e-ELCA getting startedand support pack

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1. Introduction

2. How to register

3. Accessing e-ELCA via the e-Learning for Healthcare Learning Management System

3.1 What is the e-LfH LMS?

3.2 What does it offer me?

3.3 Gaining access

3.4 Finding your way around

3.5 Accessing your learning

3.6 My Activity

4. Accessing e-ELCA via Electronic Staff Record (National Learning Management System)

4.1 Log in to the system

4.2 Enrol on the course

4.3 Play the course

5. Frequently Asked Questions

6. Case Studies

7. Additional Support

8. Glossary

Contents

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End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) isan e-learning programme whichaims to enhance the training andeducation of health and social carestaff and volunteers involved indelivering end of life care.

The programme was commissionedby the Department of Health anddelivered by e-Learning forHealthcare (e-LfH), in partnershipwith the Association for PalliativeMedicine of Great Britain andIreland, to support theimplementation of theDepartment of Health’s 2008national End of Life Care Strategy.

There are over 150 e-learningsessions available across eightcourses / modules, covering:• Assessment• Advance Care Planning• Communication Skills• Symptom Management• Integrating Learning• Social Care• Bereavement• Spirituality

Accessibility has been a key driverin developing the project, enablingall those involved in end of lifecare to improve their confidence

and expertise through high qualitylearning, in whichever setting theyhappen to work in.

The sessions also have a highdegree of flexibility built in,allowing you to undertakelearning to suit your lifestyle andat your own pace. You make yourown choices and choose thesessions that you want to do,taking as long as you like. Eachsession lasts only 20-30 minutesand you can dip in and out as youwish. You can learn individually orwith others, using any computerwith internet access.

A small number of selectedsessions are also freely available tovolunteers, clerical andadministrative staff on an openaccess website:www.endoflifecareforall.com.

This starter pack aims to help youget started with e-ELCA and use itto best suit your own personal andprofessional needs. It includes aDVD containing a number ofuseful additional resources andlinks, including trainingpresentations and sample sessions.

1. Introduction

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As a new member of the end oflife care team, I was encouraged toexplore e-ELCA.

I’m not really of a generationwhere the thought of e-anything isinspiring, in fact it’s more e-worrying. I have completed somemandatory training online in thepast and did not feel particularlyenthused. After a few teethingproblems running the programme,needing to allow ‘pop-ups’(whatever they are!), I was readyto take my first steps.

My first session was the e-ELCAintroduction session. This wasreally helpful, giving me a goodidea about what to expect fromthe sessions, both their actualcontent and how to use them aspart of my personal professionaldevelopment.

Opening the e-ELCA learning was abit of a shock, flicking through amultitude of sessions fromcommunication skills and advancecare planning to symptom control.It did feel a bit overwhelming atfirst, but slowly and surely, bycherry-picking the sessions I feltmore comfortable with, I began toexplore. And eventually I foundmyself lost in the e-learning world.

I completed some sessions withrelatively little effort, others mademe revisit old experiences, andothers built upon knowledgealready acquired. On someoccasions I found myself unable tostop once I had started - I wantedto explore more and more!

Each session has a time allocatedto it, but this is flexible. SometimesI could power my way through,others required much morethought, depending on my ownexperience or knowledge.

As a resource I found e-ELCA veryeasy to use, with bite sized sessionsenabling me to fit the learningaround my busy schedule and, bestof all, the content was pertinent tomy new role.

I will continue to access thispersonal library of learning and Ihope, as part of an extended team,to use the resource as furtherlearning for other health careprofessionals.

Kay FrancisCommunity MatronOxford Health NHS FoundationTrust

Viewpoint: e-ELCA in practice

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You can register by various routesdepending on your role, or simplyvisit the open access website wherea small number of selected e-learning sessions are directlyavailable.

Open access websiteA number of e-ELCA e-learningsessions are available to accessfreely and without the need forregistration viawww.endoflifecareforall.com.

Existing e-LfH userIf you have an account with e-LfHalready, simply log in to the e-LfHLearning Portal (http://portal.e-lfh.org.uk) usingyour existing username andpassword. Select the ‘Edit yourprofile’ link in the left hand menuand choose e-ELCA. You can alsoadd any other programmes youwould like to access.

NHS employees in EnglandIf your NHS Trust has implementede-learning through the ElectronicStaff Record (ESR) as part of theNational Learning ManagementSystem (NLMS) project pleasespeak to your local training and

development department, or localESR system administrator, to gainaccess to e-ELCA via the NLMS.

