NHS Manchester University

Welcome to SAGE & THYME ®

SAGE & THYME: a communication skills workshop about listening to people who are worried.

We now have online versions of some of our training - see here

You can book spaces on our existing online or face-to-face training dates in Manchester, or you can contact us for prices to organise SAGE & THYME training (online or face-to-face) specifically for your organisation.

 

‘SAGE & THYME’ is a mnemonic that provides a memorable structure for conversations, based on the evidence behind effective communication skills: Setting – Ask – Gather – Empathy – Talk – Help - You – Me – End.  

Read testimonials

The SAGE & THYME foundation level workshop is taught to 30 participants in 3 hours by three trained SAGE & THYME facilitators, using group work, a presentation and conversation rehearsals.

The SAGE & THYME Online workshop (equivalent to SAGE & THYME Foundation Level and delivered normally on Zoom) is taught to 20 participants in 2 hours 45 min by two trained SAGE & THYME facilitators, using group work, a presentation and conversation rehearsals.

Find out more about  the SAGE & THYME foundation level workshop

Find out more about SAGE & THYME Online

There are over 10 publications on SAGE & THYME.

See the papers, reports, independent evaluations and textbooks on SAGE & THYME

The SAGE & THYME foundation level workshop has been adopted by over 60 NHS Trusts, CCGs, charities, councils, universities and hospices around the UK.

Read case studies

See which organisations run the workshop

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), teaches (via the SATFAC course) and licences other organisations to deliver SAGE & THYME foundation level workshops to their staff, students and volunteers.

Find out about running the SAGE & THYME foundation level workshop in your organisation

Find training dates

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The SAGE & THYME for advance care planning workshop (S&T ACP) was developed with the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network.  It teaches effective communication skills to open an advance care planning conversation, and is suitable for GPs, community matrons and other staff who have experience of advance care planning.  

Find out more about SAGE & THYME ACP

Click on 'About SAGE & THYME' to see the menu of pages for this web site.

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Wonderful training that helped upset patient

I just wanted to send you a little message to thank you very much for the SAGE & THYME 3 hour session I attended on Tuesday.  I found it such a wonderful course and learning curve and I was able to put what I learnt in to practice the following day with a rather upset gentleman.  I did actually feel much more equipped to deal with the situation and the gentleman in question appeared to feel much calmer on leaving.  I know people don't always want to put themselves forward for role play, but I'm glad I did as it really did help me; and I just wanted to thank you and the team for that opportunity and the skills to deal with such situations.

Lyndsey Holt, TORCH Research Nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Latest news

International Conference on Communication in Healthcare presentation on SAGE & THYME Online

12 September 2022

Our lead trainer, Mike Connolly, spoke at the ICCH conference in Glasgow on Friday (9 September) about how 'SAGE & THYME works fine online'.

The presentation abstract was co-authored with Dr Joanne Thomas (S&T business lead), Dr Nicky Barr and Sheona Ramsbottom (S&T trainers).

Mike talked about how, whilst the knowledge being taught was the same for SAGE & THYME Online as for the SAGE & THYME Foundation Level workshop, the delivery was different.

Teaching foundation level communication skills online required:

  • checking that the learner's tech was OK and ensuring they knew how to use Zoom
  • a dramatic introduction
  • a PowerPoint presentation delivered in a conversational-style by two trainers
  • a video of a conversation (rather than live rehearsals), stopped at various points for discussion
  • polls and breakout rooms
  • direct questions to learners

For more information on our evaluation of SAGE & THYME Online, please contact us.

Mike Connolly at the ICCH conference