Behaviour Change Skills Training - Part 1

Available Dates

Course Summary

A 2-day workshop will be presented to healthcare professionals, which will focus on the communication skills essential for effective conversations about health. It is a skills-based programme which is supported by a comprehensive 1 day pre-course self-directed learning workbook, detailed written description and demonstration of the skills, followed by practice sessions in small group workshops. These role-play workshops, supported by video playback, provide the opportunity for individual feedback to enhance skills development.

The course provides practitioners with the skills to build effective relationships with their patients and influence motivation thereby moving from traditional advice giving to providing information in a more helpful way. It also addresses how best to deal with difficult and challenging situations.

Introduction

Good communication skills are essential in all areas of healthcare including conversations with patients, relatives and carers, communication with colleagues as well as in group situations including strategic and/or multi-disciplinary meetings. The skills based workshop is designed to support this diverse range of health professional communication needs to ultimately benefit patient care.

The course provides a solid foundation for further behaviour change skills training.

Content

• Pre-course work
• Exploring the application of a behavioural approach in practice
• Delivering a patient-centred approach
• Reviewing the evidence for good communication skills
• Description of core skills

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course each participant should be able to:

• Accurately observe and label skills within a well-defined model
• Provide skilled observational feedback to enhance peer learning
• Describe and demonstrate good communication skills used in an appropriate way
• Reflect on how good communication skills influence everyday practice
• Consider what next steps need to happen to implement the skills learnt in practice

Practical Skills Based 2 Day Workshop

On completion of the course each participant should be able to:

• Core communication skills (First Contact Skills, Paraphrasing, Reflection, Summarisation, Questions)
• Rapport building and developing a helping relationship
• Ensuring a common understanding between practitioner and patient and an agreed way forward
• Influencing motivation
• Providing information in an effective way
• Guidance on the implementation of skills learnt into everyday practice