Success Stories

West Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation (WYWDC)

Developing a Caring Workforce

When a patient is no longer responsive to treatment and life expectancy is limited, they may require professional help from a person trained in the sensitive area of palliative care.

The National Health Service (NHS) identified that there was an increasing demand for qualified, trained staff in this area and in order to meet this need they are supporting a programme of skills development using Open College Network (OCN) accreditation.

In 2006, the West Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation (WYWDC) commissioned OCN Yorkshire & Humber to develop an accredited palliative care training programme.  Locally devised training programmes can be accredited by the National Open College Network and submitted for possible inclusion in the National Qualification and Credit Framework.

The programme was shaped by OCNYHR in conjunction with experienced practitioners from several local organisations, including Eastern Wakefield PCT, Bradford and Airedale Palliative Care Coordination Service and Sue Ryder Care.

There are four units at three levels covering the principles and practice of palliative care which are mapped against national occupational standards and the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.