The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (PgDPCHM) is an advanced qualification designed for healthcare professionals seeking specialised knowledge in palliative care, end-of-life management, and hospice medicine. This course is not intended for fresh entrants but is ideal for physicians, nurses, palliative care specialists, and allied healthcare professionals who wish to enhance their clinical expertise, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Learners will gain comprehensive knowledge of pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and ethical decision-making in end-of-life care. The curriculum emphasises holistic care approaches, communication skills, multidisciplinary team collaboration, and evidence-based practice to provide compassionate and effective care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. Learners will also explore bereavement support, cultural considerations, and policy frameworks governing palliative and hospice services.
Centres delivering this qualification are required to employ competent and qualified staff, supported by modern clinical facilities, hospice settings, and extensive learning resources. This ensures learners receive expert guidance, hands-on experience, and academic support necessary for successful completion of this advanced programme.
Upon completion, learners will be equipped to assume leadership roles in palliative care services, contribute to clinical research, implement best practices in patient-centred care, and provide professional guidance to multidisciplinary teams. This qualification represents a significant step for professionals committed to excellence, advanced clinical practice, and career progression in palliative care and hospice medicine.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (PgDPCHM)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
600
Qualification #
LICQ2200984
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (PgDPCHM), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2200984-1 |
Principles and Practice of Palliative Care |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2200984-2 |
Communication and Psychosocial Support in Palliative Care |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2200984-3 |
Clinical Management of Life-Limiting Conditions |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2200984-4 |
Palliative Care in Diverse Populations and Settings |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2200984-5 |
Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Palliative Care |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2200984-6 |
Professionalism, Leadership, and Development in Palliative Care |
20 |
100 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Principles and Practice of Palliative Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the principles and philosophy of palliative care, focusing on holistic and person-centred approaches.
- Develop and implement care plans for patients with life-limiting conditions, addressing pain, symptoms, and quality of life.
- Apply ethical frameworks and legal considerations to end-of-life care and decision-making.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the multidisciplinary approach to delivering palliative care across various healthcare settings.
Unit 2: Communication and Psychosocial Support in Palliative Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Apply effective communication techniques to deliver sensitive news, addressing both patients’ and families’ emotional needs.
- Assess the psychosocial needs of patients, families, and carers and provide appropriate support interventions.
- Address spiritual, cultural, and emotional aspects of end-of-life care, respecting diversity and individual preferences.
- Provide bereavement support to families and carers, ensuring continuity of care through sensitive communication.
Unit 3: Clinical Management of Life-Limiting Conditions
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Develop comprehensive care plans for patients with life-limiting conditions, incorporating symptom control and palliative care strategies.
- Utilise pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to manage pain, nausea, breathlessness, and other symptoms.
- Apply advanced decision-making techniques in managing complex, multi-faceted palliative care cases.
- Integrate evidence-based approaches to clinical management, ensuring high standards of care delivery.
Unit 4: Palliative Care in Diverse Populations and Settings
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Design and implement palliative care interventions for diverse populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with non-malignant conditions.
- Apply palliative care principles across different settings (hospital, home, hospice, and community).
- Critically assess cultural considerations and ethical dilemmas in palliative care practice across diverse populations.
- Understand the role of palliative care in global health systems, especially in low-resource settings.
Unit 5: Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Palliative Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically evaluate current research methodologies and evidence-based practices within palliative care.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of scientific literature to inform practice and improve patient outcomes.
- Design and conduct clinical audits, ensuring the integration of research findings into practice.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, demonstrating leadership in advancing palliative care practice.
Unit 6: Professionalism, Leadership, and Development in Palliative Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate professional responsibility and clinical governance in palliative care practice, adhering to ethical and legal standards.
- Exhibit leadership and management skills in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and ensuring high-quality palliative care.
- Engage in reflective practice and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to foster ongoing career growth.
- Contribute to the development of palliative care policies, improving services at organisational and national levels.
The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (PgDPCHM) is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their expertise in end-of-life care, symptom management, and hospice medicine. This course is ideal for:
- Palliative Care Physicians and Specialists looking to enhance their clinical skills and knowledge in managing complex life-limiting conditions.
- Nurses working in palliative care or hospice settings who wish to deepen their understanding of symptom management and patient-centred care.
- Allied Healthcare Professionals involved in multidisciplinary palliative care teams, including physiotherapists, social workers, and chaplains.
- Hospice and Palliative Care Managers seeking to develop leadership skills and improve service delivery within their teams.
- Healthcare Educators looking to expand their teaching portfolio in palliative care education.
- Clinicians and Medical Practitioners with a focus on chronic disease management, who wish to specialise in end-of-life care.
- Healthcare Leaders aiming to influence policy development, clinical governance, and quality improvement within palliative and hospice care settings.
This course is specifically designed for experienced professionals who want to take the next step in their career, develop leadership capabilities, and contribute to the development of high-quality palliative care services.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine must meet rigorous standards to ensure the highest quality of education and learner success. Key requirements include:
- Qualified and Experienced Staff: Centres must employ highly qualified educators and assessors with substantial clinical and academic experience in palliative care, hospice medicine, or related fields. Staff should possess advanced qualifications and demonstrate expertise in end-of-life care, symptom management, and multidisciplinary team leadership.
- Comprehensive Clinical Facilities: Centres must provide access to modern clinical and hospice environments, enabling learners to gain hands-on experience in patient care settings. This includes access to symptom management units, bereavement counselling areas, and multidisciplinary team collaboration spaces.
- Robust Learning Resources: Learners must have access to a wide range of academic resources, including textbooks, research journals, case studies, and digital learning platforms. Centres should ensure that learning materials support the integration of theory into practice and foster in-depth study.
- Practical Training Opportunities: Centres must facilitate practical experiences in real-world settings, including opportunities for learners to engage in case-based learning, simulation exercises, and interprofessional collaboration. This provides learners with direct exposure to palliative and hospice care practices.
- Ethical and Legal Compliance: Centres must adhere to ethical standards and legal frameworks governing palliative care and healthcare education, ensuring that all aspects of the programme are delivered with integrity and professionalism.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Support: Centres should provide structured guidance on CPD and reflective practice, ensuring that learners are supported in applying new knowledge to their ongoing clinical practice. This includes offering opportunities for learners to engage in quality improvement initiatives and policy development.
- Assessment and Evaluation Framework: Centres must implement clear and rigorous assessment strategies, including written assignments, clinical evaluations, and case studies, to ensure that learners achieve all learning outcomes and demonstrate competence in palliative care and hospice medicine.
Meeting these requirements ensures that learners receive high-quality training in palliative care, preparing them for leadership roles and advanced practice in end-of-life care.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