The NLMS is an e-learning platformfully integrated with ESR whichmeans learning can be recordedagainst your portable employeerecord.

Alternatively, if your NHS Trust hasnot implemented e-learningthrough ESR as part of the NLMSproject, you can access thematerials through the e-LfHLearning Management System(LMS). Go to the e-ELCAregistration page to do this:www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html. Please note thatyou will require an NHS emailaddress to register.

NHS employees in NorthernIreland, Scotland or WalesYou can access the materialsthrough the e-LfH LMS. Go to thee-ELCA registration page to dothis: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html. Please notethat you will require an NHS emailaddress to register.

2. How to register

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Social care professionals inEnglandAccess to e-ELCA is available to allsocial care professionals in Englandwhose employers are registeredwith the Skills for Care NationalMinimum Data Set for Social Care(NMDS-SC). Your employer must beregistered with NMDS-SC for youto register.

Every registered employer can geta user registration code for theirstaff, enabling you to self-registerfor access to e-ELCA. Please contactyour employer for more detailsabout the registration code, andthen go to www.e-lfh.org.uk/nmds-sc inorder to register.

It is a quick and easy process toregister your organisation with theNMDS-SC. For more information onthis your employer should contactthe Skills for Care Helpdesk on0845 8730129.

GPs and practice staffIf you are a GP or work in a GPpractice you can access thematerials through the e-LfH LMS.

Go to the e-ELCA registration pageto do this: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html.Please note that you will requirean NHS email address to register.

Hospice staff in the UKAll hospices have been invited toregister their staff. For furtherdetails on this or to register yourinterest in e-ELCA, please ask yourmanager to email elca.support@e-lfh.org.uk.

Other interested partiesPlease go to the e-ELCA eIntegrityregistration page where access tothe e-ELCA programme can bepurchased: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register4.html.

If you have registered to access e-ELCA via the e-LfH LMS you willreceive your username andpassword within 24-48 hours.

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Quick Start Guide

Important: Please use the onlinetechnical checker to ensure your PCis set up correctly to access the e-learning: www.e-lfh.org.uk/technical_requirements_e-lfh_LMS.html. You will also be ableto find the online technical checkerand other support materials byselecting ‘Support’ at the top ofthe page within the e-LfH LMS.

3.1 What is the e-LfH LMS?

The e-Learning for HealthcareLearning Management System (e-LfH LMS) is an educational webbased platform that providesquality assured online training forthe UK’s healthcare workforce.

Programme content has beencreated in partnership with therelevant professional bodies, theNHS and e-LfH e-learningspecialists. The e-learningcomplements existing trainingprogrammes and provides anexcellent source of practical ‘onthe job’ reference information.

3.2 What does it offer me?

The training available to you onthe e-LfH LMS is directly relevantto your job role or specialty. Youcan instantly access high quality,up to date educational materialfrom any computer with aninternet connection.

3. Accessing e-ELCA via the e-Learning for HealthcareLearning Management System

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3.3 Gaining access

Step 1Access the e-LfH website by typingwww.e-lfh.org.uk into yourinternet browser.

Step 2Select ‘Log in to your e-learning’ inthe top right hand corner of the e-LfH home page.

Tip: To come directly to this pagein future, save it as a favourite orbookmark in your internetbrowser.

Step 3Log in to the e-LfH Learning Portalusing your existing username and password.

Step 4Select ‘Launch e-LfH LearningManagement System’ from the lefthand menu.

Step 5If you are a first time user, beforeyou can gain access you will haveto accept the terms and conditionsby selecting the ‘Accept’ button. Ifyou have accessed the e-LfHLearning Management Systembefore, you will be taken to thehome page.

You now have access to highquality online learning.

If you have forgotten your accountdetails or you have a generalsupport query, please visithttp://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/support.

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1. HomeContains all the links you need toaccess your learning and otherinformation about theprogrammes on which you havebeen registered.

2. My LearningTakes you to the programmes youhave been registered on, andcontains all available courses andsessions. For more details seesection 3.5 on accessing yourlearning.

3. Completed LearningLists completed courses andsessions, however e-ELCA has theseall available in My Learning so youcan undertake courses and sessionsas often as you like.

4. Personal LibraryYou have the option to add e-learning sessions or documentsthat are available on the system toyour personal library. This makes it

easier to access content you mayneed to refer to on a regular basis,or wish to return to at a laterstage.

