Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the Training Day, participants will be able to:

• Describe the evidence for a systematic approach to improving conversations about patient values and wishes
• Discuss the Serious Illness Care Programme, UK and the benefits it will have for patients, their families and clinicians
• Describe the local systems (workflow) and how it is organised to support the Programme
• List the 6 domains of serious illness conversations
• Use the Serious Illness Conversation Guide UK effectively in practice
• Document the conversation accurately

The day begins by providing a review of the Serious Illness Care Progamme that was first developed by Ariadne Labs and established in the USA.  It also looks at how this then led to the development of the Serious Illness Care Programme (UK), how the programme is structured into 3 key areas and the benefits it will have for patients, their families as well as the clinicians that care for them. The context of serious illness in the UK is explored and the evidence that underpins this innovative programme is considered.

Participants are then given the opportunity to become familiar with the Serious Illness Conversation Guide UK and to see an example of it being used in practice.  They are encouraged to reflect on their current practice and to consider how the Guide could support the work they do. They are also given the opportunity to practice using the Conversation Guide themselves in a safe environment.

The day concludes with time to examine how local workflows and systems can be adapted to support the clinicians in having and documenting Serious Illness conversations and how the participants will be supported as they start to use the Serious Illness Conversation Guide in their day to day work.