Build confidence in difficult conversations across complex cancer pathways
Come together with oncology professionals from across the UK to explore how to approach emotive conversations, manage uncertainty and communicate serious news with clarity and compassion.
Led by Laura Evenden and Kenza Smith, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, this practical online workshop will focus on real conversations across complex cancer pathways, from concerning results and first contact with patients to MUO/CUP pathway decisions, MDT discussions.
Share experiences with peers, reflect on what happens in your own service and take away practical approaches to improve communication at key points in the patient journey.
Develop your communication skills
5 hours Continuing Professional Development: what you will learn
Strengthen your approach to managing challenging conversations across complex cancer pathways, particularly when patients are facing uncertainty, concerning results or changing next steps. Key learning outcomes include:
- Building confidence in emotive and sensitive patient conversations
- Managing first conversations following concerning results, from what to say by phone to how to respond to patient expectations
- Using effective questioning and communication techniques to understand what patients know, need and are ready to hear
- Supporting patients through complex MUO and CUP pathways, from investigations and MDT discussion to changing next steps
- Delivering concerning news with clarity, compassion and sensitivity
- Improving communication between teams so patients feel informed and supported throughout their pathway
Live online learning
Take away practical approaches to strengthen difficult conversations and patient support
This interactive online workshop will give you the opportunity to reflect on the conversations that feel most challenging in your own service, share experiences with peers and explore practical ways to support patients more confidently through uncertainty and concerning news. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to:
- Connect with oncology professionals from across the UK and share experiences of supporting patients through complex cancer pathways
- Take part in guided discussions and scenario-sharing around concerning results, first conversations, MUO and CUP pathways and difficult news
- Ask questions and gain practical guidance from Laura Evenden and Kenza Smith throughout the day
- Leave with practical next steps to improve sensitive conversations and patient support in your own organisation
In-house training
Available as bespoke training to teams of 25 or more people. Please do contact us if you would like this course delivered exclusively to your team, with the content developed to drill into the specific needs of your service. Please email Sarah Kemm or call 01732 897788 for further details.
Learning & development
Oncology National Networking Forums are pleased to be featured on the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio
The ePortfolio platform is available via the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy and supports professional development in cancer care.
This forum and all of our events are mapped to the ACCEND Framework and can be recorded in the Greater Mancester ePortfolio to help you evidence your learning, reflections and competencies.
To find out more, click on the ACCEND tab.
| 9:00 |
Registration, technical support and networking opportunity
|
| 9:30 |
Introduction, instructions and course leaders’ opening remarks
Laura Evenden and Kenza Smith, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
|
| Building confidence in emotive conversations | |
| 9:40 |
Developing communication skills for complex cancer pathways
|
| 10:10 |
Questions and answers with Laura and Kenza
|
| 10:20 |
Interactive discussion: Identifying difficult conversations in your own service
|
| 10:40 |
Feedback from interactive discussion: Identifying difficult conversations in your own service
|
| 10:50 |
Screen break
|
| Managing uncertainty in the first conversation | |
| 11:00 |
How much to say over the phone following concerning results
|
| 11:30 |
Questions and answers with Laura and Kenza
|
| 11:40 |
Interactive discussion: Managing first conversations after concerning results
|
| 12:00 |
Feedback from interactive discussion: Managing first conversations after concerning results
|
| 12:10 |
Lunch break
|
| Communicating through MUO and CUP pathway decisions | |
| 12:40 |
Supporting patients through referrals, MDT discussion and next steps
|
| 1:10 |
Questions and answers with Laura and Kenza
|
| 1:20 |
Scenario-sharing interactive discussion: Navigating complex MUO and CUP pathways
|
| 1:40 |
Feedback from scenario-sharing interactive discussion: Navigating complex MUO and CUP pathways
|
| 1:50 |
Screen break
|
| Supporting patients and staff after difficult news | |
| 2:00 |
Supporting staff to communicate bad news with compassion
|
| 2:30 |
Questions and answers with Laura and Kenza
|
| 2:40 |
Interactive discussion: Applying learning to improve difficult conversations
|
| 3:00 |
Feedback from interactive discussion: Applying learning to improve difficult conversations
|
| 3:10 |
Course leaders’ closing remarks
|
| 3:20 |
Close of day
|
Your expert workshop leaders:
Benefit from a practical, clinically grounded workshop led by two experienced Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists, with plenty of opportunity throughout the day to ask questions, discuss real-life challenges and learn from their approach to supporting patients through complex cancer pathways.
