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

Pain in Palliative Care

This course provides an in-depth understanding of pain, covering its physiology, types, and effectiv...

Course content

This course provides an in-depth understanding of pain, covering its physiology, types, and effective assessment and management techniques. Participants will explore pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, the concept of "Total Pain," and the emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that influence an individual’s pain experience.

Who is it for

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

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

Dates and Registration

Tuesday 8th July 10am-4pm

Wednesday 25 March 2026

Tier 2 - Intermediate

Intermediate communication Skills

The training will enable you to enhance communication skills in difficult or challenging situations....

Course content

The training will enable you to enhance communication skills in difficult or challenging situations. It explores barriers to communication, strategies to manage conversations in difficult scenarios, how to explore conversations in ceilings of treatment or end of life care as wells as tools and skills to help you develop confidence.

Who is it for

A specialist palliative and end of life care practitioner. Any NHS, allied health or social care professionals who regularly work with life-limiting illness of uncertain prognosis. Social workers, care home managers or social care managers. Registered professionals wishing to explore more challenging conversations and communication skills.

Location

Cost

FREE

Dates and Registration

Wednesday 12th February 8.45-4pm

Wednesday 14 May 8.45-4pm

Wednesday 16 July 8.45-4pm

Wednesday 10 September 8.45-4pm

Wednesday 10 December 8.45-4pm

Wednesday 11 February 2026 8.45-4pm

Tier 1 - Foundation

Benefits of Palliative Rehabilitation

Insight into how rehabilitation can enable an individual to manage their long-term condition The co...

Course content

Insight into how rehabilitation can enable an individual to manage their long-term condition The course also will identify strategies that enable patients to engage with what matters to them and appreciate and share the importance of therapeutic rehabilitation

Who is it for

Any healthcare professional who supports people with life limiting conditions so they can discuss the benefits of palliative rehabilitation.

Location

Cost

FREE

Dates and Registration

Wednesday 7 May, 10-11.30am

Thursday 20 November, 2-3.30pm

Tier 1 - Foundation

Palliative and End–of–Life Care Champions Course

This course aims to equip care staff with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become champions, p...

Course content

This course aims to equip care staff with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become champions, promoting best practice for end-of-life patients. Note: If you have previously attended the Keech Hospice Care Principles programme then you only need to book on to Day 2 of the course.

Who is it for

All care staff wishing to become Palliative and End–of–Life Care Champions.

Location

none
Please refer to dates and registration info for locations

Dates and Registration

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29 – 30 May, 10am-4pm - Keech Hospice

31 July – 1 August, 10am-4pm - Willen Hospice

25 – 26 September, 10am-4pm - St Johns Hospice

27 – 28 November, 10am-4pm - Keech Hospice

29 – 30 January 2026, 10am-4pm - Willen Hospice

26 – 27 March 2026, 10am-4pm - St Johns Hospice

Tier 1 - Foundation

Foundation communication skills

The Foundation Communication Skills course aims to help you with delivering difficult conversations ...

Course content

The Foundation Communication Skills course aims to help you with delivering difficult conversations and give you tools to support communication

Who is it for

This training is for any health care professional or non- health care professional who would like to learn more about communication and the art of conversation.

Location

Cost

FREE

Dates and Registration

Wednesday 15 January 2025 – 9am-12.30pm

Wednesday 2 April 9am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 4 June 9am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 17 September 9am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 12 November 9am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 14 January 2026 9am – 12.30pm

Wednesday 18 March 2026 9am – 12.30pm

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.