BACKGROUND:
Despite being largely preventable, burn injuries remain a serious global public health concern1. Incidence and mortality vary between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, with children in sub-Saharan Africa at substantially greater risk1-3. In South Africa's Western Cape province, children with moderate and severe burn injuries are managed within the specialist burns service at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital4. This centralised model contributes to long travel distances, treatment delays increased risk of infection and psychological stress4. Consequently, strengthening paediatric burns care across the province was identified as a critical priority. This led to the design, development and delivery of a training programme to upskill healthcare workers across the paediatric burns care pathway, enabling sustainable confidence in the burn assessment and management.

METHODS:
A partnership was established between the Children's Nursing Development Unit, the Children’s Hospital Trust and the burns service at Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust. A review of practice and learning needs was undertaken through clinical facility visits and conversations with colleagues across the care pathway, and input gathered at a multidisciplinary participative workshop. Insights gained informed programme design which was iteratively refined through continued engagement during programme delivery and subsequent interactions within clinical practice.

RESULTS:
The programme was launched in 2024, resulting in the participation of 211 healthcare workers, from seven health care disciples. They range from those at the point of injury, including mothers, to those working in tertiary-level services. The programme comprises of eight elements including in-person training focusing on prevention and first aid; clinical internships in the tertiary burns service; university-accredited short courses; a Masters-level module; and ongoing support through an online multidisciplinary meeting.

CONCLUSIONS:
With a design that enabled sustainable learning and practice change, the programme has strengthened critical knowledge and skills in multiple health disciplines across the burns care pathway.