Talking about cancer or life-threatening illness can be difficult for many people.  It is even harder when the person affected is a young person or child.

The advanced communication skills training programme, Connected, has created a workshop for professionals caring for children and young people with malignant and non-malignant conditions.

The two-day workshop, which has been proved to be of direct benefit to patients, is for the whole range of health professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, play, speech and language therapists.

The courses are structured around the delegates' needs.  Previous workshops have covered:

• Breaking bad news to children/families/colleagues
• Managing conflict between a parent and the young adult
• Dealing with collusion between parents and children or health care professionals
• End of life planning
• Managing a withdrawn adolescent
• Managing anger or difficult emotions
• Managing colleagues.

Role play with clear, positive and constructive feedback on performance is a key element of the courses.

Delegates are expected to participate fully in role play with trained actors and to be videoed. Footage will be erased at the end.

Due to its experiential nature, the workshops can trigger strong personal emotions.  In view of this, we suggest that participants consider any recent significant or stressful life event prior to attendance.

The courses also provide a didactic overview and are backed up with handouts, references and reading lists.

The programme, which has evaluated well and is now required to meet peer review requirements in both adult and children’s cancer care, is open to all trusts within England.

It has been developed in response to NICE supportive and palliative care guidance.

It is currently delivered free to senior cancer professionals who require attendance for peer review.

Delegates receive a certificate showing they have completed the course and are required to complete a pre and post-course questionnaire.

Connected was originally established to improve adult cancer care in 2007. More than 14,000 professionals have been on the generic programme in the last five years including more than 1,100 children’s professionals having attended in the past three.

Anyone interested in delivering a programme should contact Nicola Fitzmaurice, Connected Children and Young Person’s lead, on nicola.fitzmaurice@bch.nhs.uk. Cancer professionals can contact their local cancer network nurse director.