TY - JOUR T1 - AN EDUCATIONAL TOOLKIT: SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE TELEPHONE ADVICE LINE JF - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care JO - BMJ Support Palliat Care SP - A75 LP - A75 DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000654.213 VL - 4 IS - Suppl 1 AU - Chris Haywood AU - Margaret McConaghy AU - Anthony Thompson AU - Clare Molyneux Y1 - 2014/03/01 UR - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/4/Suppl_1/A75.1.abstract N2 - Background Audit has shown that Integrated Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Lines provide expert support to healthcare professionals caring for patients with palliative and end of life care needs. Governance arrangements including education and support for staff in answering the telephone is variable. A toolkit was devised to support both nursing and medical staff who respond to calls within a Hospice Inpatient Unit. Aims Produce a toolkit with a clear framework to facilitate, enhance and improve knowledge, skills and confidence of staff in responding to calls made to a Specialist Palliative Care Telephone Advice Line Aid individual clinical decision making recognising individual limitations; providing guidance on when to escalate to Senior Colleagues Address individual training needs of staff in a cost effective way Methods PowerPoint slides for awareness sessions and training Pre and post evaluation documentation Combination individual and group training using actual calls Written reflection with supervisory follow up Focus on timely, constructive, positive feedback and sharing good practice Repeated at 6 months Results Improvements of quality aspect of calls by use of the toolkit Notable improvements of staff knowledge, skills and confidence Positive impact on Governance Clearer identification of education and training issues that arise when providing this type of service The Toolkit Guidance documents DVD with actual calls Proforma: reflective practice Pre & Post evaluation Powerpoint presentation Useful tips Conclusion Toolkit is clearly effective as a quality improvement initiative. Awareness heightened; quality of calls matter for patient safety and professionalism Strengthened confidence and communication across services Easily able to be replicated Easily repeated to ensure improvements are maintained Could be used as a method of ensuring staff competence as part of Personal Development Plans Could be used to support mandatory education and training for those services providing 24/7 Telephone Advice ER -