A new edition of Level 1 Safeguarding Children and Young People elearning has been produced especially for non-clinical staff. The new edition achieves the same learning outcome, but uses less graphic imagery more appropriate for non-clinical staff.

Safeguarding Children and Young People is an elearning resource designed to help protect children and young people from harm. It helps healthcare providers ensure their teams are up to date with the issues surrounding child protection.

The elearning meets the statutory training requirements of Section 11 of the Children Act and is delivered by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in partnership with elearning for healthcare.

It is available in 20-30 minute bite-sized sessions that can be accessed either from work or at home. The elearning covers two levels:

Level 1 – Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People

• A single session that covers the knowledge and competencies required for Level 1 Safeguarding. This includes recognition of the four types of child abuse and the appropriate actions healthcare staff need to take if they are concerned a child is being abused or neglected.
  Level 1 (version 2) for non-clinical staff is now available.

Level 2 – Recognition, Response and Reporting

• Three sessions that cover the knowledge and competencies required for Level 2 Safeguarding. This includes recognising child abuse, being able to document cause for concern, knowing who to inform and understanding the next steps in the child and young person protection process.

To find out more visit Safeguarding Children and Young People.

A free and comprehensive online resource supporting specialist training in sexual health and HIV was officially launched in April 2010.

eHIV-STI, elearning for Sexual Health and HIV, has been developed by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) in partnership with the Royal Colleges of Physicians and DH elearning for healthcare.

It has been designed to reflect the UK sexual health and HIV specialist medical training curriculum and is suitable for all those involved in treating and supporting people with sexually transmitted infections.

eHIV-STI offers engaging and interactive elearning sessions which provide an extensive knowledge base for all STIs and HIV. It also covers related specialties such as dermatology, infectious diseases and gynaecology and is relevant for primary care professionals. Written and reviewed by subject matter experts the material is delivered at three levels: introductory, advanced and specialist.

Dr Jackie Sherrard, Clinical Project Lead said, ‘With increasing numbers of healthcare professionals involved in the management of STIs, it is important that we continue to provide quality innovative education and training resources. eHIV-STI is one such resource that we are proud to offer. It is an essential knowledge framework written by senior clinicians and provides flexible learning to fit in with busy working schedules. Furthermore, the elearning can be supplemented in day-to-day practice to reinforce the skills and attitudes necessary for delivering a first class patient service.’

eHIV-STI was launched at the Second Joint Conference of BASHH with the British HIV Association on 22 April 2010.

For more information on the elearning visit https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/sexual-health-and-hiv or email HIV-STI.support@e-lfh.org.uk.

e-Endoscopy was successfully launched at the Annual British Society of Gastroenterology meeting in Liverpool in March 2010.

Developed by the Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) and elearning for healthcare, e-Endoscopy is a web-based interactive resource available to all NHS users.

The content is designed to support all aspects of endoscopy skills training and practice from the novice to the independent endoscopist and sub-specialty training. There is also a dedicated course for the nurse endoscopy assistant. Users have unlimited access to the courses and sessions within them, which offer comprehensive, formative and interactive learning.

e-Endoscopy provides users with both base knowledge and revision material. It is integrated into the new e-portfolio for endoscopy and is easily accessible via the JAG and the JAG Endoscopy Training System (JETS) websites.

A variety of sessions within the initial Foundation course, and Basic Upper GI and Basic Lower GI courses are now available. Information about access is available on the website at https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/endoscopy. New sessions will continue to be released throughout the year and all course content is due to be completed in 2012.

Professor Roger Barton, JAG Chairman, said, ‘This excellent project with its award-winning lineage will bring the essential knowledge that all high quality endoscopists need to the desktop. With modules for endoscopy nurses too, the easy-to-use content and integrated assessments are relevant and current, having been written by endoscopists for endoscopists. If only it had been around when I was learning endoscopy.’

A downloadable user guide is available to provide help and advice. It covers areas relating to initial registration and log on, through to ideas about integrating the e-Endoscopy learning material into endoscopy training.

Anyone who is interested in becoming involved in developing the content or is already involved in endoscopy is encouraged to register and use the educational material provided.

For further information and registration, visit https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/endoscopy.

Two new elearning sessions covering memory loss in older people and dementia are now available to all primary care professionals via e-GP, elearning for General Practice.

The two sessions, Memory Problems in Older People and Care of People with Dementia are the latest additions to e-GP, a comprehensive programme of elearning modules relevant to UK general practice. Written by experienced clinicians, the elearning uses case studies, animation and interactive exercises. Each session takes around 20 minutes to complete.

• Memory Problems in Older People looks at how to assess memory problems and the differential diagnoses. The session also advises learners on how to investigate memory problems and understand the role of memory enhancing medication.
• Care of People with Dementia recognises the impact of dementia on the health of the nation. The session describes the issues particular to the management of people from driving to end of life care. The session also provides guidance on the use of major tranquilisers for patients with advanced dementia.

The release of these two new sessions coincides with the first anniversary of the National Dementia Strategy. Launched in February 2009 the first ever National Dementia Strategy set out initiatives designed to increase awareness of dementia, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and radically improve the quality of care that people with the condition receive.

Dr Ben Riley, Project Clinical Lead for e-GP said, ‘The UK has an ageing population and, going forward, the care of older people will make up a higher proportion of the general practitioner’s workload. Caring for older people presents certain challenges and, in general practice, we have an important role to play in helping to improve the care of older people.

‘These new e-GP sessions tackle some of the key issues that primary care professionals face when dealing with dementia and memory loss. The content has been written by subject specialists so learners can be confident they are benefiting from quality assured elearning and the easy to use sessions can be easily fitted around busy working schedules.’

e-GP has been developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners in partnership with elearning for healthcare and is suitable for doctors in specialty training for general practice, general practitioners, and general practice nurses and practice managers. It now offers over 200 sessions covering a broad range of topics from child and adolescent health, safeguarding children and young people, evidence-based practice, women’s health, sexual health, musculoskeletal problems and learning disabilities.

For further information and details on how to access the elearning visit www.e-GP.org.

e-Audiology, a new elearning resource for the audiology workforce, was officially launched on 11 November during a special event in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the Audiology Advisory Board.

e-Audiology is delivered in partnership by the Department of Health and elearning for healthcare. It will play a key role in supporting the Department of Health’s National Audiology Programme by helping those working within audiology services to provide essential care for their patients.

e-Audiology covers pathway support, primary care referral and service transformation. It will provide support and continuing professional development for: assistant and associate audiologists; audiologists; GPs; GP practice staff; and other healthcare professionals and volunteers.

The e-Audiology learning content was written and quality assured by leading audiology professionals and the curriculum is intended to enhance current methods of delivering training.

The launch was attended by a number of audiology clinical champions and clinical consultants along with key members of the Department of Health. Attendees were given the opportunity to view sample elearning sessions and speak to the team involved with creating e-Audiology.

Clinical champion for e-Audiology, Adrian Davis OBE, attended the launch and said:

“e-Audiology is an ideal resource for supporting and improving NHS audiology pathways, particularly those delivered by audiology assistants and support practitioners. The project provides an interactive learning environment which promotes maximum educational gain for users.”

Professor Sue Hill with Nick Johnson (left),Adam Crowley and Paul Jabore at the launch of e-Audiology

For more information on e-Audiology visit https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/audiology.