5. About My LearningOffers you more information onyour learning programmes.

6. Online HelpProvides support information onall aspects of the LMS.

7. NewsKeeps you up to date on all thelatest developments to yourprogrammes, as well as importantinformation regarding e-LfH andthe LMS.

8. Quick Access PanelA set of links which allows youquick access to items such ascourses or sessions you havestarted, and any messages waitingfor you.

3.4 Finding your way around

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3.5 Accessing your learning

When you select My Learning youwill be able to access four tabs: MyProgrammes, My Courses, MyLearning Paths and My Sessions –these contain all of the learningresources that you have access to.

When you select My Learning youwill see a list of programmes.These programmes contain all thecourses available to you.

Select the programme title, e-ELCA(End of Life Care), to see thecourses. Once you select theprogramme, all the courses withinthat programme will appear.

Select one of the courses in e-ELCA.

By clicking on the Contents icon atthe top of the page, you will see alist of all the e-learning sessionswithin that course.

Select a session title and a newwindow will be launchedcontaining the learning material.

You can print off a certificatewhen you complete each sessionbut remember that this is notproof of qualification or

competence. It is similar to acertificate of attendance youmight get for attending a face toface study event.

When you have reached the lastpage of the session, close theinternet browser window.

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1.Choose which report you wish to run in the Report Options panel (inthe e-LfH Learning Portal)

2.You can limit what is included in the report using the Filter Optionspanel

• Limit the content using the Programme, Session and Included Activitydrop down controls.

• Define a date range by using the date pickers, entering dates or usingthe quick links.

3.Choose how you want to view the report in the Output Options panel

• Choose ‘View on screen’ to see the report in your browser window.

• Choose ‘Open PDF document’ to save your results in a fixed format thatis good for printing, emailing or adding to an online portfolio.

• Choose ‘Download data’ to save your data in a .csv file that you canopen in any spreadsheet application, including Microsoft Excel.

3.6 My Activity

How to access reports on your learning activityOnce you are logged in to the e-LfH Learning Portal, select the MyActivity link in the left hand menu and follow the simple steps below torun a report on your learning activity.

Note: My Activity is located within the e-LfH Learning Portal and not thee-LfH LMS. This is where you got to just before Step 4 in Section 3.3Gaining Access (see page 9).

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Other things you should know

• Any learning you have done today will not be included in the report.This is because the My Activity page receives data in an overnight feedfrom the e-LfH LMS.

• Hover your mouse over the tooltip icons to find out more informationabout the different controls on the screen.

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Quick start guide

Important: Please use this onlinetechnical checker to ensure your PCis set up correctly to access the e-learning:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/pccheck.html.

4.1 Login to the system

1. Access the log in methods screenby visiting: www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/login.html

2. Log in to the system by clickingon the Login to ESR using aSmartcard link or by clicking onthe Login to ESR link.

3. Once you have logged in, clickonto the e-Learning User link(your screen may have adifferent number in place of

‘173’):

4. Click onto the e-Learning link tothe right.



You will most likely have to accessthe NLMS from a Trust computerthe first time, but you can thenrequest remote access. Once thathas been approved, you can log into the NLMS from any computerwith internet access.

4. Accessing e-ELCA viaElectronic Staff Record (NationalLearning Management System)

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4.2 Enrol on the course

1. Towards the top of the screen,you can search for courses onwhich to enrol, for example ‘endof life care’.

end of life care

2. Then click on the Go button

3. Click onto the yellow briefcaseicon against the course to enrolonto it.

4. Click the Apply button on theright of the screen. Aconfirmation message willdisplay towards the top of thescreen and the course will be

added to your list. Please notethat only five courses aredisplayed on screen at a time, soif your new course hasn’tappeared you may have to usethe button to find it.

Important: You only have to enrolon the course once for it to beavailable for you to play.

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4.3 Play the Course

1. Find the course you haveenrolled upon in the list. Youmay have to use thebutton as only five courses at atime are displayed on the screen.

2. Click the Play button which is onthe right of the course.

3. Each course consists of a numberof e-learning sessions. The firstpage of the first session willappear when you click Play.Select the + icon in the left handpanel, to expand the list. Youwill find the rest of the e-learning sessions within thatcourse there.

4. Important: If there are anysecurity warnings, it is vital thatyou follow the instructions onthe next page of this starterpack.

5. You must click the Home icon atthe top right of the screen whenyou have finished to ensure thatyour learning has been recordedcorrectly.

6. You don’t have to complete thewhole course in one go, you canreturn to it later and carry onfrom where you left off.

For further information contactyour local training anddevelopment department.

