Breaking Bad News- Challenges in Clinical Practice

This half-day online experiential workshop focuses on specific challenges reported by clinician’s when breaking bad news. Participants will identify, practice and refine skills for effective and compassionate sharing of significant information to patients & families.

Workshop Objectives:

• Sharing experiences of breaking bad news
• Emotions & conveying authentic empathy - recognising & responding appropriately to emotions of patient/others and self
• Specific challenges in breaking bad news- identified by the group. Commonly this includes; breaking bad news in different environments, breaking bad news to one or more persons, contexts e.g. expected/unexpected bad news, when patient knows the news before the clinician and other challenges generated by the group
• Current models for breaking bad news - identifying the ‘what’ (content)  and ‘how’ (structure & process skills) to achieve the intended outcome
• Developing flexibility - adapting communication skills and responding in the moment
• Caring for self - recognising impact for self and sharing tips and techniques for support, self-compassion and resilience
• Individual practice with colleagues, feedback and learning points

Workshop Description:

• This is an online experiential workshop that will involve brief didactic presentation, observation and discussion of video clips & practice through role play in small groups with feedback from peers & facilitator.
• The workshop builds on previous learning from the communication skills for effective patient-centred consultations. Whilst it can be attended as a stand alone module, if you have not attended experiential communication skills training previously, we encourage you to attend the communication skills for effective patient centred consultations before attending this workshop. 
• The workshop will be facilitated by Mandy Williams (Trainer) and Kim Taylor (Role Player).
• Pre-course preparation will be sent out to participants 2 weeks before the workshop. This is to reduce the time on lecture style teaching so that we can spend the time on practice. It is essential that you complete the reading and activities prior to attending.
• The workshop starts promptly at 09.00 and finishes at 12.30. Due to the interactive format used, entry to the workshop will close 10 minutes after the start and late arrivals will not be permitted to enter after this time. 
• Participants will need to have access to IT equipment with a fully functioning camera & microphone to fully engage in these workshops.
• Places are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.

Facilitator Bios:

• Mandy Williams (MSc, BSc, RGN, PGCMHE, Dip Coaching) is an independent coach/trainer in clinical communication skills with over 20 years’ experience working with undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals. She trained as a nurse in 1982 and has over 30 years’ experience working in senior nursing positions in specialist palliative care. Mandy is a facilitator on the National Advanced Communication Skills Training course for senior clinicians in the UK (formerly called ‘Connected’) and the “if you were to get worse” Goals of Care Conversations for clinicians working in acute care settings. She is an international trainer for the How to Teach Experiential Communication Skills Course provided by the International Association for Communication in Healthcare (EACH/ICCH).

• Kim Taylor & Catherine Walston work as simulated patient’s and simulated patient trainer’s. They both have over 20 years involvement in medical education. Kim and Catherine have extensive experience in all aspects of consultation skills training for undergraduate and postgraduate clinicians. Their work includes: Advanced Communication Skills Training (ACST), courses and workshops for Cancer Relief Macmillan and Teenage and Young Adults with Cancer Trust (TYAC).

Upcoming Dates: 

2025 DATES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS WORKSHOP SOON.