Clinical Skills

There is a variety of clinical skills training available to clinical staff. Before booking a place on the course, please read the course description to ensure the training is suitable for you role.

​The Trust has committed significant funding into the development of the education and training offer. Some courses may have restrictions, including which staff groups can attend and that a learning contract must be signed by you and your manager before you can book onto the course.

You can find further information regarding the learning contract and a copy of the contract itself in the CPD section of this website.

Course content

The course aims to teach how to recognise the deteriorating patients using the ABCDE approach and how to care for these patients.

Target audience

The ALERT course is targeted at qualified nurses, nursing associates, physios and junior doctors.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered face to face in a classroom.

Pre-course requirements

Delegates need to collect a course manual for pre course reading.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
Tuesday 6 May 2025 09:00 – 16:30 Training Room A & B, Bedford Borough Hall
Friday 11 July 2025 09:00 – 16:30 Training Room A & B, Bedford Borough Hall
Tuesday 14 October 2025 09:00 – 16:30 Training Room B & C, Bedford Borough Hall

Booking instructions

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

Course content

This training is aimed at CSWs to provide them with the knowledge to use the A, B, C, D approach for assessing patients.

Target audience

The BEACH course is targeted at Clinical Support Workers / Health Care Assistants.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered face to face in a classroom.

Pre-course requirements

Delegates need to collect a course manual for pre course reading.

Course dates

Luton:

Date Time Venue
Tuesday 22 April 2025 08:30 – 16:00 COMET, Room 5, Luton
Friday 20 June 2025 08:30 – 16:00 COMET, Room 5, Luton
Tuesday 19 August 2025 08:30 – 16:00 COMET, Room 5, Luton
Friday 24 October 2025 08:30 – 16:00 COMET, Room 5, Luton
Tuesday 16 December 2025 08:30 – 16:00 COMET, Room 5, Luton

Bedford:

Date Time Venue
Monday 14 April 2025 10:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Tuesday 17 June 2025 10:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Tuesday 9 September 2025 10:00 – 16:00 Training Room A, Bedford Borough Hall
Tuesday 11 November 2025 10:00 – 16:00 Training Room A, Bedford Borough Hall

Booking instructions

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

Course content

These courses will provide qualified nurses with the knowledge and understanding to perform the catheterisation procedure on male or female patients. Catheter care training will cover the technique, precaution and complications.

Target audience

This training is open to all qualified nurses and nursing associates.

Course delivery

This training will be delivered face to face in a classroom.

Pre-course requirements

Catheterisation pre-learning must be completed on ClinicalSkills.net

Course dates

Date Time Venue
Wednesday 14 May 2025 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Wednesday 4 June 2025 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Wednesday 3 September
2025		 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Wednesday 5 November
2025		 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Wednesday 3 December
2025		 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall
Wednesday 11 February
2026		 14:00 – 16:00 Training Room C, Bedford Borough Hall

Booking instructions

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

Course content

The aim of the course is to teach the theoretical elements of care of enteral and parenteral nutrition; nurse responsibilities with oral food and hydration, detection of malnutrition and giving medications through enteral feeding tubes. The objectives of the day are to cover insertion and care of nasogastric feeding and PEG tubes; care of patients with a jejunostomy or naso-jejunal feeding tubes and those caring for patients on Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).

Target audience

Luton site – Registered Nurses; Nutrition and Hydration Champions (Link Nurses), 2nd and 3rd Year Student Nurses working on adult wards. It can be used as an initial training course or as a refresher day.

Course delivery

This training will be delivered face to face.

Pre-course requirements

Attendees must read the CG437 Nasogastric tube Clinical Guideline prior to course attendance.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
Thursday 24 April 2025 08:30 – 16:30 Fountain Suite, Luton
Thursday 17 July 2025 08:30 – 16:30 COMET – Room 5, Luton
Thursday 16 October 2025 08:30 – 16:30 COMET – Room 5, Luton
Thursday 27 November 2025 08:30 – 16:30 Fountain Suite, Luton

Booking instructions

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

These sessions will cover:

  • The role of the IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor)
  • Discussing the ‘Think Family’ approach
  • Signs to look out for
  • How to raise concerns and how to refer.

This training is targeted at qualified nurses and nursing associates. Practical training to gain confidence in application using Wound Models where delegates will be able to have hands on practice using 3M VAC Therapy.

  • VAC Theory
  • Mechanisms of action
  • Foam selection
  • Contraindications of using the therapy
  • Precautions when using the therapy
  • Sensatrac technology overview

This training will provide healthcare will provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills and understanding about PICO dressing application, management
and device operation.

This course is aimed at RN’s, Year 3 student nurses, TNA’s and NA’s. This course is split over 2 modules. You should complete both components to be competent.

Wound assessment and infection:

  • Diabetic Foot Ulcers
  • Vascular Wounds
  • Red Legs
  • Leg Ulcers
  • Specialist Dressings
  • Referral Guidelines
  • Pressure Ulcers and Moisture Damage
  • Wound Care Formulary

The training will provide guidance to support staff to complete the Mental Capacity / Best Interest tool as downloaded from the Intranet.