Laura Evenden
Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Kenza Smith
Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Expected attendees
This online workshop is designed for professionals who support patients through complex cancer pathways and are involved in sensitive, uncertain or difficult conversations. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Cancer and Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists
- CUP and MUO Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Clinical Practitioners
- Rapid Diagnostic Centre and Non-Site Specific Pathway teams
Past attendee feedback
This workshop builds on our programme of oncology training designed around the practical challenges faced by professionals supporting patients across cancer pathways. Previous attendees value the opportunity to discuss shared challenges, learn from colleagues in other organisations and take away practical ideas and greater confidence to apply in their own services:
Pricing structure
- Summer sale: £266 + VAT for one NHS or public sector place when booked before 31st August 2026 (applies to new, full price bookings only)
- £399 + VAT for one NHS or public sector place when booked after 31st August 2026
- Commercial companies are invited to sponsor this day. Please email Vanessa Jarman for further details.
Stretch your NHS training budget further
At SBK Healthcare, we understand how important it is to invest in staff development across a range of specialties. To help you maximise your budget, we offer NHS group discounts that can be applied across one or multiple events.
If you’re interested in making a group booking - whether for a single course or several different events - please email Nichola Cadwallader or call Nichola on 01732 897788 to discuss the best options for your team.
Associations and networks
If you belong to an alliance, association or network please email Nichola Cadwallader to see how we can work together on a mutually beneficial basis.
You can reserve a no-obligation place whilst you apply for funding.
If your funding has not yet been secured or you would like to hold your place with no obligation whilst waiting for your study leave to be approved, you can reserve your place with us. Please email the reservations team at SBK Healthcare with your details:
- Booking contact: name, job title, department, email and telephone number
- Event(s) to reserve for: title and date
- Delegate details (for each delegate): name, job title, department, email and telephone number
- Organisation details: name and address
Alternatively you can make a confirmed booking by emailing the above information to the bookings team.
Once you have booked your place, SBK Healthcare will correspond with you using the email address you provided at the time of booking. Within one week of the online training taking place, you will be sent final details of the course including a full agenda, programme timings and your Zoom joining instructions. This email will include a joining link that can be used to access the course.
If you have not received your email two days before your event, do check your junk folder then contact SBK Healthcare on 01732 897788.
Practice sessions are available. If you would like to attend a zoom practice session before the event takes place, please let us know by emailing bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk. You will have the opportunity to meet an SBK Healthcare staff member who will ensure you are able to access zoom, that your camera and microphone work and you are fully set-up for the day. This is optional but if you do wish to attend, please use the same device that you plan to use on the day.
On the day, when registration starts, you will be able to join the course by initially entering a waiting room when there may be a short wait. The forum will include screen breaks, as well as topic themed interactive sessions which will take place in the breakout rooms.
Click here to view the specially created 5-minute video that will walk you through how to get the most out of attending your SBK Healthcare interactive online forum.
Certification of attendance
A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every fully registered participant who completes the course, as a record of your continuing professional training and development.
Registration fees
You will be sent an instant payment option or invoice on registration. Your payment is required in advance. If your fee has not been received prior to the event, and you are not able to provide a PO or proof of payment, you will be asked to make a credit or debit card payment on the day.
Modify registration
To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email the bookings team.
Cancellations and substitutions
A full refund of fees will be made only for cancellations received within the first 48 hours of the booking being made. Notice of cancellation must be received in writing by emailing the bookings team at SBK Healthcare. Should you need to cancel your registration after this date, the registration fee remains payable in its entirety although a substitution will be accepted and conference documentation will be provided. Substitution attendees for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.
Event changes
It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavor to keep you abreast of such changes but any unavoidable change to the format will not constitute a reason to refund the fee. Should the event be postponed, we will endeavor to reschedule the event. If, for reasons beyond the control of the conference organiser, the event is cancelled, a full refund will be made. We do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.
Privacy notice
To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy.
About the ACCEND Framework
The ACCEND Framework is designed to enhance cancer care by providing a structured approach to education and professional development for healthcare professionals.
- It defines the essential Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and offers a tailored educational structure to support progression at every stage of a cancer care career.
- Launched in January 2023, the framework aims to transform career pathways and improve training and development opportunities across the cancer workforce.
- It provides access to the education and training needed to meet role-specific competencies and includes dedicated resources for nurses, allied health professionals and those in cancer-related support roles.
- The ACCEND Framework delivers a nationally agreed career and education structure underpinned by clearly defined capabilities in practice.
Map your learning
All Oncology National Networking Forum courses listed on the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio are fully aligned with the ACCEND Framework.
You can easily log your attendance and map your learning to the Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) through the ACCEND Greater Manchester ePortfolio.
To do this:
- Register and log in to the Greater Manchester ePortfolio
- Click ‘Add Entry’
- Select 'Choose an item from the library'
- Change the provider to Oncology National Networking Forums
- Choose the relevant event you have attended (or plan to attend)
This tool offers a central space to track your professional development, reflections and achievements - supporting your ongoing career in cancer care.
Click here to access the Greater Manchester ePortfolio
Sponsorship engagement
Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing oncology delivery forums offer dedicated presentations, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be fully immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.
Your event, managed by us
SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.
Reach out today
If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact:
Vanessa Jarman
Contact: 01732 897788
Email: Vanessa.Jarman@sbk-healthcare.co.uk