Nursing CPD courses
Our courses for nurses reflect the skills, expertise and awareness required to provide responsive, attuned care to patients, to support nurses in reflecting on and processing the impact of work and to implement change in a contemporary context in a sustained and meaningful way. Our training opportunities provide pathways for developing and improving clinical practice and workplace cultures and structures. Drawing on psycho-social theories our trainings are reflective, active and engaging.
Key areas include facilitation and group work skills for reflective practice, psychodynamic approaches to mental health care, wellbeing initiatives and psychological approaches to nursing care and identity.
All of our training has been adapted for online delivery in response to the current situation.
We are delighted about the recent announcement of investment in CPD training for nurses, midwives and AHP’s. We are able to offer all the courses below as part of the CPD training initiative, as well as many others that are being developed. If you have any suggestions, please do contact us at cpdevents@tavi-port.ac.uk

Our trainings offer opportunities to reflect on and learn about working with individuals, within teams and looking at the wider organisation. Nursing captures both the science (knowledge) of healthcare and also the heart and mind: the relationships, emotional contact, responsiveness and containment provided by nurses in all their roles. Our trainings enable nurses to develop knowledge, through evidence bases and theoretical models, and also to develop skills and understanding of the relational dynamics of work with patients, colleagues and within teams. This emphasis on reflective practice encourages an interest and curiosity in work that lasts beyond the trainings.
Claire Shaw, Consultant Nurse describes some of the training and learning opportunities that have been provided within the last year:
“We have worked with a number of teams and organisations from across London to develop and provide learning opportunities and training to nurses working within a broad range of services.
We have successfully run several cohorts of training in Facilitating Reflective Learning Groups, focusing specifically on the needs of newly registered nurses. The sessions have been successful in enabling nurses to develop their facilitation skills as well as developing their understanding of group processes. A recent study day for trainee Nursing Associates provided them with a lively and interactive day, developing their skills and understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication with patients and reflective approaches to work. Our ongoing Professional Development Programme for trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners provides a series of seminars and work discussion groups, supporting individuals in making the transition into a new professional role. We also held a Menzies Lyth Symposium which provided a stimulating day with a broad range of nurses attending with an interest in reviewing Menzies’ seminal paper in relation to contemporary nursing.
Drawing on the Tavistock’s long history of reflective and relational approaches to training, our study days, events and programmes focus on observation, experience and teaching to develop understanding and knowledge. This approach has been particularly relevant in the current context reflecting on the impact of changes, loss and developments within services and the relationships of nursing.”
As well as offering a number of online and in-house courses for nurses, we are also able to develop and provide customised training and reflective groups to teams and services externally. We are aware that many services and teams have been affected by recent events as the pandemic provoked experiences of change, development and loss in a sudden and disorienting way. Our bespoke training is able provide structure, content and process in which to begin to understand the impact and the ongoing needs of individuals and teams.
We are also able to provide reflective practice groups or work discussion groups to teams, or to offer supervision to those who currently facilitate these groups.
Courses or study days are available (and adaptable) based on the needs of the team or service, these may include taught sessions, reflective spaces or a combination of both. The subject areas, length, time and location of the training can be discussed, or alternatively you can base your training on one of our existing courses.
‘Reflective Mental Health Practice Today’ and ‘Nursing in Mind’ are two programmes that can be delivered directly or remotely and adapted to reflect teams’ needs and priorities.
If you would like to find out more, please contact our Continuing Education and Development Team and ask about our bespoke training - CPDevents@tavi-port.ac.uk
Our Nursing Courses
Reflective Practice Group for Facilitators
Reflective practice in groups is an invaluable opportunity for people to explore tricky issues in a supportive environment. It enables participants...
Facilitating Reflective Practice Groups Training
This short course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to establish and facilitate reflective practice groups in order...
Reflective mental health practice today
This is a ten-week short course for mental health nurses, that provides a valuable opportunity to develop skills and understanding in processing...
Psychodynamic reflective practice in mental health (D65)
This programme will be of interest and value to those who are interested in developing understanding and experience in applying psychoanalytic...
Well-being Initiative for Nurses (Parts One and Two)
In relation to the increased awareness of the need for staff well-being to be at the centre of healthcare services, we are offering two short...
Resilience-based Clinical Supervision for Nurses
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the Foundation of Nursing Studies have received funding from the Burdett Trust for Nursing to...Other courses of interest
Working with families with physical illness: a systemic approach
The care and support of children and adults affected by serious physical illness, disability and treatment regimes falls largely to their families.
Understanding trauma: principles and practice (D18)
This course offers a supportive and lively setting in which to gain a deeper understanding of the impact on the mind of traumatic events as...
Working With and Facilitating Groups
This course is aimed at staff from a range of disciplines and teams currently facilitating a group or with the aspiration to start and facilitate a...
Consulting and leading in organisations: psychodynamic and systemic approaches (D10)
Validated by the University of Essex this course will develop you as a leader, consultant or manager by giving you a fuller understanding of the...
What our previous course attendees have said
“I really enjoyed the course. The pace of the subject matter, the tutors were supportive and know how to engage learners. There is a lot to take away and implement in my Trust”
“The course was almost faultless! My attention was maintained throughout. Trainers were warm welcoming and inclusive. I have learnt a lot.”
“The atmosphere from the outset was inspiring, enabling and conducive to learning.”
“It was encouraging to share experiences and to be actively involved in discussions”
“I am more able to stop and think before acting.”
“The theory learning helped me develop a greater understanding of the approach and the opportunity to practice these skills has meant I’m much more confident in taking it into practice”
“The programme offers a safe, reflective space to enable nurses from a range of backgrounds and specialities to be curious about practice related topics and themes and their impact on thoughts, feelings and behaviours.”