Education and training

We are the destination for education across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Providing everyone with FREE first class palliative care, end-of-life care, loss and bereavement support training.

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Keech training courses

We are the destination for education across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes and provide a range of courses from introductory sessions, to palliative care masterclasses and full study days throughout the year.

Education, training and learning and development sessions are provided both online and in person and cover an extensive array of topics for healthcare professionals working in end-of-life care and bereavement support.

You don’t have to be working in a healthcare profession to access our resources, take a look and see what’s available for you. To help you find the right course we have categorised each into three tiers.

We also offer a range of Compassionate Communities workshops open to all. These put compassion at the centre by providing people with the skills, resilience, and confidence to have conversations and make a real difference.

If you can’t find what you are looking for then do contact us at learning@keech.org.uk or call us on 01582 497898 to discuss your needs.

Tier 1: Foundation courses

Our Tier 1 Foundation Courses offer essential knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care for health and social care professionals. Accessible online, these sessions provide a solid understanding of care practices, key terminology, and practical skills.

Tier 2: Intermediate courses

Our Tier 2 Intermediate Courses deepen knowledge and skills in palliative and end-of-life care for professionals. Designed to build confidence, they focus on managing complex care scenarios and enhancing practical expertise for those working regularly in this field.

Tier 3: Advanced courses

Our Tier 3 Advanced Courses are for experienced professionals specialising in palliative and end-of-life care. Focused on advanced skills and complex scenarios, they deepen expertise and build on knowledge gained in Tier 2 courses.

Show virtual courses only

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Nausea and Vomiting

Study day This day will explore the symptoms of Nausea and Vomiting and explore the reasons this co...

Course content

Study day This day will explore the symptoms of Nausea and Vomiting and explore the reasons this common symptom arises in palliative care, along with clinical rationale for assessment and finding relief.

Who is it for

Healthcare professionals who are caring for palliative patients and their families.

Location

virtual
Some of our courses are virtual, so it’s important that you use an appropriate device with a working camera and microphone (tablet, laptop or PC, not a mobile phone) to ensure you get as much from the session as possible. Consider using a space with good lighting and ensure your camera is switched on.

Cost

Free to those working inside BLMK. £25 outside BLMK

Dates and Registration

Wednesday 18 June – 10am-4pm

Wednesday 25 February – 10am-4pm

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Advance Care Planning

Study day delivered by experts in their field of practice The day is aimed at people who are dealin...

Course content

Study day delivered by experts in their field of practice The day is aimed at people who are dealing with palliative and end-of-life care regularly, whether qualified or unqualified. It will cover in some detail the various components of what a good advance care plan may look like, with plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Who is it for

Ideally, you will have attended a first-tier course, such as the ‘Essential Advance Care Planning’ session and are ready to build upon that knowledge and explore further.

Location

Cost

Free to those working inside BLMK, £25 outside BLMK

Dates and Registration

REGISTRATION LINK TBC

22 May 2024, 9.30am - 2pm

Wednesday 22 October – 10am-4pm

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Radical Self Care

Study day This course explores the relationship between stress and mental health, identifying chall...

Course content

Study day This course explores the relationship between stress and mental health, identifying challenges, opportunities, and individual signs of stress. Participants will learn coping mechanisms, resilience strategies, and tools for managing difficult situations while fostering care, compassion, and mindful self-compassion.

Who is it for

Any healthcare professional or member of the public who wishes to learn ways of coping with difficulties.

Location

none
Keech Hospice Luton LU3 3NT

Cost

Free to those working inside BLMK. £25 outside BLMK.

Dates and Registration

REGISTRATION LINKS TBC

23 February 2024 9.30am – 2pm

20 April 2024, 9.30am-2pm

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Principles of Advance Care Planning and Sensitive Conversations

An introduction to the universal principles of Advance Care Planning This course focuses on persona...

Course content

An introduction to the universal principles of Advance Care Planning This course focuses on personalized Advance Care Planning, including collaborative discussions about future wishes, shared decision-making with professionals, and reviewing care plans. It also provides an understanding of palliative and end-of-life care, guided by the five ‘Priorities of Care for the Dying Person.’

Who is it for

Healthcare professionals who are caring for palliative patients and their families.

