Duty of Candour - NEW

Duty of Candour Online Training

Develop the knowledge and confidence needed to apply the Duty of Candour principles within healthcare and social care settings across the UK.

This Duty of Candour Online Training course is designed for healthcare professionals, care staff, support workers, managers, and registered professionals who are responsible for maintaining openness, honesty, and transparency when things go wrong in care delivery.

The course supports safer healthcare environments by improving communication, incident response, documentation, governance, and patient trust.

Online Duty of Candour Training for Healthcare Staff

This online Duty of Candour training module helps healthcare workers understand legal and professional responsibilities relating to candour, notifiable safety incidents, communication with patients and families, and organisational learning.

The course focuses on recognising incidents, delivering compassionate apologies, completing compliant documentation, and supporting continuous improvement within healthcare services.

Who Should Complete This Course?

This course is suitable for:

• Nurses
• Healthcare Assistants
• Support Workers
• Senior Carers
• Care Home Staff
• Clinical Support Staff
• Allied Healthcare Professionals
• Managers and Team Leaders
• Registered Healthcare Professionals
• Agency Healthcare Workers
• Any healthcare worker involved in patient care or incident management

Course Duration

• Approximately 1 hour online learning
• Self-paced training
• Accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile
• 1 CPD point awarded
• Certificate issued on successful completion
• 6 months access from the date of purchase

Course Aim

The aim of this course is to provide healthcare staff with the knowledge and understanding required to apply the Duty of Candour correctly, communicate openly and compassionately with patients and families, and support safe, transparent healthcare practice.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the course learners will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and principles of the Duty of Candour
• Recognise legal and professional responsibilities relating to candour
• Identify notifiable safety incidents and harm thresholds
• Apply the Duty of Candour process from recognition through to closure
• Deliver clear, compassionate apologies and difficult conversations
• Complete compliant documentation and written follow-up records
• Understand the differences between UK nation-specific candour frameworks
• Support organisational learning, governance, and quality improvement
• Maintain accurate records suitable for audit and inspection purposes
• Promote openness, trust, and accountability within healthcare settings

Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Candour

Understand the purpose and importance of candour within healthcare and social care.

Topics include:

• Principles of candour
• Importance of openness and honesty
• Risks associated with poor candour
• Patient trust and safety
• Candour within quality governance

Module 2: Legal and Professional Duties

Learn about the legal and professional responsibilities relating to candour.

Topics include:

• Organisational responsibilities
• Professional codes of conduct
• Escalation and reporting pathways
• Accountability within healthcare settings
• Consequences of non-compliance

Module 3: Recognising Notifiable Safety Incidents

Develop knowledge of identifying incidents that require formal candour processes.

Topics include:

• Unexpected or unintended incidents
• Harm classification categories
• Severe and moderate harm
• Psychological harm recognition
• Threshold decision-making and rationale

Module 4: The Candour Process Step by Step

Learn how to manage the candour process effectively and professionally.

Topics include:

• Planning the first conversation
• Agreeing communication arrangements
• Providing follow-up information
• Conducting safety reviews
• Involving patients and families
• Closing incidents appropriately

Module 5: Saying Sorry Well

Develop communication skills for difficult conversations and apologies.

Topics include:

• Delivering compassionate apologies
• Verbal and non-verbal communication
• Managing emotional responses
• Communicating uncertainty honestly
• Supporting bereaved families
• Communication adjustments for vulnerable individuals

Module 6: Templates and Documentation

Understand how to maintain accurate and compliant candour records.

Topics include:

• Incident triage documentation
• First conversation records
• Follow-up letters and update logs
• Action plans and learning records
• Audit and inspection standards
• Record keeping requirements

Module 7: UK Nations and Legal Frameworks

Explore differences in candour requirements across the UK.

Topics include:

• England candour requirements
• Scotland candour requirements
• Wales candour requirements
• Northern Ireland frameworks
• Cross-border care considerations
• Reporting and oversight differences

Module 8: Governance, Learning, and Assurance

Learn how organisations use candour to improve patient safety and service quality.

Topics include:

• Learning from incidents
• Monitoring improvement actions
• Governance dashboards
• Quality assurance processes
• Patient feedback and engagement
• Integration with incident review systems

Assessment and Certification

Learners will complete an end of course assessment to test their understanding of Duty of Candour principles, incident recognition, communication, documentation, and governance responsibilities.

Upon successful completion, learners will receive a Duty of Candour Online Training certificate.

CPD Information

• 1 CPD point awarded
• Supports Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) continuing professional development requirements

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) CPD Requirements

It is necessary to complete 35 hours of relevant CPD within the three-year period since your last registration renewal or since joining the register.

Of these 35 hours, a minimum of 20 hours should be dedicated to participatory learning, involving activities that facilitate interaction with other professionals.

Why Choose This Course?

• Flexible online learning
• Designed specifically for healthcare and social care settings
• Supports safer and more transparent healthcare practice
• Improves confidence in difficult conversations and apologies
• Helps organisations meet legal and regulatory expectations
• Strengthens governance and patient safety awareness
• Instant certification on completion

Additional Information

If you need more information about this course, please contact Train Healthcare directly:

Telephone: 0208 3266 704
Email: contact@trainhealthcare.com

Please note that refunds are not available for online training purchases.

Enrol Online Today

Strengthen your understanding of openness, accountability, and patient safety with Duty of Candour Online Training today.