Empowering the Workforce for Personalised Care
National study led by Imperial finds strong impact of personalised care education
Researchers at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health have completed the most comprehensive independent evaluation to date of the Personalised Care Institute’s (PCI) national training programme, confirming that the offer delivers substantial and sustained improvements in understanding, confidence, motivation and early application of personalised care skills across the health and care workforce.
The evaluation, conducted by the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) at Imperial, analysed data from 8,186 learner surveys, including 2,473 matched pre-post responses, over 10,000 free-text reflections, and eight stakeholder interviews with national experts. This represents the largest dataset yet assembled to assess personalised care capabilities in England.
National training delivered measurable learning gains at scale
Across PCI’s six core e-learning modules (Shared Decision Making, Personalised Care and Support Planning, Core Skills, Remote Consultations, Leading Personalised Care as a Junior Doctor, and Maternity Personalised Care and Support Planning) the evaluation found large, statistically significant improvements in understanding and confidence. Motivation and readiness to incorporate personalised care into routine practice also improved, though with more modest effect sizes.
Learners across clinical and non-clinical roles (including care coordinators, physiotherapists, social prescribers, midwifery staff and junior doctors) consistently reported that PCI training strengthened their communication approaches, enhanced shared decision-making, supported agenda setting and clarified practical steps for personalised care conversations. Free-text reflections highlighted improved listening, empathy and patient engagement.
Read our report
Our independent national evaluation, shows that personalised care is not a “nice-to-have”, but a core requirement for high-quality, sustainable care. PCI training delivers significant improvements in understanding, confidence and readiness to apply personalised care skills, with evidence of sustained use in practice. However, the evaluation also highlights that education alone is not enough. To achieve lasting impact, personalised care must be embedded in workforce strategy, supported by sustained investment in education, and integrated into professional training and development across health, social care and community settings.
Based on this evidence, the report calls for three priorities:
- Personalised care to be embedded at the heart of national workforce and service strategy
- Sustained, ring-fenced investment in personalised care education, enabling regional and system-level delivery at scale
- Full integration of personalised care capabilities into professional education and development, from undergraduate training through to continuing professional development across health, social care and community settings
Quotes
Dr Austen El-Osta, Director of SCARU and principal investigator, said: “These findings demonstrate that personalised care education is not abstract. Learners internalised the principles and translated them into real behavioural shifts across the NHS workforce”.
Andy Riley, Head of the PCI said: “This evaluation shows the power of personalised care education to transform everyday practice. Learners across roles & regions reported stronger communication, greater confidence & more constructive interactions with the people they support. We are especially encouraged by evidence of sustained application at three months. PCI remains committed to working with partners across health, social care & the voluntary sector to ensure these capabilities continue to grow and that personalised care becomes the norm, not the exception”.
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