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For the following messageopposite, it is vital that you answerNo to ensure that your certificate isable to print and your successfulcompletion of the course has beenrecorded into the system.

Steps to follow if you get security warningmessages on your screen

For each of the security messagesopposite, ensure that you tick the‘Always trust content from thispublisher’ box and then presseither Run or Yes as appropriate.

When accessing a course if you seethe security message opposite,please press Yes to ensure that allof the content displays correctly.

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1. Who is e-Learning forHealthcare?

e-Learning for Healthcare is aDepartment of Health programmeworking in partnership with theNHS and professional bodies toprovide high quality e-learningcontent for the training of thehealthcare workforce across theUK. Visit www.e-lfh.org.uk formore details.

2. Who is e-ELCA designed for?

All health and social care workerswithin the NHS, hospitals, hospices,care homes, the community andother settings where people arecared for at the end of their lives.

3. Is the e-ELCA e-learning free?

The materials are free to all thoseemployed by the NHS or hospicesin the UK. Social care professionalsin England also get free access.Anyone else will need to buylicences as individuals or throughtheir employers via the end of lifecare registration page: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register4.html.

Organisations wishing to purchasemultiple licences should emaileintegrity.sales@e-lfh.org.uk.

4. What is the curriculum for the e-ELCA e-learning?

Its various courses comprisesessions relating to differingaspects of end of life care services,and have been developed to meetthe needs of differing levels ofstaff working across health andsocial care.

These sessions have beendeveloped by experts in theirrespective fields, drawn from arange of services and professionalbodies. The Association forPalliative Medicine of Great Britainand Ireland holds the intellectualproperty rights and currently hasresponsibility for review to ensurethat learning is up to date andrelevant. You can download a fulllist of courses and sessions atwww.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

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5. How do I access the e-learning?

The e-ELCA e-learning is availablethrough two national e-learningplatforms:

Electronic Staff Record (ESR) aspart of the National LearningManagement System Project(NLMS) - primarily for NHShealthcare professionals workingin England.

The e-LfH Learning ManagementSystem (e-LfH LMS) - primarily forall NHS doctors working in the UK,all other NHS healthcare

professionals working in Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland,those employed by a hospice in theUK and social care professionals inEngland. Access via the e-LfH LMSis also available for NHS staff whodo not have access to the ESR /NLMS.

Anyone else will need to pay forlicences. See the table below toconfirm which platform you shoulduse.

Profession Country Platform

NHS Doctor England e-LfH LMS

NHS Doctor Other UK e-LfH LMS

NHS Nurse* England ESR/NLMS

NHS Nurse Other UK e-LfH LMS

NHS Therapist/allied health professional* England ESR/NLMS

NHS Therapist/allied health professional Other UK e-LfH LMS

Hospice staff England e-LfH LMS

Hospice staff Other UK e-LfH LMS

Social care staff England e-LfH LMS

Other - charges apply Any e-LfH LMS

* Access via the e-LfH LMS is also available for NHS staff who do not have access to theESR / NLMS.

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6. I am a social care professional inEngland, what do I / my employerneed to do to get access to the e-ELCA e-learning?

Access to e-ELCA is available to allsocial care professionals in Englandwhose employers are registeredwith the Skills for Care NationalMinimum Data Set for Social Care(NMDS-SC).

Every employer providing NMDS-SC workforce information to Skillsfor Care can get a user registrationcode for their staff. This codeenables you to self-register foraccess to e-ELCA. Please contactyour employer for more detailsabout the registration code.

It is a quick and easy process toregister your organisation with theNMDS-SC. For more information onthis your employer should contactthe Skills for Care Helpdesk on0845 8730129. If you have aregistration code, you can registerby visiting www.e-lfh.org.uk/nmds-sc.

7. I work within a hospice in theUK, what do I need to do to getaccess to the e-ELCA e-learning?

All hospices have been invited toregister their staff. For furtherdetails on this or to register yourinterest in the e-learning pleaseask your manager to emailelca.support@e-lfh.org.uk.

8. My NHS Trust has implementede-learning through ESR as part ofthe NLMS project - can I nowaccess the materials?

Yes - speak to your local trainingand development department, oryour local ESR systemadministrator, to gain access. If youare still having problems, you cancontact your NLMS RegionalAccount Manager:www.electronicstaffrecord.nhs.uk/esr-projects/national-learning-management-system-project/nlms-account-managers/.

