Postgraduate Taught

The recent End of Life Strategy (DH, 2008) recognises the need for education to ensure that health and social care staff have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide high quality and effective care for the dying, and that such education will be critical to the success of improving end of life care for all.

This Postgraduate Certificate in End of Life Care is a new and exciting response to recent Department of Health policy initiatives. It is open to any experienced qualified professional who is currently involved in delivering end of life care within their area of practice, and who meets the entry requirements.

This dynamic and flexible interprofessional course aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop a comprehensive academic and evidence-based approach to their work, critically exploring the provision of end of life care.

Upon successful completion of the course students will obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in End of Life Care from Keele University. The PGCert in End of Life Care will be awarded to students who successfully complete all programme modules. Additionally, programme modules may be undertaken as standalone modules.

Course Modules

Recognising the End of Life (15 Level 7 credits)

This module provides an introduction to the political agenda surrounding end of life care. It discusses the clinical challenges of recognising the end of life and critically examines the complexity and principles of interdisciplinary end of life care. This module runs at Keele University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Human Dimensions in End of Life Care (30 Level 7 credits)

This double module critically appraises the holistic assessment of patients at the end of life. It emphasises the psychological, spiritual, social, and ethical dimensions of care and further explores the principles and demands of assessment and decision-making from an interdisciplinary practice and team-working perspective. This module runs at the Compton Hospice Education and Training Centre, Wolverhampton

Holistic support through to End of Life (15 Level 7 credits)

This module offers a critical understanding of palliative symptom management in end of life care. Students will develop a critical appreciation of the importance of place of care and patient choice at the end of life and critically consider responses to grief and bereavement. The module promotes the importance and complexity of evaluating quality and outcomes in end of life care. This module runs at Keele University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Benefits of the Course

Studying at Keele University provides access to a library with an extensive multidisciplinary health care section. Studying at Compton Hospice provides access to an excellent specialist palliative and end of life care library. This course will be delivered utilising a blended learning approach. The course incorporates National Advanced Communication Skills Training (Cancer Action Team approved). The teaching team is multiprofessional and has extensive clinical experience in delivering palliative and end of life care.

Course Delivery

The course is a year’s duration on a part-time basis and the programme will commence in January each year.

Teaching Venues

Keele University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Compton Hospice Education and Training Centre, Wolverhampton.