The LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (Cert PCHM) is a specialised qualification designed for healthcare professionals who wish to advance their expertise in palliative and hospice care. This Level 3 Certificate is aimed at learners with prior experience in healthcare, providing them with the knowledge and skills required to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. It is particularly suitable for those looking to enhance their career prospects, deepen their professional knowledge, and fulfil Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
Learners enrolling in this course will gain a thorough understanding of palliative care principles, symptom management, patient-centred communication, and holistic approaches to end-of-life care. The course also covers ethical, psychological, and social considerations, equipping learners to support patients and their families through challenging clinical scenarios.
To ensure the highest standards of training and learner achievement, centres delivering this qualification must have competent and qualified staff, alongside access to all necessary learning materials, clinical resources, and practical facilities. This ensures learners receive an engaging and supportive learning experience that promotes both theoretical understanding and practical application.
Whether you are a nurse, doctor, allied health professional, or hospice worker, this Level 3 Certificate provides a robust platform for professional development, enhanced clinical competence, and improved patient care outcomes. By completing the course, learners will be prepared to make a meaningful difference in palliative care settings while maintaining best practices and upholding the highest standards of patient-centred care.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (Cert PCHM)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
24
GLH
120
Qualification #
LICQ2200855
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (Cert PCHM), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2200855-1 |
Principles of Palliative Care |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200855-2 |
Symptom Assessment and Management |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200855-3 |
Communication and Interpersonal Skills |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200855-4 |
Psychosocial and Spiritual Care |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200855-5 |
End-of-Life Care and Ethical Considerations |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200855-6 |
Interdisciplinary Approaches and Quality Improvement |
4 |
20 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Principles of Palliative Care
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the fundamental principles and philosophy of palliative care
- Recognise the importance of patient-centred and holistic care approaches
- Analyse ethical considerations in palliative care practice
- Evaluate the role of palliative care in improving quality of life for patients and families
Unit 2: Symptom Assessment and Management
Learning Outcomes:
- Assess and identify common physical and psychological symptoms in palliative care
- Apply effective strategies for managing pain, fatigue, breathlessness, nausea, and distress
- Evaluate the impact of symptom management on patient well-being and comfort
- Develop care plans tailored to individual patient needs
Unit 3: Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate effective communication with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams
- Apply empathetic and sensitive approaches when delivering difficult news
- Develop skills for active listening, counselling, and conflict resolution
- Analyse the impact of communication on patient outcomes and satisfaction
Unit 4: Psychosocial and Spiritual Care
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients in palliative care
- Apply strategies to support patients’ emotional and psychological well-being
- Recognise and respect diverse cultural and spiritual beliefs in care delivery
- Evaluate interventions that enhance holistic support for patients and families
Unit 5: End-of-Life Care and Ethical Considerations
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop knowledge of end-of-life care planning and advance directives
- Apply ethical principles and professional judgement in palliative care decisions
- Understand relevant legal frameworks impacting end-of-life care
- Analyse complex cases to make informed, compassionate care decisions
Unit 6: Interdisciplinary Approaches and Quality Improvement
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the role of multidisciplinary teams in delivering palliative care
- Apply principles of teamwork, collaboration, and care coordination
- Evaluate quality improvement methods and audit practices in palliative care settings
- Reflect on professional practice and engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities
The LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine (Cert PCHM) is designed for healthcare professionals who want to strengthen their expertise in end‑of‑life care, symptom management, and holistic patient support. This Palliative Care and Hospice Medicine Level 3 course is ideal for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and educators who are seeking CPD accreditation, career progression, and an internationally recognized qualification. It is not intended for beginners but for those already working in healthcare who want to expand their specialist knowledge and clinical skills in palliative and hospice care.
1. Medical Doctors and Physicians
- Enhance clinical expertise in palliative and hospice medicine
- Gain advanced knowledge of pain management and symptom control
- Improve patient outcomes with evidence‑based end‑of‑life care
- Strengthen communication and decision‑making with families
- Earn a globally recognized palliative care certification
2. Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
- Build confidence in supporting patients with life‑limiting illnesses
- Learn holistic approaches to physical, emotional, and spiritual care
- Expand scope of practice with specialized palliative care training
- Fulfill continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Increase employability in hospitals, hospices, and community care
3. Hospice and Palliative Care Specialists
- Deepen understanding of advanced palliative care practices
- Stay updated with modern approaches to hospice medicine
- Strengthen technical and clinical decision‑making skills
- Gain recognition with a Level 3 Palliative Care qualification
- Broaden career opportunities in specialist healthcare services
4. Healthcare Educators and Trainers
- Integrate palliative care knowledge into teaching and training programs
- Enhance credibility with an international certification
- Support students with up‑to‑date clinical and ethical insights
- Strengthen academic and professional profiles
- Contribute to evidence‑based education in palliative medicine
5. Public Health and Community Health Professionals
- Address the growing need for palliative and hospice care awareness
- Learn preventive and supportive strategies for community health
- Support awareness programs for end‑of‑life care planning
- Gain skills to manage common palliative care needs in primary care
- Strengthen role in public health and patient advocacy initiatives
6. Social Workers and Care Coordinators
- Understand the psychosocial aspects of palliative care
- Learn strategies for supporting families and caregivers
- Improve coordination between healthcare teams and communities
- Gain skills in ethical decision‑making and patient advocacy
- Enhance career opportunities in hospice and community services
7. International Healthcare Professionals
- Obtain a globally recognized palliative care and hospice medicine certificate
- Align with UK and international healthcare standards
- Improve career mobility across countries and regions
- Gain competitive advantage in global healthcare markets
- Access structured, flexible learning designed for busy professionals
To deliver high-quality training and ensure learner success, centres offering this qualification must meet the following requirements:
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Centres must employ experienced trainers and assessors with relevant professional qualifications in palliative care, hospice medicine, or healthcare. Staff should have practical experience and expertise in Level 3 healthcare education.
- Access to Learning Resources: Centres must provide learners with up-to-date course materials, textbooks, digital learning platforms, and reference resources to support both theoretical knowledge and practical application.
- Teaching and Learning Facilities: Centres should have suitable classrooms, clinical simulation areas, and demonstration facilities to facilitate interactive and practical learning experiences.
- Assessment Arrangements: Centres must implement robust assessment procedures, including formative and summative assessments, to ensure learners achieve all required learning outcomes.
- Health and Safety Compliance: Centres must maintain safe learning environments, adhering to UK health and safety regulations, particularly for practical or clinical sessions.
- Quality Assurance Systems: Centres should have effective internal quality assurance mechanisms, including monitoring teaching standards, learner feedback, and continuous improvement strategies.
- Support for Learners: Centres must provide guidance and support services, including access to tutors, mentoring, and resources for independent study to promote learner success.
Meeting these requirements ensures that centres deliver a professional, credible, and internationally recognised training programme, equipping learners with the knowledge and skills needed for excellence in palliative care and hospice medicine.
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.
