Employee training

Here you can find information about booking workshops or webinars for your organisation. Check your contract to confirm how many workshops are included.

Download the workshop and webinar booklet.

We also regularly run free public events and webinars. You can find all our previously recorded webinars and upcoming events here.

45 minutes
Available via Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or face-to-face.

Aim of the training:
To understand how the Compassionate Employers Programme will run throughout the year, what makes a compassionate culture and how to utilise the programme benefits within your organisation.

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
• Confidently explain how the programme can support employees across your organisation
• Define together what a compassionate culture means to you
• Identify ways to effectively promote and utilise the programme in your organisation
90 minutes
Up to 16 participants as a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Up to 100 participants as a webinar.

This informative and interactive workshop is recommended for all staff, particularly those with limited previous workplace experience of bereavement. Aims to introduce the concept of grief, increase understanding, and explore the potential impact of bereavement in the workplace using grief factors and beginner-friendly case studies.

Aim of the training:
• Provide an introduction to the effects of bereavement on a person and its impact on the workplace
• Highlight compassionate ways to support a bereaved colleague
• Improve confidence in signposting a bereaved colleague

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
• Explain common effects of grief and bereavement on a person
• Explain the impact of grief and bereavement in the workplace
• Identify various support options for a bereaved colleague • Identify support organisations for bereaved people
90 minutes
Up to 16 participants as a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Up to 100 participants as a webinar.

This informative and interactive workshop is recommended for line managers, HR staff and Mental Health First Aiders.
This session builds upon existing knowledge of bereavement at work for those who may have previous experience in supporting a bereaved colleague. This workshop focuses on increasing your employees’ understanding of bereavement, its impact on someone and their workplace, and how best to support them at work. Includes complex case studies which may be triggering for some participants, such as suicide and death in service.

Aim of the training:
• Build upon an existing understanding of bereavement, its’ effects on a person and its impact on the workplace
• Increase understanding of psychological theories related to grief, including the dual-process model
• Improve confidence in providing 1:1 support to the bereaved in the workplace, including in complex cases

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
• Confidently explain the effects of different forms of grief in the workplace
• Apply theories of grief and loss in the capacity of your role
• Have a greater understanding of support needs for bereaved employees
• Identify appropriate responses and support for complex grief cases
90 minutes
Up to 16 participants as a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Up to 100 participants as a webinar.

This practical, interactive workshop is recommended for line managers and HR staff.
This session enables employees to effectively and compassionately support colleagues who have a life-limiting illness and/or are working carers. The session helps participants identify concerns employees may have, potential support needs and workplace impact. Participants will walk away with greater awareness, practical support knowledge, and signposting information.

Aim of the training:
To enable employees to effectively and compassionately support colleagues who have a life-limiting condition or who are caring for someone with a life-limiting condition.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
• Explain some of the concerns a colleague may have about working with an illness or working with caring responsibilities
• Discuss a range of practical support a compassionate employer could offer an employee with a terminal illness or with caring responsibilities
• Initiate and/or participate in conversations about illness or caring with greater confidence
• Identify appropriate signposting to further support
90 minutes
Up to 16 participants as a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Up to 100 participants as a webinar.

This practical and interactive workshop is recommended for line managers, support staff and frontline staff with customer-facing roles. However, all levels of staff will find this session useful.
This session focuses on managing difficult conversations around grief, caring or illness with compassion. This workshop blends theoretical knowledge with real life examples, role-playing and participant discussion.

Aim of the training:
• To explore the factors that make a conversation difficult at work
• To provide tools and strategies to manage conversations compassionately
• To promote self-awareness of our communication style
• To provide an opportunity to practice conversations and receive feedback

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
• Use a variety of approaches to help navigate difficult topics with a focus on compassion
• Explain the skills and behaviours which create a compassionate communication style
• Identify your communication style, strengths and opportunities for development
90 minutes
Up to 16 participants as a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Up to 100 participants as a webinar.
This practical and interactive workshop is recommended for frontline staff who may experience high cases of loss in their roles. However, all levels of staff will find this session useful.
This workshop is aimed at supporting line managers and leaders of teams that may frequently experience loss in the workplace, such as care workers, customer service representatives or death in service teams.

Aim of the training:
- Define disenfranchised grief and its factors
- Understand how disenfranchised grief may impact an individual or workplace
- Provide guidance for supporting yourself and others
- Highlight support options available
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Explain the difference between disenfranchised grief and other forms of grief
- Explain the impact of disenfranchised grief on an employee and the workplace
- Identify ways to support employees and teams who are exposed to frequent loss
- Identify signposting options for further support

FAQ

How do I book a training session?

To book a session, please email the Compassionate Employers Team and include the following:

Organisation name
Title of the training(s)
Workshop or webinar style
Preferred date / time
Format - virtual (Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet) or face-to-face

You will then receive a confirmation email with further details.

What is the difference between a workshop and a webinar?

A workshop is an interactive training which is limited to 16 participants. This allows time for case studies, breakout groups and group discussion. A webinar allows for up to 100 participants, however, due to the number of attendees there is no smaller group work. The decision will ultimately come down to your training needs and organisation size.

What if I need more than two training sessions in the year?

If you would like to book more that two sessions, this can be purchased for an additional fee. Please contact the Compassionate Employers team for rates and more information.

How do I promote the session internally?

You can find full details of all workshops here. We recommend promoting the training 2-4 weeks beforehand.

If you require further support please contact your account manager, Faith or Cristina.

Your Compassionate Employers facilitators

Laura Barrett

Laura has worked at St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle upon Tyne since 2017, joining the organisation as a Senior Fundraiser and moving to the Bereavement team in September 2020 to take on a brand new role for the Hospice as Bereavement Support Worker, with a focus on digital developments.

Laura delivers St Oswald’s Grief, Loss and Bereavement training programme to organisations, helping them to manage bereavement in the workplace and to support staff and volunteers as they return back to work following a death. Her role involves developing and overseeing partnerships with other charities and businesses to develop a deeper understanding of loss, improve access to bereavement support and shape best practice.

She also provides 1 to 1 bereavement support to clients following the death of a loved one so has day to day experience with people grieving a loss and knowledge of the range of difficulties they face.

Your Compassionate Employers facilitators

Lucy Carpenter

Lucy joined as the Compassionate Employers Programme Lead in 2024. Lucy is a passionate Keynote Speaker, facilitator and storyteller. She completely transforms workplace cultures with compassionate leadership.

Lucy's personal experience allows her to talk with depth, compassion and understanding. Lucy envisions a world where all employers are equipped to advocate for and support employees through significant life moments. She has built the programme around three key pillars: greater visibility, education, and connection.