A team education project: an evaluation of a collaborative education and practice development in a continuing care unit for older people

The team education project aims to improve the impact of education on practice. The principles of this approach are that all clinical disciplines are involved and education activities are based in the practice area. This project took place in a continuing care unit for older people and the design was negotiated with staff in the unit. Bereavement was identified as the focus for the project. An education programme which combined information giving with reflective workshops was implemented and evaluated. Emerging findings reflect the complex nature of loss and bereavement in the continuing care unit. Staff adopted the term ‘living bereavement ’ to describe the reactions to the ongoing losses experienced by those living, working and visiting a continuing care unit. A core group of staff used the groups to reflect on practice and expand their understanding. Although the staff reported the groups were successful, it has been difficult to demonstrate any change in practice. A psychoanalytic approach to analyzing the organizational behaviour offered useful explanations relating to the difficulties in attempting change.