Frailty Hub: Education and training

Published date

24 June 2020

Last updated

24 June 2020

Authors

BGS Clinical Quality Committee

British Geriatrics Society

Topic tags

Education, Training and Careers

Frailty

Here you can find links to our new frailty elearning module and other useful training materials.

The BGS has launched an elearning module on Frailty - identification and interventions which is available to view with or without accredited CPD (10 hours).

BGS members can access this material on a reference-only basis free of charge.

The module covers:

The definition of frailty
An explanation and review of frailty scales
The prevalence of frailty in different settings: community, care homes, acute admissions and inpatients
The theories underpinning the pathophysiology of frailty
Clinical presentation of frail older people
Adverse outcomes of frailty in different settings: community and inpatients
Evidence based interventions to improve outcomes for frail older people in a range of settings
Develop course participant's ability to articulate arguments to focus on the care of older people
Help course participant to employ a range of teaching techniques to influence colleagues behaviours to older people
Frailty Core Capabilities Framework (understanding tiers and articulate this when discussing frailty with other healthcare professionals, patients and family)
Review of an older persons' experience of living with Frailty and understand the patient's desired outcomes
Anticipatory care planning
Treatment
Language of frailty – for appropriate use in conversations with carers
Develop skills to be able to advocate for frail older people
Aid demonstration of experience with frailty pathways

To access the elearning module and view prices, please click here.

Frailty: A framework of core capabilities

This is a collaborative initiative by Health Education England, NHS England and Skills for Health which provides a single, consistent and comprehensive framework that sets out the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected of any person who is involved in the care and support for people living with frailty.

The framework comprises 14 capabilities, grouped into 4 domains:

Domain A: Understanding, identifying and assessing frailty
Domain B: Person-centred collaborative working
Domain C: Managing frailty
Domain D: Underpinning principles

Within these domains there are three different 'tiers of capabilities' based on the role on the individual in the care of people living with frailty:

Tier 1: Those that require general awareness of frailty
Tier 2: Health and social care staff and others who regularly work with people living with frailty.
Tier 3: Health, social care and other professionals who provide expert care and lead services for people living with frailty.

The resource can be accessed for free here.

Frailty elearning for excellence in frailty identification, assessment and personalised care

The London Clinical Network for Frailty in collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Wessex Academic Health Science Network have developed this elearning 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.

The programme is split into 3 Tiers (courses):

Tier 1
Tier 2a
Tier 2b

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.

The programme can be accessed for free here.

Click below to access slides from past BGS events covering topics which include frailty. You need to be a BGS member to view the slides.