Location

Cost

FREE

Dates and Registration

Friday 14 February 2025 – 10am–1.30pm

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Palliative Management of Breathlessness and Secretions

Study day This course provides an overview of palliative care for chronic respiratory diseases, cov...

Course content

Study day This course provides an overview of palliative care for chronic respiratory diseases, covering key care domains, effective interventions, practical management strategies for clinicians, and recommendations for optimizing clinical care for these patients.

Who is it for

Healthcare professionals who offer care and have an interest in patients and families with life limiting respiratory disease

Location

Cost

FREE

Dates and Registration

Wednesday 25th June – 10am -4pm

Wednesday 3rd December – 10am - 4pm

Communities of Practice

Why not join one of our communities of practice to network with other professionals, exchange ideas and access information and guidance with colleagues working across palliative and end-of-life care

ECHO Transition

Our ECHO Community of Practice focuses on Transition for young people with palliative care needs.

Project Echo aims to create communities of practice using virtual meetings to provide support and learning, expanding specialist knowledge and understanding

Developed through the work of Dr Sanjeev Arora in New Mexico it has grown into a worldwide movement aimed at improving patient care in underserved areas.

Get in touch to find out more and register your interest

Get in touch

Social Care Champions

For all who have completed our end-of-life care champions course and are working across BLMK.

Each session will provide an invaluable opportunity to update one another on your work, engage in peer learning and update and deepen learning through further teaching sessions.

Get in touch to find out more and register your interest

Get in touch

Professional Nurse Advocate

COMING SOON

Clinical Student Placements

We are able to offer a range of clinical student placements across our specialist care services and host students from a wide variety of disciplines, including pre-registration adult and children’s nursing, AHPs, paramedic science and social work.

Working with our local authorities we support over fifty students per year

Get in touch to find out more and register your interest

Get in touch

Keech’s training made such a difference to my confidence and approach to palliative care

Our Foundation Children’s Palliative Care course helped Sanjeev strengthen his practice as a Palliative Care Nurse

We’re committed to empowering health and social care professionals to deliver compassionate, high-quality care

Tracy Plunkett, Head of Learning Development & Research Keech Hospice

We have access to doctors and nurses who really understand us, that know us and are ready to answer our questions or concerns

Emma the mum of Robin, a child we are supporting at Keech

Read Robin's story

I enjoyed the session and learnt a lot. I will apply a lot of what I have learnt in the workplace and in my home life

Compassionate communities workshop participant

Our team

The Keech Hospice Learning team are a dedicated group of professionals committed to enhancing the quality of palliative care.

With expertise in diverse fields, including nursing, social work, and therapy, they play a pivotal role in educating and empowering healthcare providers. This includes a dedicated lecturer practitioner Chris May and a number of Practice Educators, including Karen Hibbert, our Compassionate Communities lead and Mohammed Rahman our dedicated Community Connector.

Our approach extends beyond traditional care, focusing on holistic approaches, pain management, and emotional support for patients and families. Through workshops, training sessions, and collaborative initiatives, we equip individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate challenging circumstances, fostering a culture of empathy within the healthcare community and beyond.

Each course is different, but for guidance we have included a ‘who is it for’ descriptor in the outline for each course.
’Our Tier 1-3 courses are open to any registered health and social care professional (such as nurses, doctors, paramedics and social workers) wishing to gain more confidence in palliative and end of life care diagnosis. In addition, many courses are also available to the wider public.

Our Compassionate Communities workshops are open to anyone

A compassionate community is one in which everyone recognises that we all have a role in supporting each other, particularly during periods of crisis and loss.

It’s about making a difference by enabling people within the community to make a personal connection with another person in whatever way shows compassion, kindness, and care.

We deliver this through a series of workshops openly talking about death, dying and bereavement, supporting participants to learn more about body language, the spoken word and how taking time to listen can make a real difference.

Our aim is to the leave participants better able to go into their community, better informed and feeling more confident in having these conversations.

No, our courses are a mixture of virtual and in person. We have included the information for each course in the course descriptor.

Yes, all our courses are free of charge to everyone in BLMK, whether you are a member of the public, healthcare professional or work for a local authority or the NHS. Some courses may have a small fee for those outside the BLMK region.