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9. My NHS Trust has notimplemented e-learning throughESR as part of the NLMS project –how can I access the materials?

If you are eligible to access thematerials (for example you areemployed by the NHS) but yourTrust has not implemented theNLMS, you can access the materialsthrough the e-LfH LMS. Please goto the end of life care registrationpage in order to do this: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html.

You must have an individual NHSemail address, for example yourNHS Trust email or an nhs.netemail address. Your IT departmentshould be able to help you withthis.

10. How do I find out if my NHSTrust has implemented e-learningthrough ESR as part of the NLMSproject?

NHS organisations in England whoutilise ESR have access to the e-learning capabilities offered aspart of the National LearningManagement System project; localpolicy will determine whetheraccess has been made available toemployees.

Speak to your local training anddevelopment department, or yourlocal ESR system administrator, togain access. If this does not help,you can contact your NLMSRegional Account Manager:www.electronicstaffrecord.nhs.uk/esr-projects/national-learning-management-system-project/nlms-account-managers/.

11. How do I find out who my ESRSystem Administrator is?

Your training and developmentdepartment should know who thisis, so try contacting them first. Ifyou still can't find the right person,you can find this out on the ESRsupport pages:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/access.html.

12. I don't work for the NHS or ahospice in the UK or a care home /social care employer in Englandregistered with Skills for CareNMDS, does this mean I have topay for access to the e-ELCA e-learning?

Yes - you can buy licenses throughthe end of life care registrationpage: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html.

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13. I work for / study at a HigherEducation Institution. Does thismean I have to pay for access tothe e-ELCA e-learning?

Yes - you can buy licences throughthe end of life care registrationpage: www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca/register.html.

14. Can I obtain a record ofachievement for my completed e-learning?

Yes – you can print off a certificatefor each session.

Once you are registered on the e-LfH LMS you can run a report foryourself at any time. To find outhow, visit the tutorials page of thee-LfH website: www.e-lfh.org.uk/tutorials_elfh_lms.html.

For users of e-learning via ESR anye-learning you complete willautomatically update yourpersonal training record, which canbe viewed in your Learning History.

15. Is there a technical checkeronline?

Both the e-LfH LMS and ESRplatforms have a technical checkeronline:

• e-LfH Technical Checker:www.e-lfh.org.uk/technical_requirements_e-lfh_LMS.html

• ESR Technical Checker:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/pccheck.html

16. I need some technical support -who should I contact?

Always contact your own ITdepartment first as there may wellbe a local solution. The technicalcheckers available on eachplatform should tell you if youneed to install additional softwareto access the e-learning. If your ITdepartment is unable to solve theproblem, it will depend on whichlearning platform you will beusing:

• e-LfH Technical Support:http://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/support

• ESR e-Learning/NLMS Project -contact your local ESR/NLMSLead for assistance

17. Can I do the sessions morethan once?

Yes - you can undertake thesessions as many times as youwant.

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18. Do I have to start the course atthe beginning?

No - the sessions can be completedin any order you choose. Somepeople may wish to dip into partsof the session that they feel theyneed to increase their knowledge.

19. How can I measure thecompetence of staff completingthe course?

These sessions work well as part ofa blended learning approach. e-ELCA provides one method oflearning along with many others,such as face-to-face teaching androle play. Completion of thecourses does not in itself indicatecompetence. Competence wouldneed to be measured using otherappropriate methods to evaluatelearning and its impact on thedelivery of services.

20. Can I monitor how many of myemployees are completing thecourse?

ESR/NLMSBy including e-learning in the ESRas part of the NLMS project,training and developmentdepartments and any managerwith access to Manager Self Service

can view and report on learningactivity of their staff.

Full reports on all learning canthen be produced detailingclassroom and e-learning activityside by side. Those healthcareworkers who wish to know if theirTrust has access or is getting accessto e-learning in ESR should contacttheir Trust's training anddevelopment lead.

e-LfH LMSCurrently, there is no defaultfacility on the e-LfH LMS to allowteam leaders for example, tomonitor if users are accessing thee-learning. The e-LfH team arereviewing how to make this facilityavailable. Individuals are able toproduce reports on their ownlearning for CPD and otherpurposes.

21. Does e-learning count towardsCPD?

The Royal College of Physiciansrecognises up to 10 personal CPDpoints per year where one pointequals one hour of self-directedlearning.

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The ABC education programme is available to all Group Bstaff (health and social care professionals who frequentlydeal with end of life care as part of their role) in acute andprimary care trusts throughout the East of England.

