What we do

Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company (EPP CIC) provide and deliver free courses aimed at helping people who are living with a long term health condition manage their condition better on a daily basis.

The courses are usually run over six weekly sessions of 2½ hours and look at a number of topics including:

• Dealing with pain and extreme tiredness
• Coping with feelings of depression
• Relaxation techniques and exercise
• Healthy eating
• Communicating with family, friends and professionals
• Planning for the future

The aim is to give people the confidence to take more responsibility and self-manage their health, while encouraging them to work collaboratively with health and social care professionals. EPP CIC courses are aimed at a wide range of people, reflecting diversity in terms of different health conditions, age groups, geographical locations and ethnicity.

Range of courses

Our original and most popular course, the generic Chronic Disease Self-management Course (CDSMC) – originally developed by Stanford University, California – is open to anyone with any long-term health condition. It is run over six weekly sessions of 2½ hours by two trained tutors (also living with a long-term health condition) and looks at things like managing pain, coping with feelings of stress and depression, healthy living and exercise.

In response to feedback we have expanded our portfolio of products to meet different peoples’ needs. Our range of courses now includes:

• Substance and Alcohol Misuse

For people in recovery from substance and alcohol misuse (SAM).

• New Beginnings

For people living with or in recovery from a mental health condition.

• Looking after Me (LAM)

For carers of adults who are living with a long-term condition or disability.

• Supporting Parents Programme

For parents or carers of children who have long-term or life-limiting conditions.

• Persistent Pain Programme

For people living with persistent pain.

• Course for people with learning difficulties

This is an adapted version of the generic self-management course.

• Wise Up

For health and social care practitioners who want to increase their awareness of self-management.

• Prison courses

Self-management course for people with long-term health conditions.

• Forward Steps

For people living with a living with a long-term health condition and want to return to work.

• Online course 

For people whose health conditions may prevent them from accessing a community course.

These courses follow the same principles of being lay-led self-management programmes but have been developed to target specific audiences and provide relevant outcomes.

Self Care Connect

EPP CIC is keen to promote self-care and healthy well-being not only to people living with long-term health conditions but to everyone. In June 2008, EPP CIC took over the NHS Working in Partnership Programme’s (WiPP) suite of self-care resources including the Self Care Connect website (www.selfcareconnect.co.uk). Included in this are two self care training courses; ‘Self Care for You’ and ‘Self Care for Primary Care’. Both provide skills and advice to help people engage in self-care to improve their lifestyle and develop positive health behaviours.

For full details of all of available products please contact your local regional office.