Case study:

02 August 2007

Psychological assessment skills training provided by Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust for Central South Coast and Dorset Cancer network

Key points

Staff across the Central South Coast and Dorset Cancer Networks are to receive psychological assessment skills training at level 2 of the 4-tier model in accordance with NICE guidance.

The training from Salibury NHS Foundation Trust began in October 2006, is already having an impact with staff reporting significantly increased levels of confidence in a range of areas.

The evaluation showed that confidence levels actually rose further six months on.

The results indicate that this style of interactive workshop run by clinical psychologists is very useful and that the benefits are sustained over time.

One of the biggest challenges so far has been to ensure staff attend all four half-day sessions.

The solution has been to link the course to the Knowledge and Skills Framework and train senior staff first so they can see the rationale for allowing more junior staff to attend.

Wessex Cancer Trust is funding the training package until January 2009, with further funding being sought from other sources after that.

Each trust where the training has taken place will in future be asked to identify people to be trained as facilitators so the training can continue even if no extra funding is available.