Level 2 Psychological Skills Training for Cancer CNS Staff

We are pleased to announce that we are resuming the Level 2 Psychological Skills Trainings for Clinical Nurse Specialists at UCLH working in Cancer and Hematology.

This is a one-day training and we are currently offering the following dates:

8th May 2024 9.00 - 17.00

The training will take place at the UCLH Education Centre. We have 15 places available on each date and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

The training will be facilitated by specialist clinical psychologists working in both the Oncology Psychology Service and the Hematology Psychology and Psychotherapy Service here at UCLH. It is interactive with a mixture of taught components and group discussion.

Attendance is free.

Why is Level 2 training and supervision required?

Level 2 psychological skills training is one part of a wider effort to enhance the quality of the psychological support provided to patients treated for cancer and hematological conditions and their families.

The Level 2 training and supervision is aimed at Clinical Nurse Specialists who wish to further their expertise in psychological assessment and intervention.

NICE guidelines require all MDTs to have at least one core member trained and supported to provide psychological support at Level 2. The guidelines conceptualise psychological support across four levels, as illustrated below.

Levels of psychological support (NICE Supportive and Palliative Care in Adult Cancer, 2004)

Level Description Assessment Intervention

1 All health and social care professionals Recognition of psychological needs Effective information giving, compassionate communication and general psychological support

2 Health and social care professionals with additional expertise Screening for psychological distress Psychological techniques such as problem solving

3 Trained and accredited professionals Assessed for psychological distress and diagnosis or psychopathology Counselling and specific psychological interventions such as anxiety management and solution-focused therapy, delivered according to an explicit theoretical framework

4 Mental health specialists (clinical psychologists & consultant psychiatrists) Diagnosis of psychopathology Specialist psychological and psychiatric interventions such as psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Research has demonstrated that psychological skills training is most effective when it is supplemented with on-going supervision. For this reason, Level 2 accreditation requires both training AND regular attendance at a recognised monthly Clinical Discussion Group.

How do I access a Level 2 Clinical Discussion Group?

Level 2 Clinical Discussion Groups takes place monthly and each session lasts up to 1.5hrs, has a Level 3 or 4 facilitator (a psychologist or psychotherapist) and includes up to 8 participants.

If you are not yet a member of a clinical discussion group please contact clinical lead/head of support and information l.carballo@nhs.net