Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care – New York City (ESPEC-NYC)

Educating Social Workers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (ESPEC) is an innovative training program designed for health social workers by social workers to promote the integration of primary palliative care skills into clinical practice.


Course Overview

ESPEC is an innovative, state-of-the art curriculum providing interactive coursework with engaging videos of patient and family encounters, highlighting best social work practices using the eight domains of palliative care as a framework.

ESPEC-NYC is specifically designed for health social workers in the New York City area, with a focus on the concerns of the population served by safety-net hospitals and organizations. Learners must complete Part I, Self-Directed Online Training, before participating in Parts II and III, the Live In-Person Training that will be provided in-person on October 27, 2023 (see below). Mentorship sessions can be joined at any time after completing Part I.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify best practices for front-line health social workers to integrate key palliative care principles into their clinical work.
  2. Recognize the knowledge base and practice skills necessary to pursue additional competency in palliative social work.
  3. Apply the skills necessary for more effective interprofessional communication and increased visibility in the health social work role


Completion of the 8-hour online training (Part I) is required prior to participation in the in-person training.

Part I can be taken at your own pace. This training integrates the eight domains of palliative care identified by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care into health social work practice. Training includes videos of patient and family encounters, interactive exercises, and resources for self-directed learning.

Learn more and register for Part I


Part II (Instructor-Led Training) and Part III (Leadership Training) will be presented in-person on Friday, October 27, 2023, 8:30am – 4:30pm, at Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus.

This session is co-sponsored by Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service.

  • In-person training using clinical scenarios and facilitated group discussion to improve competency in biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment, the family meeting, healthcare disparities, advance care planning, and interprofessional communication
  • Skills training in advocacy and leadership highlight the important role of social workers in healthcare
  • Theory and demonstration of best practices to improve competence, confidence, and visibility in the health social work role
  • Best Practice Guides and Resources to reinforce learning
  • Credits: Social workers receive 6.5 hours of Social Work CE in the live general social work category (6.5 total CE hours)
  • REGISTER FOR ESPEC-NYC NOW

Monthly Mentorship (included in Part I registration)

Live virtual sessions are provided to social workers who have completed Part I

  • Focused on the implementation of new practice skills and common challenges facing front-line health social workers in the workplace
  • Completion of the online modules is required prior to participation in the Mentorship sessions
  • Prior registration for Mentorship is not required. Join any session(s) using these Zoom links

For any technical questions or issues with registration, please email palliativeinstitute@mjhs.org


The ESPEC program was developed as a partnership between the MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network (SWHPN). ESPEC was made possible by the generous support of The New York Community Trust, the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee, The Y.C. Ho/Helen & Michael Chiang Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, and The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.


Funders


NYCT - The New York Community Trust

Fan Fox and Leslie R Samuels Foundation Logo

The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation