5 December 2017

The SAGE & THYME foundation level workshop has been running at Princess Alice Hospice for over 6 years.  The hospice is one of the largest in the UK, with around 500 staff and 1,200 volunteers (including retail team and drivers involved in fund raising).  It has been rated ‘outstanding’ in all 5 domains of its last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

SAGE & THYME was adopted by the hospice because, whilst advanced communication skills training existed for senior medical staff; there was nothing available for junior clinical staff and also non-clinical staff and volunteers who also come into contact with distressed (and sometimes bereaved) people.

The hospice currently has 8 facilitators and runs 10 workshops per year.  They are also in the process of making the training mandatory for all staff as the training has been invaluable. 

Jane Berg, Deputy Director - Skills Knowledge and Research and SAGE & THYME facilitator says: “To use an analogy, teaching SAGE & THYME is like teaching first aid for people who are upset.”

For more information on the reasons for adopting the training, the benefits realised and tips on running the training, read the Princess Alice Hospice case study.

A poster on this case study is being exhibited at the National Association for Palliative Care Educators (NAPCE) conference today.