This free of charge, blended learning programme (e-learning and face-to-face sessions with an identified mentor) makes use of 10 ‘essential’ e-learning sessions from the national e-ELCA programme and thesee-learning sessions are now available as a single learning pathway on thenational Oracle Learning Management and the e-Learning for Healthcarewebsite. This allows much easier access for participants; previously afrustrating ordeal, with staff often giving up before commencing anylearning.

When e-learning is not suitable in the workplace, workshops areprovided by the ABC facilitators. To date over 1000 Group B staff havebeen trained.

The introductory ABC course is designed to be flexible and takesapproximately six hours over six weeks. At the end of the e-learning thestudents are encouraged to reflect on their learning to demonstrate thetransition from theory into practice and are invited to take part in aconsolidation workshop.

The ABC programme is being used across a variety of disciplines such as:GPs; ward, community and hospice staff; and courses are adapted forlearning disability teams and staff working with the homeless(incorporating national information and statistics and work carried outby St Mungo’s). The quotes speak for themselves:

East of England End of life care ABCeducation programme for Group B staff

6. Case Studies

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Contact...Vanessa Convey, Palliative and End of Life CareEducation and Training Programme ManagerEast of England Multi-Professional Deaneryvanessa.convey@eoe.nhs.uk

Wow I thought I was empathetic alwaysand have really learnt to myembarrassment that I was giving themmy sympathy which could have beenseen as patronising. GP

This (communication) module made methink about how and when I say things,it created discussion in the practice andhas made me aware of the approachpatients take too. I feel more aware ofwhat they are actually saying to me. GP

It has made me think a lot about end oflife care in a new light. It is now part ofmy care planning.Staff Nurse, Intensive Therapy Unit

The way you deal with this (end of lifecare) has the effect on family leftbehind.Staff Nurse, Community Rehabilitation Ward

I learnt to turn a computer on…Information stuck in my head and I wasable to recall it at the right time. Hospice Administrative Staff

Gave me more confidence to havedifficult conversations, especially when Iam on my own with the patient. Whenthey ask me questions I am able toreflect it back to them with some of thephrases I learnt such as ‘What makes youfeel that way?’Hospice Health Care Assistant

Talking about death & dying and ACPhave made me feel more confident inaddressing this area.Learning Disability Nurse

I did this course on my day off, and itwas the best thing I’ve done on a dayoff, EVER! THANK YOU.Project Worker, Controlled Drinkers Project

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Here at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust we havedeveloped a new approach to end of life careeducation. We are a large Integrated Care Organisationwith two hospital sites and cross boundary primary care is alarge part of our workforce.

Our plan was to develop an education programme which all grades ofstaff can access and allows the staff the freedom to choose the level ofeducation they require for their job and/or interest. We developed thename ‘Skill Set Challenge’.

The basis of the Skill Set Challenge was the use of e-ELCA as a theoreticalbackground to all education. By using the eight different ‘branches’ orsubject matters within e-ELCA we grew a ‘tree’ of education.

Each branch of the tree relates to a particular topic, such as symptommanagement, and will have a bronze, silver and gold level within.

The e-ELCA sessions within each module have been allocated to a bronze,silver or gold level, and are being used as the theory to back up face-to-face teaching and established courses available within the Trust andQueenscourt Hospice.

There will be some skills training available within certain levels of theChallenge and reflective practice and case studies will cement knowledgealready achieved.

Staff will be encouraged to start at a bronze level and work their wayaround all the branches of the tree. Once all areas have been covered aBronze Award will be presented in the form of a bronze-edged pinbadge depicting an oak tree.

Staff will be able to further their knowledge should they require or wishby undertaking course work at both silver and gold level. Similar awards

Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust

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will be available relating to the level of education achieved. Educationalready obtained, by the way of courses undertaken can be evidenced aspart of the new pathway.

Each level will require staff to evidence their achievements by the collectionof certificates of e-ELCA modules completed and any training/coursesattended. This will develop into an end of life care education portfolio.

e-ELCA was the basis for the new approach to end of life care education andthe overwhelming incentive to use the modules was the ease of access, thequality of education provided and the ability to use/study with e-ELCA athome, away for the work environment.

Initial trials have proven a positive response and rolled out Trust-wide,coinciding with the London 2012 Olympics.

Contact...Elaine S. Deeming TRANSFORM Clinical LeadSouthport and Ormskirk NHS Trust elaine.deeming@nhs.net

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In January 2010 Wigan & Leigh Hospice were working hardon developing an e-learning mandatory trainingprogramme that was hospice-specific. We saw the e-ELCAprogramme as a way for staff to access quality materialswhich would enhance learning regarding end of life care.

