Free eLearning resources for clinicians working in mental health and emergency departments
The Life Beyond the Cubicle resources consist of a set of engaging, interactive modules and a training guide. They were developed to encourage clinicians to work well with families and friends to develop care and safety plans when someone is in an acute mental health crisis. In this way, the resources aim to improve patient care, avoid harm, and reduce deaths.
They are available free to health and social care professionals via the NHS England eLearning platform. NHS Trusts can download the modules and upload them to your own Learning and Development system.
Training the Trainers
Making Families Count is running a Training the Trainers course to support clinicians in using the Training Guide in learning groups. We can also provide bespoke training for your organisation using the Life Beyond the Cubicle handbook. For more information, please contact us.
Background and More Information
The project title Life Beyond the Cubicle emphasises the existence of individuals, families, and friends before and beyond consultations with healthcare professionals. Through short film and audio scenarios and case studies, Life Beyond the Cubicle shows why it is so important to involve family and friends, helps clinicians reflect on why they don’t do so routinely, and how they can overcome these barriers. The co-creation process used in developing the resources ensured that they are rooted in the lived experiences of patients, family carers and clinicians.
Modules
The eLearning materials consist of the following modules:
- Introduction (includes guidance on how to use this resource)
- Module 1: Why do families and friends matter?
- Module 2: Assumptions and expertise
- Module 3: Feelings and fears
- Module 4: Confidentiality and Information Sharing
- Module 5: Safety planning
- Resources for family and friends
Background
This project was developed in partnership with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and funded by NHS England SE Region (with HEE legacy funds).
Life Beyond The Cubicle‘s Co-Creation Group consisted of service users, family carers and clinicians. The project was supported by an Advisory Group, drawn from a wide range of expertise, tested in 11 NHS Trusts, and evaluated by Buckinghamshire New University.
The project coordinator was Dorit Braun, who has blogged about her experiences. Karen Lascelles led the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust contributions.
Testing and Evaluation
The resources were tested in the following NHS Trusts:
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Partnership Trust
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
- North London Mental Health NHS Partnership Trust
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Sussex County Hospital
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Margaret Rioga and Nicola Shepherd of the Institute of Health and Social Care at Buckinghamshire New University led an independent evaluation. They found that 90% of clinicians said the resources were relevant to their practice. And 77% said that they planned to make changes to how they worked with patients and carers as a result of working through the modules. Clinicians who tested them said they transformed how they think about family members and this improved care for patients, and supported their families, keeping everyone safer.
Endorsements
The Life Beyond the Cubicle resources have been endorsed by leading figures.
Dr Jane Blowers, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia:
I have been through these modules now, they are excellent and will definitely be useful in our teaching and learning activities. I have rated the modules on the ELF site as I have engaged with them. They will also provide students with evidence that they have completed a module which is great and the PDF guide which suggests how the modules/materials can be used, will be very helpful.
The material could be quite distressing to engage with and it is good and important that each module acknowledges this at the beginning and provides a sensitivity warning, I also think this needs to be reinforced with sign posting to local resources for support if/when these materials are used with students/apprentices
Positive features of these modules include:
- Clear aims
- The early focus on encouraging participants to think differently, with participants encouraged to reflectively explore their thoughts and feelings which arise in relation to the comprehensive material included throughout the module
- The service user voice/carers/families’ perspectives are powerfully portrayed using short video clips integrated with reflective activities
- Solutions/opportunities/alternative positive ways of working are identified and sign-posted throughout
- The challenges involved are honestly addressed
- There is an emphasis on support for healthcare professionals and self-care
- Modules end with a clear positive ‘take home’ message
- Sign-posting to resources is excellent
I am very grateful that you have brought these resources to my attention, and will be sharing/discussing these with my team in the future. Thank you!!
Dr Rachel Gibbons, Co-Chair Patient Safety Group, Chair Working Group on the Effect of Suicide and Homicide on Psychiatrists, Vice-Chair of the Psychotherapy Faculty:
Life Beyond the Cubicle is an invaluable resource and training that bridges the communication gap between families and mental health services. This well-developed tool is essential for clinicians, fostering thoughtful dialogue, and supporting reparative functioning after traumatic events. It is a vital step forward in mental health care, addressing a significant need in the field. All mental health services should engage with this transformative initiative.
You can find more reviews from leading figures here.