Training – Breaking Bad News
This Workshop is designed to give confidence to participants who may have to ‘Break Bad News’.
Breaking Bad News is often interpreted as having to tell a next of kin that their loved one has died. In most Western countries it is usual to expect either the Police or the Medical Services to carry out this challenging task. However, experience has shown that it often doesn’t turn out that way. It can fall to someone to unexpectedly have to Break Bad News in this way – the Police and Medical services do not have a monopoly, are often stretched and will encourage you to take on this task if you appear to be willing.
Alternatively it may be necessary for you or your colleagues to break the bad news to people who, although they aren’t close family, are still likely to be very upset.
The Workshop addresses the impact that shocking and sometimes frightening “Bad News” can have on the recipient. It also includes guidance on the on-going management of incidents following the breaking of “Bad News”.
The Workshop includes practical opportunities to practice the skills and knowledge learnt.
Who is this course helpful for?
The Breaking Bad News Workshop is most suitable for colleagues who are likely to have direct contact with people who are affected by a traumatic or tragic event and who are asking for information about close friends, family or colleagues.
The contact with the affected people may be over the telephone or face to face. It is unlikely to be via email, though this isn’t impossible.
Obvious candidates will be members of a Telephone Helpline team or members of a Travelling Team dedicated to incident management.
However, colleagues in some organisations, such as Senior Customer Services Representatives for Tour Operators based in Resort may find the skills and knowledge picked up in this Workshop to be very helpful in the course of their normal duties.
Human Resources staff have previously commented that they will have occasions when the skills learnt will be helpful.
Attending a Breaking Bad News Workshop is also likely to be helpful and informative for those managers who are likely to manage their organisation’s response to an incident, even though they may not expect to have direct contact with people affected by an incident.
The Workshop’s content is adjusted to make it relevant to the organisation receiving the training.
How will participants benefit from taking part in the Workshop?
- They will feel more confident in their ability to cope with having to deliver bad news and the subsequent reactions that they might encounter. They will also be more helpful to those distressed people
- They will learn what to say and do and, very importantly, what not to say and do when breaking bad news on behalf of their organisation
- What to be aware of and how they can look after themselves during the periods of increased pressure that often include the need to break bad news
Length of course
This Workshop is a half day Workshop as a standalone course.
Alternatively Breaking Bad News can be incorporated as a module within a Defusing Workshop or Telephone Defusing Workshop or as part of a Training course for members of a Travelling Team when the total course may be up to two or even three days long.
How many people should attend?
At Clarity we don’t impose a limit on numbers attending. However, when there are 15 or more participants we find there is less opportunity for everyone to interact, which reduces the benefit of an interactive Workshop such as this one.
Training activities used in the Workshop?
Trainer presentation, group discussion, small group work, video, role play
And finally…
No pre-Workshop preparation is required by the participants
Hand-outs, certificates of attendance and a short report containing a summary of participants’ feedback will be provided
- Defusing Workshop: This is one of Clarity’s most popular Workshops. 'Defusing' isn't a version of counselling and Defusers aren’t required to be trained health or social care professionals.
- Telephone Defusing Workshop: ‘Defusing’ is a term used to describe the skills and knowledge that will help you be supportive with people you may speak with on the telephone who have been affected by some traumatic or possibly tragic event.
- Defusing Workshop - Terrorism Related: A necessary version of our most popular Workshop. Acts of Terrorism can cause some characteristic reactions that it is helpful to be aware of if incidents of this kind are a major concern for your organisation. This Terrorism-Related Workshop will help your Defusers to be more confident when supporting people who have been affected by a traumatic or even tragic act of terrorism.
- Crisis Management Workshop : This one-day Workshop helps members of an Incident Management Team consider how their incident management planning and decisions should take account of the psychological impact of the incident on them, their colleagues, customers and others who are affected.
- Breaking Bad News: This Workshop is designed to give confidence to participants who may have to 'Break Bad News'.
- Scenario Based Exercises: These exercises are carefully designed to challenge only the elements of your Incident Management Plan that you want tested.
- Media Skills Workshop: Led by a highly experienced BBC journalist these Workshops are invaluable for anyone who might have to respond to media requests on behalf of your organisation.