MASCED PRO is a national training programme developed by Skcin. We provide medical and healthcare practitioners with an accessible, cost-effective tool with which to develop their knowledge of skin cancer and the confidence to refer or signpost patients to appropriate services - supporting the vital early diagnosis of the disease.
Skcin’s MASCED PRO training programme launched in 2019 following the success of it’s sister programme MASCED for beauty industry professionals, to develop a solution tailored for allied health professions. Our mission is to train a growing army of healthcare professionals who are uniquely placed to improve patient outcomes and save lives from skin cancer through early intervention.
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK & worldwide and early detection is vital. However, there is an alarming gap in education and training across allied health professions, resulting in later stage diagnosis, misdiagnosis and poorer patient outcomes.
In their professional capacities, allied health professionals have regular observation of their patients’ skin – often in places not visible to the patient themselves. They are therefore uniquely placed to detect changes or abnormalities that could indicate the early signs of skin cancer and to provide trusted advice and signposting to aid in the vital early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The objective of the programme is to educate, empower and equip allied health professionals nationwide with the skills required to:
• Significantly raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of skin cancer to detect and treat skin cancer early, improve prognosis and save lives.
• Highlight the dangers of exposure to UVR and promote the importance of sun safety and skin health within communities to help prevent skin cancer.
• Support the call from public health as to who is most effective to help improve the nation’s health.
• Help combat the huge financial burden that skin cancer places on our NHS which is estimated to cost around £500 million annually.
The MASCED PRO training programme provides medical practitioners and healthcare professionals with the opportunity to become certified for taking part in a three-step programme detailed below. The training has been reviewed and is officially recognised by the British Association of Dermatologists and accredited by the Royal College of Podiatry, providing evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
Upon registration to the programme professionals are sent their printed welcome pack which includes their welcome letter, supportive resources and their MASCED PRO guide. Professionals are required to study the guide provided before moving on to step 2 and encouraged to keep their resources in-clinic for future reference.
Step 2 requires professionals to complete the online e-course that reinforces the educational content provided in their guide. The course also provides professionals with potential scenarios to assist them in developing their knowledge and building confidence in identifying suspicious lesions, communicating concerns and appropriately signposting for clinical assessment.
Once the e-course has been completed, professionals are required to provide feedback of their experience, enabling us to monitor programme effectiveness, maintain best practice and provide evidence of completion.
Certificates are awarded upon completion of the e-course and the provision of feedback. Certificates are valid for one year, with a renewal process in place enabling professionals to refresh and reinforce their knowledge.
With the provision of the training and tools provided by the MASCED PRO programme, on completion learners will be able to:
Registered professionals have access to a range of supportive resources to aid them in their unique capacity to provide trusted advice and extend vital awareness across their patient communities.
Including a dedicated app, digital downloads, and printed resources to display in-clinic, our range of bespoke resources support professionals in educating their patients on the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, empowering them to take charge of their skin health and surveillance.
“The British Association of Dermatologists supports this valuable programme. Many professionals who come into contact with skin through the course of their work will have received little or no training in how to spot signs of the UK’s most common cancer. Given that the vast majority of deaths from skin cancer could be avoided if the cancer was detected earlier, work such as this by Skcin, to help drive earlier referrals of potential cancers to specialists, can only be seen as a hugely positive step.”
“The Royal College of Podiatry is very happy to offer its endorsement and approval of this excellent training. Dermatology is a significant part of a podiatrist’s daily work and to have a range of resources to maintain the high standards we expect is essential. This is one part of that expectation and we are grateful to Skcin for their ongoing endeavours.”
As leaders in prevention, innovation and collaboration, Skcin are delighted to join forces with Map My Mole in a powerful partnership to make the early detection and diagnosis of skin cancer more accessible than ever across the UK. By combining Skcin’s trusted, MASCED PRO education programme with Map My Mole’s fast, innovative mole-checking service, we’re setting a new standard for collaboration between charities and digital health innovators — delivering life-saving education, access, and action at scale.
