opening up conversations about dying and why these conversations can be so significant.
What will I learn from this course?
- Explore societies perspective of death and dying
- Consider why there can be reluctance to talk about it
- Introduce the acronym HELP as a useful framework to have these discussions
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“I will take alot of skills I have learned into my practice”
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone working in health and social care who would like to strengthen their existing communication skills. Important conversations can occur anywhere, with anybody, and this course will provide an opportunity to identify the key skills needed and to learn how to use them.
What will I learn?
- How to prepare for significant conversations and why this is important
- The importance of acknowledging the feelings that these conversations can present
- How to build confidence in sticking with the other person’s agenda
- How to use empathic responses to aid better connection
- How to close these conversations kindly and with an agreed way forward
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New!
Who is the course for?
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.
What will I learn?
- Identify types of difficult conversations with your team, co-workers etc.
- Describe the reasons why some conversations are difficult to deal with
- Explain how to structure, prepare and conduct a difficult conversation
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of body language in communication
- Identify and demonstrate the tools of effective communication
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“I will be more confident in being able to have difficult conversations with patients and their families and know how to deal with questions that patients might ask.”
Who is the course recommended for?
Health and social care practitioners working within the hospice, community (or hospital) health or social care settings who encounter individuals with life limiting conditions.
What will I learn from this course?
Using case studies from a healthcare and social care setting, this study day will:
- Examine the professional Advance Care Planning (ACP) framework
- Look at the principles and the legal standing in which ACP can be applied
- Help develop the communication skills required to have these often-difficult conversations
For more information about running this course for your team, please contact [email protected]
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“Focus around shared learning, listening to colleagues and utilising helpful phrases and techniques from peers”
Who is this course for?
This course is helpful for clinical admin staff who talk on the telephone with patients, colleagues or family members who may be in distress. This is an opportunity to identify the most challenging conversations you may have and develop helpful communication techniques.
What will I learn from this course?
- Identify the common communication challenges in your role
- Examine any specific individual triggers
- Learn how to communicate effectively when people get very upset
- How to wrap up a conversation kindly and effectively
For more information about running this course for your team, please contact [email protected]
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New!
Who is this course for?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.Learning Outcomes:- Examine what makes a team a challenging place to be
- Identify what your inner critic is saying to you
- Know how to improve your personal presence in meetings
- Be able to make your point clearly and without apologising
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“Brilliant, diverse and quality content throughout. Role play was very beneficial and not that scary after all!”
Who is the course recommended for?
Senior health care professionals (band 6 or equivalent and above)
What will I learn from this course?
Effective communication is fundamental to good quality patient care. This course will explore challenging communication issues from the participant’s practice.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Examine your personal response to areas of communication which you find especially challenging
- Use active listening skills to identify and respond to cues
- Support patients, families and colleagues to define and voice their concerns
- Give information in ways which are tailored to the needs of each individual
- Demonstrate skills in navigating a path through important conversations, towards an agreed and shared ending
E-Learning (starts 4 weeks prior to workshop)
Online workshop (two-days)
- 2 hours online e-learning (this is to be completed before the online workshop, but can be spread out over the 4 weeks prior)
- Phone or Laptop, do your eLearning in breaks, travel or home, with most sessions under 10mins each
- 20min 1-2-1 with course facilitator (to discuss learning objective and role-play scenario)
- 2 day zoom workshop (approx. 5 hours per day)
- You will receive a unique Access code for e-learning platform.
2-day online workshop requirements:
- Study-leave
- Access to broadband for the 2 days
- Desktop or laptop computer recommended, phone not recommended
- Cameras will need to be on at all times
- A private / confidential space (headphones & microphone if unable to assure privacy)
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“Really helpful course with relevant and relatable scenarios”
The Education team has worked with NHS Trusts, schools, Care Homes, GP surgeries and Learning Disability providers and others to create tailor-made courses to meet the training needs of health and social care teams.
We can combine communication skills training within a wider discipline of subjects or keep to a more focused approach.
We can offer you a choice between face-to-face training at your organisation, here at Princess Alice Hospice or via Zoom / Teams.
To discuss further, please email [email protected]
“It felt real and gave me a chance to learn and improve my communication [skills]. The feedback [from actors] was also very helpful.”
Advanced Communications Skills Training, February 2026
