Workshops to be held to provide training for carer assessment tool

Family carers are crucial in enabling patients to remain at home towards the end of life. However, most are unprepared for this role, and will need some support to enable them to support the patient and also look after their own needs.

The CSNAT is an evidence-based tool designed for carers supporting a family member or friend at home towards the end of life. The tool has been designed to be short and simple to use for both carers and practitioners.

The CSNAT differs from other carer assessment tools in that the process is facilitated by the practitioner, but led by the carer. This person-centred approach ensures that the response to the support needs identified by the carer is tailored to their individual needs.

The CSNAT is copyrighted but available free of charge for use by practitioners supporting carers. The team behind its development also provide training workshops and support for services wishing to implement the CSNAT.

Workshops are intended for services planning to take forward implementation of the CSNAT in their organisation. It is recommended that 2-3 people attend from each organisation (the person leading on implementation of the CSNAT along with 1-2 practitioners who will use the CSNAT in practice). This provides a ‘core team’ who having done the training who can then cascade it within their organisation and support implementation of the tool in practice.

Hospice UK is supporting wider implementation of the CSNAT in palliative care practice by funding a series of training workshops using a ‘train the trainers’ model. These are being held on:

•  8 October London or Nuneaton
• January workshop date and location to be advised

Workshops begin at 10am to allow travel to the venue and end by 4pm (lunch and refreshments included). 

Workshops are free to attend to members of Hospice UK, chargeable for non members and all resources are provided at no cost to services.

For further details including a draft programme visit short courses pages on the Hospice UK website or contact Dr Gail Ewing, University of Cambridge, at ge200@cam.ac.uk.