Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Currently group education facilitation skills are not part of foundation nurse, medical or dietetic training. Additionally there is no nationally recognised evidence based structured education programme for paediatrics which meet the DoH criteria (2005). Consequently paediatric diabetes teams cannot access group facilitation skills through programmes such as DAFNE and DESMOND in contrast to colleagues working with adults. A one day workshop on group facilitation skills was developed specifically for health care professionals working with CYP through collaboration between a Childrens Diabetes Nurse Specialist, Consultant Diabetologist and an independent, experienced facilitator.

Description/method: Learning outcomes were agreed in advance to ensure a focussed and dynamic workshop for the whole multidisciplinary team and included:- Creating a supportive, interactive and fun learning environment throughout. Building confidence to enhance group facilitation skills. To meet the needs of both CYP and parents facilitating equal involvement of all. Ability to deal with challenging situations arising in groups, including parent-child conflict and dominant individuals. Increased confidence managing monosylabbic teenagers, shy and reluctant CYP, unruly behaviour whilst keeping to the programme and delivering key messages.

Results: Evaluation of this 1 day workshop demonstrated learning outcomes were met in full. Even participants already involved in facilitating groups identified benefits to their practice including increased confidence with challenging family dynamics and across the age groups, a wider repertoire of skills to draw on to manage behaviour, a toolbox of creative activities, along with recognition of the need for full team engagement, less advice giving and more listening.

Conclusion: This 1 day workshop provides an effective and efficient solution to enhance structured education for CYP and families which meets DoH criteria.