PPT3 A specialist palliative care services’ experience implementing a validated carers needs assessment tool for carers of patients with a palliative illness

<h3>Background</h3> The Carers Support Needs Assessment Tool intervention (CSNAT-i) is a validated tool which facilitates support to carers of palliative care patients. The Trust Specialist Palliative Care Service (SPCS) implemented CSNAT-i to support carers known to the service. <h3>Method(s)</h3> A project team within the SPCS underwent CSNAT-i training ahead of implementation. A template was developed within the Trust community Electronic Patient Record (EMIS) to document responses to the assessment. The project team provided training to the rest of the SPCS team, following which the service commenced using CSNAT-i. Feedback was collected on use of CSNAT-i in practice by a focus group within the SPCS professionals, and an SPCS Clinical Nurse Specialist questionnaire. <h3>Result</h3> Over a 4 month period following implementation, we completed 19 CSNAT-i assessments. We recorded priorities from carers, of which 13/19 had the maximum of 3 recorded. There were multiple outcomes initiated following completion of the CSNAT-i, including information booklets (n=8) and service leaflets (n=10) being given, medications (n=10) and patients illness(es) being discussed (n=10) and contact numbers being provided (n=14). The specialist nurse feedback questionnaire (n=5) showed some nurses felt increased confidence using CSNAT-i (60%). Furthermore, it helped guide conversations (80%), encouraged meaningful questions (80%) and improved patient care/experience (60%). Feedback from the focus group and questionnaire also included suggestions to improve CSNAT-i documentation on EMIS. <h3>Conclusion</h3> More training is needed to show value of the CSNAT-i in increasing confidence when having conversations with carers; and to improve SPCS documentation of carers needs. Overall, the implementation of the CSNAT-i has given us the ability to assess and action carers needs to further support them. We plan to continue utilising the CSNAT-i, and to implement it wider than our own service.