Why was SAGE & THYME training developed?
SAGE & THYME training was developed to bring the evidence-based skills (the secrets of listening and responding) into everyday practice for everyone in health and social care.
A small team of staff working in cancer and palliative care at the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust devised the workshop with a person with cancer in 2006. Its design was inspired by:
- The NICE Guidance in psychological support
- The published research in communications skills
It is different from advanced communication skills training which is designed for specialists (e.g. clinical nurse specialists, consultants).
SAGE & THYME training is the foundation training that everyone needs (including specialists).
In order to train many thousands of people, the workshop designers chose a short workshop (three hours), restricted the content (to just foundation level skills) and included 30 learners per workshop.
In order to maintain the quality and safety of the workshop, the designers insist on there being three qualified trainers in each workshop.
Since 2006, the SAGE & THYME Foundation Level workshop has been taught many thousands of times, as well as being updated several times and researched.
The SAGE & THYME Online workshop (equivalent to the SAGE & THYME Foundation Level workshop) was developed in 2020.
The train the trainer model (our SAGE & THYME facilitator course called ‘SATFAC’) has created pools of trainers in over 130 organisations over the last 13+ years.
SAGE & THYME training was originally developed by University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM).
UHSM merged with Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 1 October 2017 to form Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.