Compassionate Conversations
In our fast-paced and challenging healthcare environment compassion isn’t simply a value, it’s a vital tool for fostering connection, trust, and resilience. The Compassionate Conversations programme, developed by Practitioner Performance Advice equips staff with the insights, tools and materials to harness the power of compassion in performance conversations.
The programme continues to gain momentum following its successful pilot across five NHS organisations in the North West. Designed to foster psychologically safe dialogue around concerns about practice, it has shown tangible impact – enhancing confidence, empathy, and collaboration in multidisciplinary teams and providing delegates with greater confidence to approach conversations about performance with compassion and self-awareness.
Recent examples from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals illustrate how Compassionate Conversations is being embedded into leadership development and strategic priorities through clinical support pathways, bespoke workshops and integration with civility toolkits. Provider organisations have seen the value of cascading this programme by their cohort of Compassionate Conversations trained trainers.
The Compassionate Conversations programme is an evidence-based, facilitated workshop designed to build confidence and capability in hosting honest and productive conversations about practitioner performance, including addressing challenging topics.
The programme consists of a half-day workshop, followed by a full day Train the Trainer programme, and is offered free of charge. The trained trainers are provided with the resources to deliver the workshop locally and are responsible for the cascade in their own organisation, ensuring this fits with local priorities and initiatives.
Key features of the programme:
- Grounded in research on compassion and its importance in workplace interactions.
- Informed by the Practitioner Performance Advice Service’s expertise in facilitating impactful and effective performance conversations.
- Designed for organisations that value compassionate leadership and support the fair, timely and proportionate resolution of concerns.
Planning is now underway to deliver the programme to other NHS organisations. Please contact us if you would like to discuss the suitability of this programme for your organisation.
You can reach us at: nhsr.adviceeducation@nhs.net.
Board Level Assurance for Resolving Performance Concerns
The Board Level Assurance For Resolving Performance Concerns programme is an initiative from our Practitioner Performance Advice service, designed to support board members in fulfilling their responsibilities under the Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS (MHPS) framework. It equips Executive and Non-Executive Directors, designated board members, and senior leaders with the knowledge and practical insights needed to oversee practitioner performance concerns transparently, safely, and compassionately. This session uses case study-based learning to promote more effective, insight-driven board oversight in relation to performance concerns, to support Non-Executive and Executives to provide meaningful assurance in this area.
Following successful delivery to three pilot organisations, including Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and Southern Health & Social Care Trust, the programme has demonstrated strong engagement and early signs of impact. Evaluation data shows increased confidence and understanding among board members, with some organisations already revising policies and improving oversight practices.
This 2.5 hour workshop is available upon request and subject to a needs analysis to ensure alignment with organisational readiness.
If you would like further information about these programmes, please contact the Education team at nhsr.adviceeducation@nhs.net.
