A pioneering development programme launching in April aims to equip Band 6 nurses and paramedics with the knowledge, confidence, and support needed to excel in palliative care.
Mary Watson (right), Clinical Team Lead
“I am really excited and can’t believe it’s actually happening.”
It’s not often the launch of a new palliative care education programme prompts quite such excitement and enthusiasm, but for Mary Watson, St Christopher’s Associate Consultant Nurse, the new Development Programme for Associate Clinical Nurse Specialists (ACNS) and Associate Paramedic Specialists (ACPS), has been on her agenda for years.
Developed with her colleague, Clinical Team Lead, Chris Mangar, the programme is designed to fill a void that sees many Band Six nurses and paramedics left to learn their very challenging roles ‘on the job’.
“I remember starting in that role (ACNS), and feeling anxious that is was such a big jump from what I had been doing previously and felt there was so much to learn,” says Mary. “I remember it like it was yesterday and that’s why I am so passionate that people need to feel supported.”
Chris Mangar, Clinical Team Lead
Chris also recalls feeling overwhelmed and says that while there were a number of more experienced colleagues that served as role models and mentors when he started, the current workforce is younger with less experience.
That’s why Chris and Mary have joined forces to design and deliver the programme that launches in April and will run as a pilot for the rest of the year.
Mary explains:
“I’ve wanted to set this up for a while because there is no formal learning programme in place for this group anywhere. I worked with some young ACNSs two years ago and it gave me the idea for a national programme.”
People who sign up for the programme will access ten 90-minute online learning sessions designed to provide them with the knowledge, confidence and competence to ally with the experience they get on the job.
Topics like how to conduct a palliative assessment, pain, working as an autonomous practitioner and dealing with palliative emergencies will sit alongside reflective sessions. Participants will also be able to access one-to-one sessions with Chris and Mary as well as learning materials, including bite sized sessions and quizzes, on the St Christopher’s online learning platform where they’ll also be able to communicate with others on the programme.
“Moving from working on an acute ward in hospital to dealing with people in their own homes where there are no colleagues to turn to immediately for advice and support can be really challenging. By providing them more knowledge, tackling different scenarios and problem-based learning we’ll be providing people with more confidence to make decisions when working autonomously,” said Mary.
Hospices across the UK may have held off on hiring people for developmental roles because of a lack of resources. However, signing up Band 6 colleagues will provide the structured education to enable them to develop in their roles alongside a cohort of St Christopher’s own ACNSs who will be part of the programme.
If you are a Band 6 Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist or Associate Clinical Paramedic Specialist and would like to join the programme, visit for Development Programme for Associate Clinical Nurse Specialists and Associate Clinical Paramedic Specialists here more information.
Deadline to join the programme is Friday 4 April 2025.
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