Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the central DAFNE team are working in other areas to assist the service, therefore there is limited admin cover in the central office.
Currently, HCP training has been paused until further notice, however, development work is in progress to establish if remote/online training can be an option moving forward. Further information will be communicated as soon as possible.
Development work is also being carried out to offer an alternative method of delivery for participant courses during this time, all DAFNE centres will be updated in due course.
Any enquires should be emailed to dafne@nhct.nhs.uk, the inbox is monitored daily.
Training programmes
There are four healthcare professional training programmes offered by DAFNE:
DAFNE doctor programme (DDP)
DAFNE educator programme (DEP)
Pump conversion workshop
5×1 conversion online training
A training place will only be offered upon receipt of full payment or the provision of a purchase order together with the submission of an application form.
Training courses are based on a minimum number of delegates attending. Should the number of delegates fall below this there is a risk the course may be canceled. Central DAFNE will keep you updated should this happen.
Please see below the DAFNE philosophy:
Please see below some further DAFNE training information:
Training format
Educators
The DAFNE Educator Programme (DEP) is based on adult education principles which encourage active, task and problem based learning, learning through experience and reflective observation, modelling by observing the actions of others and mastery of new skills through practise and active experimentation.
The DEP is delivered using a blended learning approach. Blended learning uses a mix of independent, self-directed learning, online learning materials and face to face group activities inclusive of all learning styles.
The DEP includes the opportunity to complete online learning units created in partnership with, and hosted by The Open University. The online units are designed specifically for the DAFNE programme to target DAFNE skills development and evaluate very well by DEP trainees.
This ‘flipped classroom’ approach means that the bulk of the instructional content can be accessed online (from work or home) meaning that everyone is on the same page before starting face to face training.
Face to face workshop is for groups of eight trainees. The workshop is used for interactive discussion, practical application of DAFNE skills and assessment of competence to deliver DAFNE to the standard required. This is to ensure a positive experience for DAFNE course participants.
The DEP is endorsed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) for 113 hours of CPD. The DEP includes opportunities for both reflective practice and formal assessment which can be used as evidence for professional revalidation for nurses and dietitians.
Once enrolled on the DEP trainees receive a personal training plan outlining the stages of DEP, the expected time commitment and time frames for completion of each step. The central DAFNE team provide trainees with the learning materials required for each step and can signpost trainees to additional support if required.
These are the DEP stages. The timings indicated are approximate and depend on a trainee’s level of experience of type 1 diabetes management and engagement with the learning activities.
Educators Training Format
| Stage | Approximate time required | Learning | Stage title |
| 1 | 1 hour | Self directed reading |
Orientation Read the DAFNE file and access online orientation |
| 2 | Up to 8 hours | Online unit | DAFNE insulin regimen Complete the course learning content. Successfully complete the end of unit assessment (pass mark 75 %) |
| 3 | Up to 8 hours | Online unit | DAFNE carbohydrate counting Complete the course learning content. Successfully complete the end of unit assessment (pass mark 75 %) |
| 4 | Up to 5 hours | Self directed reading |
Prepare for course observation Read the observation section of the DAFNE file and complete the activities. |
| 5 | Up to 37.5 hours | Peer observation and reflection | Course observation Observe a 5-day DAFNE course. Complete observation notes. Complete case study |
| 6 | Up to 6 hours | Online unit | DAFNE group management Complete the course learning content. Successfully complete the end of unit assessment (pass mark 75 %) |
| 7 | 15 hours | Face to face participatory learning Feedback and reflection Active learning Modelling Mastery through role play |
Training and assessment workshop Engage in workshop activities. Successfully complete the assessment (pass mark 70 %). The assessment type is based on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The assessment involves a role play scenario to: Demonstrate DAFNE principles and how they apply |
| 8 | 1 hour | Self directed reading | Best practice and service improvement Become familiar with the content of the best practice and service improvement section of the DAFNE central resources unit. |
| 9 | 22.5 hours | Self directed preparation | Plan and prepare for DAFNE course delivery Become familiar with the DAFNE lesson plans, curriculum, workbook and other resources used to deliver a DAFNE course. |
| 10 | 11.5 hours | Experiential learning Reflection on practice |
Course delivery (5 days) including peer review (1.5 days) Complete a reflective learning tool. Deliver sessions of a DAFNE course and be peer reviewed for 1.5 days. Engage in feedback and reflection with a peer reviewer. |
Doctors Training Format
| Stage 1 | Orientation (1 hour) Trainee to read the DAFNE file and access online orientation. |
| Stage 2 | Online insulin unit (4-7 hours) Trainee to access the online insulin unit and complete the online assessment. |
| Stage 3 | Prepare for observation (3-5 hours) Trainee to read the observation section of the DAFNE file. |
| Stage 4 | Course observation week (5 days) Trainee to attend 5-day course observation. |
| Stage 5 | Best practice and service improvement (1 hour) Trainee to access best practice and service improvement online. |
| Stage 6 | DDP training workshop (1 day) Trainee to attend 1-day training workshop. |
Next steps - maintaining DAFNE educator and doctor status
DAFNE trained educators and doctors must demonstrate that they are keeping their DAFNE skills up to date for the benefit of people with type 1 diabetes who attend DAFNE courses or receive their follow up care within a DAFNE centre.
All DAFNE educators and doctors complete an online revalidation unit every 104 weeks and receive a DAFNE revalidation certificate that can be used as evidence of continual professional development (CPD).
Educators and doctors who are involved in course delivery also engage in best practice through local peer observation, feedback and reflection to develop their DAFNE skills and create their personal development plan. Documented peer observations can also be used as evidence of reflective practice for professional revalidation.
Next steps - maintaining DAFNE centre status
All DAFNE centres have access to the DAFNE clinical and audit database and are required to enter pseudonymised pre- and post-course clinical data.
The data can be accessed locally at any time to produce local reports.
The central DAFNE team use the data to produce reports for each centre:
- clinical key performance indicators (KPI) annually
- overall centre audit every 2 years.
The purpose of external audit is to:
- Monitor the clinical outcomes of DAFNE against agreed standards and the performance of all DAFNE centres nationally.
- Let DAFNE centres know where their service is doing well, and where there may be opportunities for service improvement.
The aim is to allow local quality improvement to take place where it will be most helpful and will contribute to improved outcomes for DAFNE course participants.
Centres can use these reports to
- provide evidence of performance to service commissioners
- identify and target any areas for service improvement.
Professional accreditation
The DAFNE educator programme (DEP) qualifies for approx. 15 days ~ 113 hours CPD credits, 5X1 DAFNE qualifies for 1 hour 45 minutes CPD credits and Pump DAFNE qualifies for 1 day CPD credit. All training programmes are BDA endorsed.
The DAFNE doctor programme (DDP) qualifies for 6 category 1 (external) credits and is RCP approved.
