Background Learning and maintaining clinical skills is a requirement for all health care workers to ensure safe and effective patient care (Scottish Government. Health and Social Care Standards: My support, my life. 2017; Nursing & Midwifery Council. The code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. 2018; Nursing & Midwifery Council. Future nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses. 2018). However, releasing staff for such training can be a challenge in a busy working environment within and beyond palliative care (Francis, O’Brien. Br J Nurs. 2019;28(7):452–456; Mlambo, Silén, McGrath. BMC Nurs. 2021;20, 1–13). Recognising the value of learning and developing clinical skills in a safe, protected environment, we worked towards the creation of a Clinical Skills Suite as a dedicated practice development space in the hospice.

Aim To improve and facilitate clinical skills training in the hospice by setting up a Clinical Skills Suite.

Method Clinical skills and competencies required by our clinical staff were identified. Guidance in setting up a new clinical skills suite was sought from our University Hospice partner and other local higher education institutions. A review of current best practice guidelines and policies was undertaken, and a short-term working group was set up for clinical governance.

Results Funding was secured to set up a Clinical Skills Suite in the hospice with a manikin and bed space to simulate a real-life care setting. The suite has already been used for clinical staff induction training and continuing professional development (CPD) refresher sessions, with positive feedback given. Clinical skills training days for the Registered Nurses, including new clinical competency updates, have been planned. A proposal by the hospice medical team to use the room for palliative simulation and scenario training is also in the pipeline.

Conclusion This service improvement project aimed to address identified challenges associated with clinical skills training and CPD in the hospice setting. Early feedback from staff and management is positive and further evaluation will be conducted.