Quality Improvement Workshops Conclude for 2025 with Practical Tools for Leads
It is that time again when we get to highlight the final Workshops of the year. Throughout 2025, the Workshops, Virtual Networks, in-person Networks, and advanced care planning sessions, aimed to increase staff understanding of the ethos of palliative care, looking at the importance of advanced care planning in the nursing home setting, the levels of palliative care, and understanding the Caru Review Process.
We kick off by highlighting the fantastic work undertaken by Regional Lead, Mary Fahy, in CHO3. In 2025, a total of nineteen nursing homes took part in the Caru Workshops in CHO3 (Clare, Limerick, and North Tipp). The uptake across the nineteen nursing homes reflected strong commitment from staff and senior management to help build on and improve communication at end of life for residents and families. Feedback from participants highlighted improved clarity around the impact of meaningful discussions of advanced care planning with nursing home residents, creating a strengthened culture of person-centred care. Overall, Caru has contributed to staffs learning around compassion, respect, and dignity for their residents in the nursing home.
In CHO5, the final round of Caru Quality Improvement Workshops for 2025 concluded in November, marking the completion of sixteen Workshops delivered across the region. These sessions reached thirty-three nursing homes and resulted in 153 newly qualified Caru Leads in the region. Participants gained the skills to facilitate death reflections, focusing on what went well and identifying areas for change within their own organisations.
The insights gathered from these reflections are directly shaping change projects within nursing homes, led by Caru Leads/Groups. This work is helping to embed sustainable improvements in care practices, ensuring that lessons learned translate into meaningful, lasting enhancements for residents and staff alike.
These workshops have equipped programme leads with practical tools to enhance resident-centred care, strengthen communication skills—particularly in the context of advanced care planning—recognise the different levels of palliative care, and effectively utilise the Palliative Care Needs Assessment (PCNA) to support nursing homes in delivering high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
To support ongoing progress, a pilot drop-in clinic launched on December 10th, providing accessible guidance for all leads from organisations that have completed the programme. This offers an opportunity to Caru leads/Groups a platform to discuss challenges, share insights, and receive advice on embedding sustainable improvements.
In CHO2, Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon sent a second group of twelve staff to complete the Caru Workshops in October, and Sarah McDonald, Regional Lead for CHO, had the pleasure of leading Workshops across the region in seven nursing homes. Staff engagement and participation was excellent, and it was inspiring to witness the genuine respect and dedication they show toward their residents every day. A particular emphasis was placed on how to conduct a quality improvement, exploring the key steps involved in planning and implementing a successful QI project. We look forward to seeing what QI projects are produced in 2026!
Finally, we want to extend a congratulations to staff from Earlsbrook House, Belmont House, and Blainroe nursing homes who completed Caru Workshops this month. Participants demonstrated strong engagement and enthusiasm throughout the training.
These Workshops are crucial in enhancing the skills and knowledge needed to provide the highest level of palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care, ensuring a positive impact on both staff development and resident and family well-being.
Recruitment for 2026 Workshops is well underway across all CHO areas, and spaces are filling up fast! If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, now’s the time to secure your spot. Contact the Regional Lead for you CHO area now.