The Gold Standards Framework CIO

05/06/2026

Every day, health and social care professionals support people and families through some of life's most challenging moments. But who supports the staff?

Our latest blog explores the connection between mindfulness, staff confidence, and high-quality end of life care. When staff feel supported, resilient, and confident in their roles, they are better equipped to provide compassionate, person-centred care to those who need it most.

At GSF, we know that investing in staff wellbeing is not an optional extra – it's a vital part of delivering excellent care. Evidence from organisations using GSF shows that increased confidence can improve job satisfaction, morale, communication, and the overall experience of care for people and families.

🔗 Read the full blog and discover why supporting staff wellbeing matters for everyone involved in care: https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/mindfulnessandstaffconfidence/

04/06/2026

We're excited to be exhibiting at the National Advance Care Planning Day Conference on 1 July 2026 in Norwich.

Advance Care Planning is at the heart of delivering personalised, proactive care that respects what matters most to people. That's why we're proud to be part of a day dedicated to raising awareness, sharing best practice, and encouraging meaningful conversations about future care wishes.

This year's theme, Supporting People and Communities Who Are Marginalised, highlights the importance of ensuring everyone has the opportunity to make their preferences known and have their voice heard.

If you're attending the conference in person, please come and visit the GSF team. We'd love to meet you, share our free ACP resources, and discuss how the Gold Standards Framework supports high-quality advance care planning across health and social care.

📅 1 July 2026
📍 John Innes Conference Centre, Norwich
💻 Free virtual attendance available

For more information and tickets, visit: https://advancecareplanday.org/conference-2026/

We look forward to seeing you there.

03/06/2026

Join this important webinar from Our Duty of Care exploring how we can improve access to end of life care for all across the UK.

We're pleased to share that GSF Founder, Prof Keri Thomas OBE, will be presenting this webinar, bringing her extensive experience in end of life care, quality improvement and system-wide change.

📅 Monday 8 June 2026
🕗 8:00pm
💻 Online

If you're passionate about improving care for people approaching the end of life, this is a discussion not to be missed.

Register via the QR code or visit OurDutyOfCare.org.uk

01/06/2026

Better end of life care begins with identifying needs early.

At GSF, we know that improving end of life care starts with a proactive approach:
🔎 Identify people who may be approaching the final stage of life
📝 Assess their needs, priorities and concerns
💬 Plan ahead through meaningful conversations and Advance Care Planning

When we identify, assess and plan early, we create opportunities for:
✔️ Better coordinated care
✔️ More personalised support
✔️ Greater choice and control
✔️ Fewer avoidable crises and emergency admissions
✔️ Improved experiences for people and those important to them

Too often, end of life care planning happens when time and choices are limited. By recognising needs earlier and planning proactively, we can help people live well until they die and receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

To find out more about how GSF can help you provide better end of life care, take a look at the programmes we have on offer: https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/training-accreditation/

28/05/2026

What makes a real difference to end of life care in health and social care settings?

It often comes down to getting the fundamentals right:

✅ Identifying people earlier
✅ Planning care ahead of crisis
✅ Having open and compassionate conversations
✅ Working together as one coordinated team
✅ Supporting people and their families/carers

These are not “nice to have” elements of care - they are essential to delivering compassionate, person-centred support.

Structured quality improvement approaches such as GSF can help organisations strengthen communication, improve staff confidence, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and help more people receive care in the place they choose.

What are the strengths within your organisation’s end of life care - and where is there still room to grow?

If you’d like to explore how GSF can support your team, find out more here: www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/

20/05/2026

We’re excited to be at The Primary Care Show over the next two days!

If you're attending, come and visit us at our exhibition stand to find out more about the new Primary Care Programme from the Gold Standards Framework, launching later this year.

We’ll also be speaking in the GP Clinical Theatre at 2.20pm on 21st May with our session: “One Chance to Get it Right - Can Primary Care Equip Itself to Help People to Live and Die Well in Their Last Year of Life?”. The session will explore the current landscape of palliative and end of life care in the UK, the challenges facing primary care teams, and how GSF can support a more proactive, coordinated and person-centred approach to end of life care.

If you’re attending, we’d love to connect and share what’s coming next for GSF in Primary Care.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/training-accreditation/primary-care/

19/05/2026

This September, empower your care home team to deliver proactive, person-centred end of life care with the Gold Standards Framework Care Homes Training Programme.

GSF training helps teams:
• Identify residents earlier who may be nearing the end of life
• Improve communication and advance care planning
• Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
• Support residents to live well right up until they die

Join care homes across the UK already using GSF to improve quality, confidence and coordinated care.

Find out more and book your place:
https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/care-home-training/

14/05/2026

Meaningful connections are central to delivering high-quality, person-centred end of life care.

In our latest blog, we explore how trust, empathy and open communication support health and social care teams to better understand what matters most to each person - enabling more proactive, compassionate care right up until the end of life.

It also reflects on the importance of being fully present in conversations, using open questions to support honest dialogue, and encouraging meaningful activities and legacy work that can enhance quality of life.

🔗 Read more here: https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/meaningful-connections/

Learn how trust, empathy and open communication build meaningful connections in end of life care. Discover GSF training for better person-centred care.

12/05/2026

Today, on International Nurses Day, we want to recognise and thank nurses everywhere for the extraordinary difference they make every day. 💙

At the Gold Standards Framework, we have had the privilege of working alongside nurses across health and social care for many years - in care homes, hospitals, community teams, hospices and primary care - supporting proactive, person-centred care for people nearing the end of life.

Nurses are often the people having the difficult conversations, recognising when someone may be entering the final stages of life, coordinating care, supporting families, advocating for patient wishes, and ensuring people are treated with dignity, compassion and respect. Their skill, leadership and humanity are at the heart of high-quality end of life care.

This year’s International Nurses Day theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives”, is a powerful reminder that supporting and investing in nurses is essential to the future of compassionate, sustainable healthcare.

To every nurse we work with and to nurses everywhere - thank you for all that you do.

10/05/2026

As Dying Matters Awareness Week 2026 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on one clear message — conversations about death and dying matter, and they matter to all of us.

Throughout the week, there has been a shared focus across health and social care, communities and families on the importance of talking earlier, planning ahead, and supporting people to express what matters most to them.

At GSF, we believe these conversations are about improving care, strengthening choice, and ensuring people can live as well as possible right to the end of life.

Our latest blog brings together the key themes from the week, including:
• Why talking early makes a difference
• The role of Advance Care Planning as an ongoing conversation
• Building confidence in end of life discussions
• Supporting families, communities and professionals
• Why culture change happens through everyday conversation

Because when we talk more openly, care becomes more person-centred, more compassionate, and better aligned with what matters most.

Read the full blog here:
https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/dying-matters-awareness-week-2026-why-talking-about-death-and-dying-matters/