Advanced Communication Skills Training (ACST)

Session Overview

This two-day course is designed for experienced professionals working in NHS and health and social care settings, to help you develop the insight and practical skills needed to approach complex and challenging conversations with compassion, authenticity and empathy.

Through role-play, you will build confidence in using facilitative communication techniques to explore concerns, deepen understanding and ensure people feel truly heard.

You will also strengthen your ability to demonstrate empathy through active listening and responding to emotional cues, while learning how to guide conversations forward, agree next steps and involve the multidisciplinary team appropriately when needed.

It is advised that if you have experienced a close bereavement within the last 12 months, it is advisable that you do not apply for this course.

Role Play

We offer two role play approaches to support different learning preferences and levels of experience.

Actor supported role play (ASRP) for those who want to explore complex, ethically or morally challenging conversations. Suitable for GPs, senior clinicians, specialist nurses, and registered nurses in palliative and end of life care settings.

Peer to Peer role play (PPRP) where people work together to practice conversations in a supportive and collaborative environment. Suitable for those who prefer to learn with colleagues, share experiences and build confidence together. Suitable for HCAs, nurses in health and care settings.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will have developed the insight and skills through role-play to understand:

• Why communicating with compassion, authenticity, and empathy is critical in complex and challenging conversations
• How to use facilitative skills to explore concerns, deepen understanding, and help people feel genuinely heard
• How to demonstrate empathy through skilled active listening, responding to cues, and acknowledging emotions
• How to move conversations forward by negotiating next steps and recognising when to appropriately involve or refer to members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT)

Details

• Length: 2 days
• Suitable for: Senior and experienced health care professionals working in NHS and health and social care settings.
• Delivered: face to face at the End of Life Care Education Hub, Spring Farm Business Centre, Moss Lane, Minshull Vernon, Crewe, CW1 4RJ or Online
• Places: There are a limited number of fully funded places for those working in Cheshire East.

Cost

• Funded: Fully funded for those working in Cheshire East. People working outside Cheshire East are welcome at a cost.
• Cost: £650 per person.