ESCAPE-pain training (for knees/hips)

​This training will be delivered online via Zoom.

Please note: attending the training enables you to deliver face-to-face ESCAPE-pain classes when social distancing measures have been lifted. The training does not enable you to deliver virtual classes. Some sites are trialing virtual approaches to deliver the programme to participants while social distancing measures are in place. These are temporary measures being delivered by established sites, while the face-to-face programme cannot be safely delivered, or until the approach has been evaluated as appropriate for longer term use by the ESCAPE-pain team.

ESCAPE-pain is a 6 week (12 session) rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain of the knees and/or hips, that integrates educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regimen individualised for each participant. It helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can help themselves with, and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better. 

In order to deliver the ESCAPE-pain classes and become ESCAPE-pain facilitators, professionals are required to attend the ESCAPE-pain training course. The course is open to clinicians and qualified exercise professionals. Please see below to ensure you meet the pre-qualification criteria. 

The full day course will cover the below areas

• The theoretical foundations and evidence-base for ESCAPE-pain (including its clinical and cost effectiveness)
• The practical skills required to support behaviour change in people to self-manage their OA through developing enhanced motivational interviewing, goal setting, helping people develop action and coping plans, and group facilitation techniques
• How to set-up and deliver ESCAPE-pain (including optimising referrals, uptake and retention and how to run each session of the programme)
• Guidance on how to develop and adapt ESCAPE-pain to work within different settings
• National Policy and overview of ESCAPE-pain, including ESCAPE-pain in the community
• Overview of MSK, physical activity and osteoarthritis
• Understanding the psychology of pain
• Principles of self-management, motivational interviewing, health behaviour change and group facilitation
• Group exercise management
• Healthy eating guidance
• Methods of managing pain
• Sustaining physical activity and other health behaviours.

After completing the training course, facilitators will receive a suite of resources (including access to and support from our help-desk team) that will enable them to implement and deliver the programme. 

Pre-qualifications requirements

Clinicians: Basic clinical knowledge of osteoarthritis and its management are required, including familiarity with delivering education and exercise to patients. 

Exercise professionals:

• Level 2/3 underpinning anatomy and physiology (essential)
• Level 3 Exercise Referral  or a relevant level 4 qualification (essential)
• At least 150 hours previous experience of working with specialist populations e.g. Exercise Referral, Cardiac, Back care, Falls etc. (essential)
• One or more REPS Level 4 Qualifications (desirable)
• Introduction to MI/Understanding Behaviour Change (desirable)

You will need to provide evidence (scans or photos) of all qualifications noted as essential in order to be confirmed on this training course. Please send these to francesca.thompson1@nhs.net

This flow chart can be a helpful visual aid in determining exercise instructor eligibility.   

ESCAPE-pain facilitator training (for backs) 

ESCAPE-pain for backs is a 6 week (12 session) rehabilitation programme for people with non-specific low back pain, that integrates educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regimen individualised for each participant. It helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can help themselves with, and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better. 

In order to become ESCAPE-pain for backs facilitators, clinicians are required to attend a training course. If facilitators have already completed the training course for ESCAPE-pain (for knees/hips) they are eligible to attend a half-day training course for ESCAPE-pain for backs. All other participants must attend the full-day course. Course offerings, pre-qualification requirements, schedule and fees are listed on our website here:  https://escape-pain.org/facilitator-training-backs

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at hello@escape-pain.org

Please view our cancellation policy here.