PgCert/PgDip/MSc Palliative and End of Life Care

Overview

This course has been designed to enable health and social care professionals to enhance care provided to patients and families facing physical, psychosocial and spiritual issues associated with life-limiting illness.

It is based on the core competencies in palliative care identified by the European Association for Palliative Care. It is also congruent with core competences and principles for health and social care professionals working with adults at the end of life and aligns with DH and HEE priorities for workforce development in palliative and end of life care. It reflects the multi-professional nature of palliative care and health and social care professionals are given the opportunity to learn together; therefore, student learning is facilitated by a multi-professional teaching team using a Blended Learning Approach with a particular emphasis on linking theory to practice.

The course offers flexibility where students can choose to undertake the course on full time or part time basis. In addition, the course offers a choice of module from the CPPD portfolio to suits student’s personal and professional needs.

Employability

Possessing a broad and deep understanding of the theory and skills required to provide high quality palliative and end of life care, participants will be well positioned to assume advanced clinical, education and leadership roles in a variety of clinical settings nationally and internationally.

Professional links

This course is jointly delivered by London South Bank University and Saint Francis Hospice.

Teaching and learning

A Blended Learning Approach approach is used, meaning student learning is facilitated through a combination of face to face teaching and delivery of content via digital and online media. It allows for a greater variety and flexibility than a traditional classroom set up and responds to the learning needs of modern learners. For example, a classroom lecture may be accompanied by online discussion forums or other online activities where students have the opportunity to interact and share experiences and knowledge with some element of student control over time, place and space.

Students will be supported to develop their academic skills and be able to work at level 7. This will be facilitated through tutorials, workshops and feedback from formative assessments. Skills for learning team will provide a workshop at the beginning of each semester on critical thinking, academic writing and use of grammar. Students can access additional support through the student centre as needed. The module leader and teaching team will provide tutorials on assessments and review draft work of students as needed. Assessment feedback will also provide guidance that will assist further academic development.

Each student will be assigned a named academic contact as a personal tutor who will be selected from the course team. The personal tutors will provide academic guidance and pastoral support across the programme of study and review wider academic progress. Formal meeting will be scheduled once every academic year to facilitate progress, review and provide academic feedback. Additional meetings can be arranged as required.

Students can also exit with PGDip or PGCert Awards.