Navigating Uncertainties: Decision Making in Palliative and End of Life Care

Event Overview

Decision-making at the end of life often involves complexity, ambiguity, and emotional challenge. This 1-day event explores how healthcare professionals can recognise and respond to clinical uncertainty, plan proactively for care, and communicate clearly with patients, families, and colleagues.

Through a series of speaker sessions participants will develop confidence in applying structured approaches to decision-making, such as the ICARE and SHARE frameworks, to support compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-informed practice.

The session will also focus on enhancing communication skills when navigating difficult conversations, managing expectations, and supporting patients and those important to them through times of uncertainty.

Who should attend:

This course is suitable for all qualified staff involved in palliative and end-of-life decision-making, including Registered Nurses, Medics, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, and hospice or community-based professionals.

Agenda

(As listed; speaker roles subject to confirmation)

• Clinical Uncertainty
  by Janette Renshaw Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care
• Anticipatory Clinical Management Planning
  by Dr Clare Finnigan, Medical Director Queenscourt Hospice:
• Parallel Planning – Learning from Children’s and young people’s Palliative care services
  by Lesley Fellows, Director of care and family services at Claire House 
• ICARE and SHARE: A Recipe for Managing Uncertainty in Practice
  by Pete Chamberlain, Clinical Lead for System and Quality Improvement at Cheshire & Merseyside ICB
• Communication Skills for Challenging Conversations
  by Julie Delaney & Ruth Perez-Merino, End Of Life Partnership

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Recognise Clinical Uncertainty – Identify and understand situations of uncertainty in palliative and end-of-life care and their impact on decision-making.
• Plan Proactively for Patient Care – Develop anticipatory care strategies, including symptom management and preparation for expected complications.
• Use Structured Decision-Making Tools – Apply frameworks like ICARE and SHARE to support shared, practical decision-making in complex cases.
• Communicate Effectively in Challenging Situations – Employ strategies and language to guide discussions around uncertainty, treatment options, and end-of-life planning.

Programme Information

This event forms part of the Specialist Palliative Care Education Programme delivered by The End of Life Partnership.

Details

• Date: Thursday 22nd January 2026
• Time: Full day, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
• Suitable for: All qualified staff including RN’s, Medics, ANP’, Hospices,  any member of staff involved in decision making in end of life care
• Delivered: Face to face
• Location: Crewe Alexandra Stadium, Mornflake Stadium, Gresty Rd, Crewe CW2 6EB
• Refreshments: Lunch is provided.
• Funded: for Cheshire East Place.
• Cost: £100 for anyone who works outside of Cheshire East Place.

Cost

• Funded: for Cheshire East Place.
• Cost: £100 for anyone who works outside of Cheshire East Place.

Location