Challenging Care Conversations: Treatment Escalation Plans Workshop

Compassionate discussions with patients and families about care and wishes, likelihoods and outcomes is not easy. Entering into moral deliberation with colleagues and families, while making decisions about Treatment Escalation Plans, is a necessary but under acknowledged skill. Discussion and Roleplay are a key part of a successful series of free ‘Challenging Care Conversation’ workshops running in the Trust since 2021.

Communication Skills Workshop

This full day (6.5 hours) workshop is suitable for the following Healthcare Professionals at St George’s:

• Band 6 nurses and above

• AHPs at Band 6 and above

• Junior Drs in training

• Staff grade and Associate Specialist Drs

• Consultants

Learning Outcomes

Through group work, role play and simulation activities this workshop aims to give you more confidence to be able to:

• Apply evidence-based strategies and tools to support challenging conversations with patients and relatives around Treatment Escalation Plans (TEP), Do Not Attempt Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) orders and End-of-Life (EOL)conversations.

• Explain the decision-making process underlying a TEP/DNACPR and justify it to other health professionals and colleagues

• Explain the purpose and rationale of a TEP to a patient or relative using simple language

• Describe the reasons for a DNACPR decision to patients and relatives avoiding jargon

• Demonstrate an EoL communication to a patient (or relative) in the final stages of dying describing the (positive) aims of care with honesty and compassion

• Demonstrate knowledge of support available for patients and families including acknowledging the importance of cultural and spiritual factors in end of life communication.

These small group sessions aim to support those staff in most need of practical experience of facilitating these discussions. If you are unsure whether this course is for you, please discuss with your line manager or educational supervisor. Please email simulation.admin@stgeorges.nhs.uk or Manana.Mudhir@stgeorges.nhs.uk for the Eventbrite link for registration.

We look forward to seeing you at one of the following sessions.

Please see available dates below:

2025

20th June
1st September
9th December

2026

TBC