Advanced Communication Skills Training
The national programme for Advanced Communications Skills Training (ACST) has been developed in accordance with the National Cancer Plan (2000) and NICE guidance for Supportive and Palliative care (2004) which recommended that communicating significant news should normally be undertaken by a senior clinician who has received advanced level training and is assessed as being an effective communicator.
The training model involves a three consecutive day event run by facilitators trained and approved by the National ACST Programme Team.
Currently the ACST course is focused on core cancer and palliative care team MDT members in order to assist Trusts compliance with the standard set in the Manual for Cancer Services Standards 2008 namely that, ‘At least those core members of the team who have direct clinical contact with patients should have attended the national advance communications skills training’.
The Guidance Pack for this course can be found at the bottom of this page.
New Course Dates
New dates for the Greater Midlands Cancer Network Advanced Communication Skills Training Courses for 2012 have now been confirmed. These courses will now run as a 2 day course, with the days being slightly longer – 8.30 am arrival for pre-course work and registration with a finish time of 5.30 pm. As the course has been reduced by one day you will be sent a pre course workbook prior to the course that you will need to complete. It will contain some reading exercises, and also asks you to reflect on your current practice and communication challenges. The book should take approximately 1 hour to complete and you will be required to bring the completed work book with you to the course.
To see dates and venues and book your place on one of these courses, you are required to register and submit an online application at https://www.connectedonlinebookings.co.uk
If you have previously applied using the paper application form, you will need to reapply online, as this new system cancels out the original waiting list. Places are limited (10 per course) and are provided free of charge at present.
NB – In the event that you are unable to access the website, you will need to ask your IT department to give you access to the site.
If you are successful in obtaining a place on a Connected course, your line manager’s approval will be required to authorise your application. An email will be sent automatically with an online link that requires your manager to approve your place on the course within 7 days or your place will be released.
Once your place has been approved you will receive a confirmation email.
The Connected programme is funded by NCAT and priority is given to core MDT members. When you apply, you will be asked if you are a core Cancer MDT member and if you tick yes, then your name will be checked against the core Cancer MDT lists, and if your name does not appear then you will be moved to the non-core list. I will double check this, as it may be that you are a new member or you have been left off the list. If places cannot be filled by a core member, then non core members will be able to access the place.
Change of Adminstrator
Helen Traner - Course Administrator has now left the organisation.
All queries should be sent to fiona.jennings@glos.nhs.uk