Case study:

11 May 2010

Partnerships in Care: A two-day shadowing programme for generalist nurses in Liverpool and Sefton

Key points

Two-day shadowing programmes have been developed in Liverpool to educate and support generalist nurses in the care of the dying.

The programmes, which are open to staff across community, hospital and hospice sectors, help to give nurses a greater insight into the roles of colleagues working in other care settings.

‘Partnerships in Care’ is funded by the specialist palliative care team at The Royal and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and is open to staff from The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice and Sefton PCT.

Although they vary slightly depending on the setting, the core aims of the programmes include developing awareness of wider clinical services and the skills needed in different environments, as well as enhancing collaboration.

Participants feel very positively about the programme, according to an evaluation.

In particular they felt it enhanced understanding of each other’s roles, improved communication and helped prioritise the need for patient-centred care at each stage of the patient journey.

Further shadowing programmes are being planned for the future.