Developed by the Practitioner Performance Advice Education service at NHS Resolution, Compassionate Conversations supports organisations to approach performance conversations with empathy, self-awareness, and a focus on psychological safety. The programme equips staff with practical tools and strategies to hold constructive, compassionate conversations in challenging and complex situations.
Delivered through a Train the Trainer model, the programme equips a multidisciplinary cohort of facilitators to deliver Compassionate Conversations within their own organisations. Organisations are supported to build internal capability by developing local facilitators who can cascade and embed the learning across their workforce, helping to create a sustainable approach to compassionate conversations.
We have delivered Compassionate Conversations across a number of organisations, supporting leaders and teams to develop the confidence, skills and approaches needed to navigate conversations around performance concerns in a compassionate and human way. Learning from programme delivery has consistently demonstrated the importance of compassion-led dialogue in building psychological safety, strengthening working relationships and supporting positive outcomes for colleagues and organisations.
Our experience suggests that the programme is particularly effective when organisations take a multidisciplinary approach to implementation. This includes engaging senior leaders, clinical managers and colleagues from different professional backgrounds within the trainer cohort, supported by a clear plan for cascading learning across the organisation. Aligning Compassionate Conversations with existing leadership, culture, civility and wellbeing initiatives can also help maximise impact and support long-term sustainability.
We are continuing to refine and develop the programme using participant feedback, evaluation findings and emerging best practice, ensuring the learning remains relevant and impactful for healthcare organisations across the UK. This programme is now available nationally for organisations seeking to embed compassionate conversations as part of their leadership and culture development initiatives.
Programme model
The Compassionate Conversations offer includes:
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- A delegate pre-workshop workbook
- A half-day facilitated workshop for delegates
- A full-day Train the Trainer session
Participation is free of charge. Trainers are supported with comprehensive materials to cascade the learning within their organisations, aligning it to local priorities.
Commitment for participating organisations
Organisations taking part in this phase are asked to commit to:
- Trainer selection – identifying suitable individuals to attend Train the Trainer
- Planning matrix – completing and returning the Compassionate Conversations planning matrix within three months of joining
- Schedule of events – delivering the pre-work, delegate workshop, and Train the Trainer session within an agreed six-week timeframe
- Project evaluation – contributing to programme evaluation through surveys at delegate and organisational levels (pre-/post-workshop, 3, 6 and 12 months)
Find out more
If your organisation is interested in taking part, or would like to discuss how Compassionate Conversations could support your local strategy, please contact the Advice Education Team at nhsr.adviceeducation@nhs.net.
You can also visit our dedicated FutureNHS platform page to access resources, programme updates, and a shared space for organisations and trainers involved in the programme.
We will continue to share learning and evaluation findings as the programme develops, paving the way for a refined national roll-out.
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