In September 2023 Skcin were delighted to receive a ‘QIC Commended’ award for our MASCED PRO training programme at the Quality in Care Dermatology Awards held at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Up against some high calibre competition we were also delighted to receive second place in the ‘Dermatology Education Programmes for Healthcare Professionals’. Presented to the charity by Dr Hilary Jones MBE, the award sits proudly alongside our growing collection.
“This training has been immensely valuable, enhancing my ability to identify early signs of skin cancer and other skin conditions during patient consultations. The knowledge and skills gained from this programme will benefit my patients by enabling me to recognise suspicious lesions, conduct effective skin checks, and refer patients promptly for further assessment. I am committed to applying these skills to promote skin health and support public health initiatives in our community. Thank you for providing this valuable training opportunity.”
Mrs. Raluca Bocancia, Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Nurse, Cambridgeshire
“I think this training programme is brilliant! I have already recommended it to many friends/family in different job sectors that would benefit, because they are looking at different parts of the body (not just my dental colleagues!). Really helpful and I feel much more confident to approach the subject with a patient if I spot something I think is abnormal.”
Miss. Chloe Dew, Dental Hygienist and Therapist, Norfolk
“I found the training programme very informative and have learnt a lot including how to protect my family, myself and my patients. I have already highlighted a suspicious moles/lesions to my patients. I’m looking forward to utilising this knowledge and expanding upon it in the future. Thank you”
Mr. Lee Clarke, Osteopath, Cornwall
“Great knowledge and insight and easy to follow and understand. I've alerted clients to potentially concerning growths in the past and some were diagnosed as cancerous but this course has given me much more information and confidence to identify and discuss future concerns with clients. Very glad I took the course. I'll be making sure all my staff take one of the courses you offer. Well done for providing this, I'm sure it'll save lives.”
Mr. Carl Barton, Laser Practitioner, Hertfordshire
“I am a massage therapist in the community with a large, diverse range of clientele. I have advised clients in the past that they should get certain lesions checked, thankfully none have been diagnosed with any skin cancers. I thought this course was extremely beneficial in helping me identify specifically what to look for and it will be invaluable as i go forward in my career. Thank you for such a comprehensive and interesting course.”
Mrs. Sharon McHardy, Massage Therapist, Lanarkshire
“This is a fabulous course & highlights the need for training & support to all health care professionals working with patients. In dentistry we are ideally placed to identify early risk factors & early skin damage & this means patients get treatment much earlier, hopefully avoiding surgical intervention & unnecessary upset & trauma to our ageing population. Education in this area of health for our younger generation is also important. Thank you for this importance training opportunity - i am truly grateful.”
Miss. Greta Compton, Dental Hygienist, Ceredigion
“This training programme is very well presented and very accessible. The images and descriptions are clear and concise helping the pupil to develop an understanding of the different presentations of the skin lesions. I have learned so much from this programme and would now feel much more confident in referring patients for further investigation using a more detailed rationale of areas of concern. Thank you”
Mrs. Julie Rhodes, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Shropshire
“I found this course a great source of dermatology revision. The visual guides are excellent and well explained. I have greater confidence to detect and refer. Hopefully, I will be able to do my part as a participant in the MASCED training programme, to make an impact on skin cancer awareness , save lives and reduce NHS costs.”
Podiatrist, Belfast
“Excellent course and has really increased my awareness of signs and symptoms of skin cancer and recognising signs to be able to help have a discussion with patients to make contact with their GP to get it checked early.”
Mrs. Donna Ashby, Dental Therapist, North Yorkshire
“Brilliant course! I am now able to keep my clients safer then before as well as my family. I will tell other therapists about this course to spread the word. Thank you!”
Mr. Shaun Whiting, Massage Therapist, Gloucestershire
SKCIN work nationally with universities and organisations by facilitating the bulk purchase of courses to train both emerging professionals and to enhance the skills of members associated with professional bodies, clinics and practices. To find out how we can support your training needs, please get in touch today.
