The Epilepsies course

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is working in partnership with the British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD) to offer this course.

Audience: Any professionals who work with children and young people and wish to improve their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy
Duration: Approximately four months distance learning
Cost: £450 (£400 for BACD members and Sheffield Children’s employees)

Course content

This course is developed from unit 3 of the Paediatric Neurodisability Diploma and provides in-depth training in the assessment, description and management of epilepsy and associated conditions.

After completing the course you will be able to:

• Understand what the epilepsies are and are not, what causes  them, how to accurately describe them and to integrate these elements into clinical practice
  • be able to distinguish epilepsies from other similar conditions
  • understand some theories about the underlying mechanisms of epilepsies
  • be able to classify most seizures, epilepsy syndromes and their aetiology, using the ILAE 2017 classification system
• Assess and manage children and young people with epilepsies
  • be able to investigate and start treatment appropriately
  • be able to look for and manage conditions associated with epilepsies, working with the multidisciplinary team
  • be aware of and know how to use protocols for managing status epilepticus
• Make informed judgements within this area of paediatric disability, knowing when to ask for help and when to refer on
  • understand the principles of drug treatment and when to refer for more specialist advice
  • understand the principles of surgical management and which children and young people to refer
• Critically evaluate local health services and identify gaps
• Contribute to service development and present a case for this
• Provide effective, relevant and evidence-based advice for colleagues in education settings, parents, carers and lay people who may support children and young people with epilepsies