HDS is supporting the Complexity and Adversity Network (CAN) programme which is a free programme of 10 monthly online workshops, fully funded by QNIS (The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland) and The Burdett Trust for Nursing. 

Aimed at community nurses or midwives working in primary care in an area with high levels of poverty, deprivation and multimorbidity, the programme helps them to learn more about coping with, and helping others cope with, the complex interpersonal relationships that are often part of their everyday nursing work.

Each workshop combines a seminar with an expert speaker, followed by a reflective practice work discussion group facilitated by a clinician with psychodynamic expertise.  Speakers from HDS will include our board members and our academic teaching staff.  

“HDS is delighted to support QNIS in the delivery of this very interesting and innovative programme, which aims to deepen the understanding of relational aspects of work for community nurses working in some of the most challenging areas of primary care. It seeks to do this by using psychodynamic theory as a conceptual framework to inform contemporary practice. This fits perfectly with a key objective of HDS, ‘to improve health and social care professionals’ understanding of, and ability to apply, psychodynamic ways of thinking.'” – Graham Monteith, Chair of the Board of Trustees at HDS

Exploring relational psychodynamic ideas 

The programme will explore how relational psychodynamic ideas can be used to help us understand and improve our responses to people struggling with, for example, adverse childhood experiences, early multimorbidity, substance misuse, trauma, homelessness, and exclusion. 

Speaker topics include:

• Psychodynamic ideas in and for nursing 
• Core psychodynamic concepts and how they can be useful in everyday primary care practice 
• Early experiences of deprivation and neglect and the impact on relationships in later life
• Substance misuse and addiction and their role in coping with psychic pain 
• Psychodynamic perspectives on homelessness and poverty
• Interpersonal dimensions of trauma and traumatic grief
• The experience of chronic physical ill health and pain 
• Exclusion, displacement, and otherness in severely marginalised communities

Who’s it for?

The workshops are for any community nurse or midwife working in primary care and predominantly with people living in areas of significant deprivation. This could include district nurses, primary care mental health nurses, health visitors, midwives, homeless access/outreach nurses, general practice nurses, care home nurses, prison nurses and many others.

How to apply

Applications are now open for the programme and should be made using the application form on the QNIS website. Please ensure you read and understand all of the eligibility criteria before applying.

Find out more by clicking on the link below. Closing date for applications is Sunday 15 May.

Click here to find out more and apply for the CAN programme