Abstract:

This research project was funded by Marie Curie, and based on one of the recommendations from my PhD study: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/136107/

Health and social care practitioners are increasingly working with individuals and families whose cultural identities, histories & lived experiences are richly diverse. To offer meaningful, equitable support, practitioners need far more than technical competence; they require a broad, nuanced blend of cultural knowledge, communication skills, and reflective practice. Training is an effective route to developing this confidence and capability, yet many organisations still treat cultural competence as optional rather than essential. Practitioners are often left to navigate complex cultural dynamics without the structured learning and organisational backing they need.

This abstract is based on a research partnership between myself and a children's hospice in Wales. An online survey was undertaken with 150+ staff from children's hospices across England & Wales to gauge their training needs, & access to cultural competence training. Results were used to co-produce Cultural Competence training with parent carers of ethnically diverse life-limited children & young people, on topics survey participants felt would develop their skills & confidence. Training was delivered to over 7 hospices.

Findings show that:
- 87% agreed or strongly agreed to: “I would benefit from training on cultural competence”. This shows strong overall agreement with the need for Cultural Competence training, indicating high engagement & perceived relevance
- "I am confident assessing and addressing diverse religious and cultural needs" - Nearly half (45%) of the responses are neutral, suggesting uncertainty or a lack of clarity around confidence in this area. A third (33%) of responses indicate a lack of confidence, which may highlight a need for targeted support or training.
- “I have received similar training in the last 2 years”. A majority (75%) had not received recent training, which likely contributes to low confidence. Recent training exposure is minimal. This suggests a clear training gap that, if addressed, could significantly improve confidence and capability.
- “I am aware of a range of tools to support me to assess diverse needs”. Majority Unaware: Over 60% indicated they are not aware, a significant barrier to effective practice. Only a small percentage (7%) of respondents felt confident in knowing tools to assess diverse needs. Neutral Responses (31%) suggest uncertainty or lack of exposure. Recommendations: Introduce toolkits and frameworks, offer hands-on training with practical examples of how tools are used. Create a resource hub with accessible materials.
- “This training is relevant to my role”. 90% said the training was relevant to their role. Few disagreed (3%). This supports a case for prioritising & investing in Cultural Competence training as a core part of professional development.

Training topics include: Defining key terms – race, ethnicity, nationality, Ethnic variance in health & social care experiences, Cultural competence, Cultural humility, & Cultural Safety, Language & Terminology (requested by majority), Assessing ethnically diverse families (tools & models) – popular with practitioners, Fear of Offending, Prejudice/Discrimination, Microaggressions. Parent carers contributed to all training materials. Post-training evaluations were very positive.

Keywords:

Cultural competence, diversity, social care, health, professional training, co-production, hospices.