Better conversations is a skills programme developed in Leeds to support the health and care workforce in improving the quality of personalised care we offer. The programme supports you to reflect on your conversations and explore your communication in a supportive environment.
Key topics: Communication skills, empowerment, person-centred care
We currently offer three Better Conversations learning packages.
Better Conversations skills sessions can be accessed by anybody working in health and social care in Leeds, at any level, and from any organisation.
The programme supports the workforce to think about how collaborative conversations can empower people to take ownership of their health and care. It aims to enable health and care colleagues to deliver and encourage more collaborative conversations, primarily those conversations between a health and care professional and patient or service user, or when speaking to members of the public.
We are currently offering the following three learning packages:
Level 1. eLearning- Introducing the principles of Better Conversations
Open to all
This 60-minute introduction to Better Conversations is an eLearning package that you can work through in your own time, which includes reflective exercises and theory around core communication skills, providing an opportunity for participants to reflect on their current practice.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the key skills for a productive conversation.
- Reflect on their own skills when communicating.
Level 2. Virtual Interactive Workshop - Better Conversations: Reflective Practice
Open to all
This 3-hour facilitated online group session will offer you the opportunity to take time out to reflect on the impact of your day-to-day conversations, explore the core skills that result in good quality communication, and discover how to engage in collaborative conversations which are central to the way we communicate as a city. Participants will work alongside colleagues from other organisations in this workshop, sharing learning and expertise.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand key skills and theory for a productive conversation.
- Reflect on their own skills when communicating.
- Deepen awareness of the impact of conversation styles on outcomes.
- Use tools and structure for communicating.
- Understand how conversations link to the 5 person-centred care and support principles.
- Thursday 28th September 9.30-12.30
- Wednesday 22 November 9.30-12.30
- Thursday 14th December 9.30-12.30
Level 3. In-person Workshop - Better Conversations: A Personalised Approach to Conversations
Open to those with previous conversation training
This 3 hour in-person workshop offers you the opportunity to build on your core conversation skills which you will have either gained in previous Better Conversations sessions, or from other learning and experience. The workshop introduces a core coaching model which promotes person-centred ways of working.
This experiential workshop is based around the reality of having person-centred conversations with lots of opportunity for reflection and practice.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand person-centred approaches and the 5 person-centred care and support principles.
- Be able to understand and apply the principles of the TGROW model.
- Reflect on their own experience of person-centred conversations.
- Understand a coaching approach.
- Tuesday 17th October 9.30-12.30



If you have any questions about Better Conversations, you can contact us via LHCA@nhs.net.