Palliative and End of Life Care Education: Transition Simulation Course

Course facilitators

The course is facilitated by Dr Anton Mayer, Helen Smith, Gemma Barker, Elizabeth Purnell, Amika Challacombe and Charlotte Clarke.

Dr Anton Mayer is a specialist Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant with extensive experience supporting children and families with complex and life-limiting conditions. He also previously worked as a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, bringing significant expertise in critical care and complex decision-making. Dr Mayer is committed to delivering compassionate, family-centred care and advancing best practice in paediatric palliative medicine.

Helen Smith is a Consultant Nurse at St Luke's Hospice in Sheffield with over 20 years in palliative care. Helen has supported both paediatric and adult patients across community and hospice settings, gaining deep expertise in complex, compassionate care. A Queen’s Nurse since 2015, Helen leads St Luke’s transition programme, ensuring smooth care pathways from paediatric to adult services.

Gemma Barker is a Paediatric Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust. She has extensive experience supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families across hospital and community settings. Gemma is passionate about holistic care, symptom management, and empowering families through education and advocacy.

Elizabeth Purnell is the Lead Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She specialises in supporting teenagers and young adults with cancer, ensuring age-appropriate care and advocacy within acute hospital settings. Elizabeth is dedicated to improving patient experience and supporting young people and their families throughout their cancer journey.

Amika Challacombe is a WellChild Home Ventilation Nurse at Sheffield Children's Hospital. She supports children and young people who require long-term ventilation, working closely with families to enable safe care at home. Amika is committed to empowering families, promoting independence, and ensuring high standards of community-based complex care.

Charlotte Clarke previously worked as an Assistant Practitioner in Paediatric Palliative Care, where she supported multidisciplinary teams in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to children and young people with complex needs. She is currently the Palliative Care Project Coordinator for the South Yorkshire CYP Alliance, where she leads collaborative initiatives to improve outcomes and service development for children and young people across South Yorkshire.

Payment terms

All course fees must be paid prior to attendance. Standard payment terms are 30 days from the date of invoice, or before the start of the course if the course date falls sooner.

Cancellation Policy

Please note that once a booking has been made and payment received, course fees are non-refundable.