Advance Care Planning & Record Keeping Course

Advance Care Planning and Record Keeping – Online Course

Course overview
This online course explores advance care planning and the importance of maintaining accurate records of a person’s future care preferences and treatment decisions. Learners develop an understanding of relevant terminology, communication approaches, legal and ethical considerations, and the processes involved in creating, recording and sharing advance care plans. Designed for healthcare professionals involved in providing or coordinating care, the course takes approximately one hour to complete and is worth one CPD point.

Please note: This Level 2 course provides intermediate knowledge of advance care planning and record keeping. It does not replace any practical, regulated or role-specific training an employer may require.

What the course covers
• Introduction to advance care planning and record keeping
• Understanding advance care planning
• Introducing advance care planning discussions
• The Mental Capacity Act
• Key terms associated with advance care planning
• Legal considerations
• Validity and applicability of advance care decisions
• Limitations of advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRT)
• Treatment decisions when an ADRT is not in place
• The role of next of kin
• Considerations for healthcare staff
• Providing information to support decision-making
• Helping individuals make decisions
• Creating an advance care plan
• Legally binding advance decisions to refuse treatment
• Recording and sharing advance care plans

Who is it for?
This course is intended for healthcare professionals involved in providing, planning or coordinating care, particularly for people with complex medical needs or long-term conditions. It is suitable for:
• Doctors, general practitioners and medical specialists
• Nurses and nurse practitioners
• Allied health professionals, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists
• Social workers
• Care coordinators and case managers
• Healthcare professionals working in hospices and palliative care
• Professionals involved in care planning and management
• Staff undertaking induction, refresher training or knowledge enhancement

Practical benefits
• Develop a clearer understanding of advance care planning principles
• Improve awareness of legal and ethical considerations in future care decisions
• Support communication about an individual’s preferences and wishes
• Understand the importance of providing clear information to support informed decisions
• Recognise the roles and responsibilities involved in advance care planning
• Improve awareness of accurate documentation and record keeping
• Understand the importance of recording and sharing advance care plans appropriately
• Receive a free CPD-accredited certificate after successfully completing the assessment

What learners will be able to do
• Explain the key principles and terminology associated with advance care planning and record keeping
• Recognise the relevance of advance care planning in everyday healthcare practice
• Identify common concerns and situations relating to future care decisions
• Understand individual responsibilities and professional role boundaries
• Apply appropriate good-practice principles when supporting advance care planning
• Communicate effectively with relevant people during care planning discussions
• Recognise when advice, reporting or escalation may be needed
• Understand how advance care plans are created, recorded and shared
• Recognise the importance of respecting individual preferences and supporting informed decision-making

Is this training a legal requirement?
The course covers legal considerations relating to advance care planning, including the Mental Capacity Act, the validity and applicability of advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRT), and treatment decisions when an ADRT is not in place. It also explores the role of next of kin and the recording and sharing of advance care plans. The supplied information does not establish that completion of this specific course is a legal requirement.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online quiz after studying the course material. Unlimited assessment retakes are available. Upon successful completion, learners receive a free CPD-accredited certificate that can be downloaded or printed at home. A hard-copy certificate can also be requested. The course takes approximately one hour to complete, and access is provided immediately after purchase.