Case study:

26 September 2007

Principles in palliative care – competency framework in Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle

Key points

Newcastle’s Marie Curie Hospice has helped set up a competency framework at a nearby nursing home to help improve staff’s knowledge and skills in palliative care.

The competency portfolios provide a framework for basic palliative care skills such as recognition of changing patient needs, implementation of LCP, communication skills and nursing assessment.

A staff nurse from Marie Curie was seconded to the nursing home for four months to work alongside staff.During that time she provided education, support, coaching as well as acting as a role model.

The time constraints of the project, which was limited to four months, meant that not all staff completed the competencies, however.

The competency framework, which is one element of a larger project aimed at demonstrating collaborative working, will now be used for any staff or students on placement at Newcastle Marie Curie.