Programmes focussing on wellbeing and rehabilitation have been a powerful response to supporting those diagnosed with a long term condition. This project is unique in combining three organisations across a wide network, to work together in addressing the emerging gap in provision.

Collaboration between three organisations presented interesting cultural differences. At the same time, this project was introducing a cultural shirt from a problem solving, paternalistic and compliance focus of care towards one of empowerment and self-determination. A Learning and development (L&D) programme was developed bespoke to the hospices and aimed to:

• Increase staff knowledge and understanding of Self-Management Support (SMS) and Health Behaviour Change (HBC);

• Explain why SMS and Health Behaviour Change are important to current and future work of the hospices and how they link to the holistic needs assessment;

• Provide staff with opportunities to develop skills and approaches, enabling a person-centred approach to day-to-day practice;

• Increase staff confidence and skills to support people to self-manage;

50 delegates attended the programme and evaluation was achieved through a longitudinal questionnaire to measure shift in confidence and attitude. Semi structured interviews and evaluation sheets explored delegate’s qualitative thoughts about the training and further education needs.

Results showed:

• The L&D programme was rated positively

• There was a shift in professionals beliefs towards the positive benefits of SMS and HBC

• L&D provided new skills and confidence in using tools to facilitate SMS and HBC in clinical practice

• A bespoke assessment tool was developed by the team

• A patient reported outcome measure was agreed based on the Macmillan 9 outcomes

The L&D programme is now an integral part of the education provided within the hospices.