Lothian Care Assistant Development Programme – An education initiative Lyndsay Cassidy, Niall Kieran Marie Curie, Scotland Background The Lothian Care Assistant Development Programme is an innovative initiative providing training in palliative care for care home and home care staff, complimenting existing education initiatives. With Scottish Government’s integration of health and social care, social care teams are increasingly leading the care for elderly clients and their families who are living with a terminal illness and also have multiple complex care needs. Addressing the palliative care learning needs of social care workers is essential to ensure the provision of high quality palliative care in families’ in their preferred place of care, and to reduce emergency admissions to hospital where avoidable. This education programme aimed to increase the knowledge and confidence of social care workers in caring for those with a terminal illness. Funded through Marie Curie and the OAK Foundation, training was delivered to care home and home care staff across City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian local authority areas. Methodology A tiered approach to delivery was undertaken Participants attended a single palliative care training day, and were provided with the opportunity to complete an online module Online learners were supported by workplace mentors who had completed mentor training and were supported by the Marie Curie programme team Programme content was based on current best practice guidelines and reviewed by palliative care experts The programme was delivered by specialist palliative care nurses, district nurses and social care professionals Training was open to frontline local authority staff working in care homes and home care across the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian , Midlothian and West Lothian Evaluation Externally commissioned evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods Single day evaluation completed using a 3 point likert scale Pre and post knowledge and confidence completed at two time points Focus groups carried out Findings 87% of single day attendees noted training was relevant to their work 93% of attendees have increased knowledge of pain treatment 87% of attendees have increased confidence in caring for patient and their families 93% of attendees could take learning back into their work environment Highlights I used to be quite task focused in my role, this course made me realise I need to be more person centred Over 500 frontline staff attended single day training course 68 participants enrolled in the online training programme Evaluation demonstrates impact of training on individuals working practices Evaluation also demonstrates the positive impact it has on team working within the health and social care sector Since I have done the course….I feel like I can provide better care and support to my clients and their families. I understand now the role that different team members play….I feel confident to speak with them if my client has any issues For further information, please contact: Lyndsay.Cassidy@mariecurie.org.uk