This 2-day interactive course is delivered by our highly qualified trainer/national speaker, providing HCAs with the knowledge and skills. 

This bespoke training will cover Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease, with each long-term condition will be explored with respect to the underlying disease process, how it is diagnosed and how it is managed.

Course content/learning outcomes

Day One 

Session One Supporting the patient – communication skills 

This session will equip you with essential theoretical knowledge to enhance patient contact skills and give you the confidence to contribute to integrated high quality care. 

We will look at the effects of a long-term condition on the patient, their family and carer. This session will enable you to develop the skills in motivational interviewing techniques which includes behaviour changes techniques and cognitive behavioural therapy to promote support shared decision-making to reduce risk. 

Session Two Respiratory 

During the session you will develop essential knowledge and appropriate skills in the quality treatment and management of the patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma. We will look at the anatomy and physiology of the lungs and respiration, including the factors affecting normal lung function. 

At the end of the session, you will be able to enhance the quality of care delivered by the wider team achieving the following learning outcomes: 

• Differentiate between asthma and COPD. 
• Recognise the diagnostic tests used for each.   Tests in respiratory will include an overview of peak flow readings, spirometry and FeNO. 
• Identify commonly prescribed inhalers (pMDI, DPI, spacers) and able to demonstrate Inhaler technique to promote concordance. 
• Understand the principles of how they are managed Identify commonly prescribed inhalers and how to use them

Day Two 

Session Three -  Diabetes, CVD and CKD

We will look at developing essential knowledge and appropriate skills in the quality treatment and management of the patient with one or more of the following long term conditions: This programme is designed for individuals who have recently begun to, or are preparing to support patients with Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and/or Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). 

By the end of the session, you will be able to: 

CVD 

• Carry out a cardiovascular risk assessment using QRisk 2 3 and lifetime 
• Recognise conditions (comorbidities) that contribute to CVD and the impact they have on CVD symptoms 
• Explain the key diagnostic tools used in CVD. 
• Understand what Coronary Heart Disease is (CHD)
• Able to explain CHD to patients and the implications of the disease as well as the key interventions 

Diabetes 

• Importance of Health Screening - Common tests and procedures -urine testing and blood glucose & cholesterol testing 
• Understand why diabetes occurs, how it is diagnosed and how to assess for and reduce the risk of complications which includes: 

           - What is diabetes, its causes and symptoms

           - Nutrition, exercise and obesity 

           - QOF indicators and diabetes 

           - NICE guidelines 

           - Blood results and what they can show 

           - Blood glucose control and measurement

           - How to recognise signs of vascular disease and neuropathic conditions 

           - Essential foot care

           - Medication how it works and side effects 

           - Recognising hypoglycaemia and its treatment and management 

           -The impact of diabetes on clients and their families Lifestyle choices and giving correct advice

At the end of this course attendees will be able to:

• Differentiate between asthma and COPD 
• Recognise the diagnostic tests used for each 
• Understand the principles of how they are managed 
• Identify commonly prescribed inhalers and how to use them 
• Carry out a cardiovascular risk assessment 
• Support shared decision-making to reduce risk using motivational interviewing techniques Examine why diabetes occurs, how it is diagnosed and how to assess for and reduce the risk of complications 
• Explain chronic kidney disease to patients, along with the implications of the diagnosis and key interventions used to reduce future risk