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Frailty (e-learning)

The following resources are available:

  1. Frailty – E-Learning for excellence in Frailty Identification, Assessment and Personalised Care – E-learning for Health

The London Clinical Network for Frailty in collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Wessex Academic Health Science Network have developed this e-learning programme which aims to standardise training and knowledge of frailty as a complex multi-system, long term condition. This education programme is compliant with the ‘Frailty, A framework of core capabilities’ (2018) and has been funded through Health Education England’s Urgent and Emergency Care Workforce Collaborative for London.

It strives to promote a common language in frailty care and is designed to support enhanced clinical skills and competencies to be embedded within the existing workforce. It will support health and social care staff to meet the needs of individuals living with varying degrees of frailty and to deliver improved health outcomes.

Ensuring that there is equity in the understanding and knowledge of frailty across workforce is of paramount importance to enable delivery of consistent best practice outcomes and person experience. Currently there is limited frailty specific training available. Where present it is developed with a specific focus and does not consistently align with national and regional Ageing Well strategies for improvement.  This programme meets that need.

It explores the multi-system complexity of frailty via the Geriatric 5Ms. This simple framework which comprises Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity and Matters most encompasses all the elements which are important when considering holistic care of older adults whatever setting you are in or profession you come from.

Further Information

The programme is split into 3 Tiers (courses):

  • Tier 1
  • Tier 2a
  • Tier 2b

Tier 1 is designed to meet the learning needs of the general public, third sector staff, porters, security staff, reception staff in primary, secondary and community services. The Tier 1 learning module provides an awareness and understanding of what frailty is; how it is identified; frailty management and support available.

Tier 2 is split into 2a and 2b. This is because the breadth of the workforce included requires a wide-ranging skill set. The concept of 2a and 2b was created to ensure that the information is tailored to the right level depending on professional role and work setting.

Tier 2a

This includes but is not limited to:

  • First responders such as London Ambulance Service, Hatszola Trust, St Johns Ambulance service, Good Samaritan volunteers, London Air Ambulance service
  • Rapid response workforce such as rapid response nurses, community matrons, rapid response allied health professionals and pharmacists
  • Care navigators
  • Unregistered healthcare staff at band 2 to band 4
  • Band 5 and lower band 6 registered nurses in emergency services and same day emergency services
  • Doctors in emergency departments
  • Pharmacist technicians
  • Nursing associates
  • Physician associates
  • Community and social services staff
  • Care home staff

Tier 2b

This level of training is for health and social care staff and others who are working in emergency departments and acute frailty services

This includes but is not limited to:

  • GPs working in emergency departments
  • Registrars and senior grade doctors in emergency departments
  • Consultant physicians
  • Acute care social workers
  • Senior band 6 and 7 registered Nurses
  • Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and dieticians
  • Band 7 and 8 pharmacists
  • Emergency department advanced nurse practitioners
  • Acute frailty practitioners
  • Same day emergency care workforce

We do not expect people to complete all 3 tiers but to choose the course that most meets their needs and role expectations.

This course is free of charge to all those from Stockport General Practices

To access this training please follow this link – https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/frailty/

2. Frailty: Identification and Interventions – British Geriatric Society

This is a comprehensive in-depth resource on frailty in older people. It is aimed at health and social care professionals who provide care and services for older people living with frailty.

This course is for individuals working at tier 3 levels across all health and social care settings. Tier 3 professionals have “a high degree of autonomy, able to provide care in complex situations and who may also lead services for people living with frailty.” Access to the course is free for health and social care professionals.

The course carries 10CPD hours/credits of distance learning.

The course learning is divided into four modules:

  • Module 1: Understanding and Communication Frailty
  • Module 2: Identifying Frailty
  • Module 3: Managing those living with Frailty
  • Module 4: Building Systems Fit for Frailty

The elearning course is accessible for free, funded by BGS and NHS England until June 2024.

To access this training and for further details, please follow this link – https://www.bgs.org.uk/elearning/2023-frailty-identification-and-interventions