Kendal College: Training Review

As part of their Adult Care programmes, learners at Kendal College recently took part in End of Life Care and Advance Care Planning training delivered by St Mary’s Hospice.
Emily Yates, Adult Care Lecturer at Kendal College, explains how the sessions have helped learners build their confidence, knowledge and skills to support people at the end of their lives.
Q. What is your role, and how have you worked with St Mary’s Hospice?
I’m an Adult Care Lecturer at Kendal College, teaching diploma and apprenticeship students working towards their Level 2 and Level 3 Adult Care qualifications.
We recently linked up with St Mary’s Hospice to provide additional enrichment for our learners, giving them a deeper understanding of what it means to be a carer and how best to meet the needs of the people they support. Our learners come from a range of care settings, including homecare, residential care and specialist learning disability services.
Q. What training did the learners take part in?
The learners accessed St Mary’s Hospice’s End of Life Care and Advance Care Planning training.
Q. What did you enjoy most about the sessions?
Both sessions were immensely valuable. One of the highlights was the facilitator, who made the training impactful, relatable and engaging throughout. She delivered the sessions with passion and empathy, while making the content as approachable as possible.
The learners gained a lot of new knowledge and understanding and have been able to take this into their roles, making a positive difference to the people they support.
Q. Why did you choose to train with St Mary’s Hospice?
St Mary’s Hospice has a strong reputation within our community and is known for its high levels of care. The opportunity to work with the hospice has also given us a valuable link with a local organisation and helped us keep our teaching connected to current practice.
Q. What did you personally take away from the training?
I gained a renewed understanding of how best to care for people at the end of their lives, as well as a much better understanding of Advance Care Planning and why it is so important.
Q. What would you say to someone considering this training?
The training gives you practical knowledge and a deeper understanding that you can take directly into your care role. It benefits not only learners and tutors, but ultimately the people we care for, helping us to provide compassionate, person-centred support at one of the most important times in someone’s life.

Train with us
Whether you’re starting your career in care, developing your professional skills, supporting a team, or looking for valuable training opportunities for students, St Mary’s Hospice can help you build the knowledge and confidence to make a real difference.
Or are you a college or university looking to enhance your students’ learning? Get in touch with our team to find out how we can work with you to provide meaningful, practical training in end-of-life care and advance care planning.