We therefore viewed e-ELCA as an excellent prelude to the mandatorytraining change and a way of engaging staff in interesting moduleswhich would capture their interest and raise confidence in computer-based learning. In addition the e-learning format offers greater flexibilityin releasing small numbers of staff for training. It was a ‘win-win’situation.

Challenges• How could it be integrated into the working day and how would we

monitor it?• Availability of adequate IT facilities• The varying levels of the ability of staff in the use of computers and

how those who were less confident could be supported• The ability of staff being released from clinical practice to complete

sessions• Which of the sessions available were most pertinent to each staff

group?• Maintaining the enthusiasm and momentum• Not to bombard staff with lots of e-learning• How to monitor progress?• All staff would require a hospice email address in order to enable

registration.

MethodsStaff were introduced to e-ELCA at two pre-planned away days. Thesedays were ideal opportunities to give staff a taste of the programme andhow we envisaged it would be rolled out at the hospice. Staff were thenregistered in bulk with the national team.

e-ELCA from the beginning atWigan & Leigh Hospice

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Meetings were held to plan the facilities that were required. Extra ITequipment was ordered, and a room in the education centre was convertedinto an e-learning suite with two computers. Two further computers wereinstalled into the library to make a second e-learning suite.

‘Sign up’ was obtained by the senior management team and team managerswhich was pivotal to the success of the roll out of the programme. Thecontent of the programme was researched by the hospice palliative careeducation lead. Staff were split into groups such as doctors, nurses,specialists and health care assistants. The PCT employed an Allied HealthProfessional team who are based at the hospice and were also given accessto the e-ELCA programme at the hospice.

Each group was allocated specific modules to complete. This ensured thatstaff completed modules that were most pertinent to their role. Thenational end of life care team later circulated suggested group modules,and there was much relief when the modules suggested by the nationalteam matched!

All received a lever arch file which contained their passwords, workbooksand step-by-step guidance on how to negotiate the site. Staff wereallocated dedicated time away from the clinical environment to begin workon the modules. For example, staff on the inpatient unit were allocated anhour and this was done on a weekly basis. The team of specialist nursesbooked themselves in on their non-clinical time. Staff were mentored by theeducation lead and supported where they felt that they needed it, withtime being booked on a one-to-one basis. This process ran very smoothly.

Positives• Staff motivation• Staff valuing the time away from the clinical environment and seeing the

value placed on their individual learning and personal development• Staff undertaking other programmes of study have reported being able to

‘cross-reference’ elements from e-ELCA into that work• Introduced another style of learning to staff which up until this point they

were perhaps not as used to as other delivery styles• Staff were able to see the link to practice, and how learning can enhance

practice

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• The cost effectiveness and flexibility of the programme as a whole. Wehave been able to put staff through a large amount of education,regardless of day or night work within one programme. The e-learningformat also adds to the cost effective element of the programme asstaff were not released for lengthy periods of time to attend training.

• We are the first hospice within the Greater Manchester and CheshireCancer Network to roll out e-ELCA to all clinical staff. The hospiceeducation lead is now the network champion for e-ELCA in hospices.

What maybe didn’t go too well?• It proved difficult matching the individual learning needs of senior

clinicians, i.e. doctors and nurse specialists, with theavailable/appropriate modules. It was a balance between their right toidentify their own learning needs whilst acknowledging the need forcontinuous professional development.

• Initially some of the professional groups struggled a little with some ofthe modules that were allocated to them. They felt that the contentwas perhaps not appropriate to their role.

ConclusionStaff appear to have embraced the e-learning and seem to be enjoying it.The dedication of the managers to allot staff time away to complete themodules reinforces its importance. The e-learning process, mixed withdidactic delivery, group work and case studies can only enhance stafflearning. The momentum remains and staff continue to feel enthusiasticabout it, with some staff accessing the programme from home. Patientcare can only be enhanced by increased staff knowledge.

