Skills for Care and Skills for Health today defined a "baseline"
set of skills for all staff working with people approaching the end
of their lives.
The
two sector skills councils have laid out a
series of core competences and principles, designed to
achieve a "cultural shift in attitudes and behaviour related to
end of life care" in the workplace.
They are designed to apply to all staff across care homes,
hospitals and other settings, not just specialists in end of life
or palliative care, and supplement current occupation-specific
training standards.
They have been produced on the back of the government's
End of Life Care Strategy, published last
July, and will be followed next year by a suite of e-learning
resources for staff and the launch of a communication skills
programme.
The competences are:-
- Communication skills.
- Assessment and care planning, including being able to assess
people holistically and review assessments in the light of people's
changing needs.
- Symptom management and maintaining comfort and well-being.
- Advance care planning.
The principles are that:-
- Choices and priorities of the individual are at the centre of
planning and delivery.
- Effective, straightforward, sensitive and open communication
with individuals and their families underpins all planning and
activity.
- Delivery through multi-disciplinary and inter-agency
working.
- Individuals, families and friends are well informed about the
range of options and resources available to be involved in care
planning.
- Care is delivered in a sensitive, person-centred way, taking
account of the circumstances, wishes and priorities of the
individual, family and friends.
- Care and support are available to anyone affected by the end of
life and death of an individual.
- Workers are supported to develop knowledge, skills and
attitudes and take responsibility for their continuing professional
development.
Related articles
End of life care needs in Scotland not being
met
NAO: Massive variation in PCT spending on
palliative care
Extra care housing staff need training in end of
life care
Social care and the End of Life Care
Strategy
More information
National End of Life Care Programme