The MCA, Best Interest Decisions and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards session will cover:

  • The MCA 2005
  •  The key principles of the MCA 2005
  • How the code affects practice relating to the MCA
  • The best interests principles
  • How & when the MCA protects health carers from liability
  • How the deprivation of the liberties (DoL) affects care practice
  • Responsibilities in relation to MCA/BI & DOLS

Course content

This is a great opportunity for all ward staff: qualified nursing staff, assistant practitioners, healthcare assistants and allied healthcare professionals to learn more and update themselves about diabetes management from admission to discharge. This study day is full of information on a day to day care of patients with diabetes in the ward to deliver evidence based care for patient safety and increase patient satisfaction and have a positive patient experience.

Target audience

Registered Nurses , HCAs, AHPs.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered face to face.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
18 March 2025 09:30 – 16:30 Diabetes Seminar Room
20 May 2025 09:30 – 16:30 Diabetes Seminar Room
15 July 2025 09:30 – 16:30 Diabetes Seminar Room
16 September 2025 09:30 – 16:30 Diabetes Seminar Room
18 November 2025 09:30 – 16:30 Diabetes Seminar Room

Booking instructions

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

Course content

The study day provides information to support those delivering this essential element of care. The day will demonstrate the importance of food and hydration throughout the patients’ stay in hospital; MUST screening and action planning for those at risk of malnutrition, safe feeding techniques, the role of the Multidisciplinary Team in good quality food and nutritional care and how to care for patients with feeding tubes.

Target audience

Luton site – Health Care Assistants; Support Workers and 1st and 2nd year Student Nurses working on adult wards and directly involved in providing food, hydration and assistance at mealtimes. It can be used as an initial course or refresher day.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered face to face.

Pre-course requirements

You must complete the e-learning prior to attending this course.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
Tuesday 15 July 2025 09:00 – 16:00 Room 5, Luton
Tuesday 21 October 2025 09:00 – 16:00 Room 5, Luton
Tuesday 18 November 2025 09:00 – 16:00 Fountain Suite, Luton

To book onto this course, please visit ESR or email the training team.

 

Course content

To understand:

  • Routine full blood count results
  • Clinical physiology of the haematological system
  • Routine biochemistry tests and electrolyte and water homeostasis
  • Physiology of liver and cardiac enzymes
  • Clinical implications of results

Target audience

This course is aimed at nurses, midwives and AHPs.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered online over 2 days via Zoom.

Pre-course requirements

You must book this course with CPD and be 100% compliant with statutory mandatory training.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
6 and 7 May 2025 09:15 – 16:30 Online

Booking instructions

Please email your interest to CPD@bedsft.nhs.uk

Course content

Systematic approach to the unwell patient – Cardiac emergencies, respiratory emergencies, Neurological emergencies, sepsis, poisoning, acute diabetic episodes and more.

Target audience

This course is aimed at nurses, midwives and AHPs.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered online over 2 days via Zoom.

Pre-course requirements

You must book with CPD and be 100% compliant with statutory mandatory training.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
14 and 15 July 2025 09:15 – 16:30 Online

Booking instructions

To book, please email CPD@bedsft.nhs.uk

Course content

Course participants will gain a better understanding of patients presenting with self harm and suicidal thoughts.

After completion of the course, you will be able to identify risks and assist patients by providing appropriate care and support, referring them to the correct services for ongoing treatment.

  • What is self harm?
  • How to identify and assess self harm.
  • Risk assessment and care for self harm patients.
  • Differences and similarities of self harm and suicide.
  • How to assess suicidal thoughts.
  • How to support the suicidal patient.
  • Referral process and providing support with a care service provision in your area.
  • To know what self harm and suicide is and who they affect.
  • To know what types of self harm there are and their causes.
  • To know what can be done to help and support people who self harm or have suicidal ideation.
  • To be aware of useful interventions for working with people who self harm.

Target audience

Registered Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals.

Course delivery

This course will be delivered online for one day.

Pre-course requirements

You must book with CPD and be 100% compliant with statutory mandatory training. Must have study leave approved and protected.

Course dates

Date Time Venue
27 June 2025 9:15 – 16:30 Virtual

Booking instructions

To book, please email CPD@ldh.nhs.uk

Please refer to the Healthcare Conferences website for more information.

Please email your requirements to CPD@bedsft.nhs.uk. You will then be sent instructions on how to book using a pre-paid token.

The aim of this drop-in is for the learner to have an understanding of why a stoma is formed, the different types of stomas and practical elements of stoma care. Please contact Debra.Schrader@bedsft.nhs.uk to find out available dates for the drop-in sessions.

This course will cover topics such as:

  • The ethics of artificial nutrition
  • Care and insertion of NG tubes
  • Jejunostomies
  • Gastrostomy tubes including, PEG, BGT and MIC buttons
  • TPN training

Hosted by the Transfusion Practitioners.

 

ClinicalSkills.net is the best online educational resources in the UK to support training and best practice in clinical skills. It’s currently used in around 200 NHS trusts, UK universities, councils, care homes, private healthcare providers and training organisations.

When you subscribe to ClinicalSkills.net, you get access to more than 380 fully illustrated step-by-step guidelines on clinical skills. More than that, our content stays very up to date, with a rolling programme of reviewing and updating.

The range of content is enormous, covering:

  • Adult Nursing
  • Children’s Nursing
  • HCA’s
  • Primary Care
  • Moving and Handling
  • Carers

ClinicalSkills.net is evidence based (where evidence exists) and double-blind peer reviewed. Plus, it’s full of links to allow you to read around the subject or lay your hands on vital national guidance when you need it.

Contact CPD@bedsft.nhs.uk for further information on how to enrol.