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Contact...Sarah OwensPalliative Care Education LeadWigan & Leigh Hospice01942 525566 ext. 248

I do enjoy it. Sometimes it’s hard toswitch off if the ward has been busy andthen you go to the e-learning suite. Ifind this way of learning useful whenlooking at topics such as the MentalCapacity Act, and then answering somequestions, which confirms if it has sunkin. I find that if I am looking at suchtopics in the classroom environment Itend to switch off.Health Care Assistant

It is extremely useful to my role, but alsoto the work I am doing in my NVQ.Health Care Assistant

I feel that it is a good way of learningand is definitely useful to practice. Iparticularly liked the information onhow to construct a genogram and thesection on family and carer issues.Staff Nurse

It’s easy to follow and easy to navigatethrough the modules. The content is veryapplicable to practice and I feel iscertainly enhancing and adding to myknowledge.Staff Nurse

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7. Additional support

Technical Checkers

Both the e-LfH LMS and ESRplatforms have a technical checkeronline:

• e-LfH Technical Checker: www.e-lfh.org.uk/technical_requirements_e-lfh_LMS.html

• ESR / NLMS Technical Checker:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/pccheck.html

Quick Start Guides

Two page step-by-step Quick StartGuides on how to access and usethe e-learning on both the e-Learning for Healthcare LMS andElectronic Staff Record / NLMShave been included in this pack, inSection 3 and Section 4respectively. The guides can also befound at:

• e-LfH LMS: www.e-lfh.org.uk/support_elfh_LMS.html

• ESR / NLMS:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/doc/Users.html

Tutorials

Step-by-step tutorials are availableon how to use:

• e-LfH LMS: www.e-lfh.org.uk/support_elfh_LMS.html

• ESR / NLMS:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/demo/demos.html

Technical Support

Always contact your own ITdepartment first as there might

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well be a local solution. Thetechnical checkers available oneach platform should tell you ifyou need to install additionalsoftware to access the e-learning.If your IT department is unable tosolve the problem, it will dependon which learning platform youwill be using:

• e-LfH Technical Support:http://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/support

• ESR / NLMS: Contact your localESR / NLMS Lead for assistance

e-LfH users can get more supportinformation from: www.e-lfh.org.uk/support_elfh_LMS.html

ESR / NLMS users can get moresupport information from:www.esrsupport.co.uk/nlms/index.htm

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End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA)Wide-ranging e-learningprogramme which aims to enhancethe training and education ofhealth and social care staff andvolunteers involved in deliveringend of life care.

e-Learning for Healthcare LearningManagement System (e-LfH LMS)An educational web-basedplatform that provides qualityassured online training for theUK’s healthcare workforce.

Electronic Staff Record (ESR)The integrated Human Resources(HR), Payroll and LearningManagement system used by theNHS in England and Wales. ESRalso provides access to e-Learningin England.

National Learning ManagementSystem (NLMS)The project initiated to define therequirements and deliver e-Learning functionality for the NHS,jointly developed by the ElectronicStaff Record Programme (ESR), the

Department of Health, NHSConnecting for Health, Skills forHealth - Core Learning Unitand e-Learning for Healthcare. Itprovides access to a wide variety ofe-learning courses, covering arange of subject matters, free ofcharge.

Association of Palliative Medicineof Great Britain and Ireland (APM)The national association of doctorswho work in specialist palliativemedicine or who have an interestin palliative care. It exists topromote the advancement anddevelopment of palliative medicine- the APM currently hasresponsibility for review to ensurethat the e-ELCA programme is upto date and relevant.

End of Life Care Strategy (2008)The Department of Health’sstrategy promoting high qualitycare for all adults at the end of life- the first for the UK, aiming toimprove the quality of care forpeople approaching the end oflife.

8. Glossary

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Skills for Care National MinimumData Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC)The NMDS-SC gathers informationabout the social care sector,including service and workforceinformation, to aid employers,commissioners, policy makers andfunding agencies.

Learning Management System(LMS)The web-based platform thatdelivers and tracks your onlinelearning.

Programme Complete set of learning materialsand supporting content covering aspecialty, such as Anaesthetics, orsubject, such as End of Life Care forAll.

Course (or module)A set of sessions that are groupedtogether.

Learning PathA group of sessions around aparticular role or area of work,recommended for you to workthrough.

SessionSingle piece of learning containinginteractive tasks, images,animations and video.

www.e-lfh.org.uk/projects/e-elca

© National End of Life Care Programme (2012)All rights reserved. For full Terms of Use please visitwww.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/terms-of-useor email information@eolc.nhs.uk. In particularplease note that you must not use this product ormaterial for the purposes of financial or commercialgain, including, without limitation, sale of theproducts or materials to any person.

Published by the National End of Life Care Programme

ISBN: 978 1 908874 19 1Programme ref: PB0030 A 09 12Publication date: Sept 2012Review date: Sept 2014