The LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Medicine (Cert PM) is a specialised qualification designed for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in palliative and end-of-life care, advance their career prospects, and strengthen their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This course is not intended for fresh candidates; it is tailored for learners who already have experience in healthcare and wish to gain advanced knowledge and practical skills in delivering compassionate and effective palliative care.
Learners on this course will explore a wide range of topics, including pain and symptom management, communication with patients and families, ethical considerations, multidisciplinary teamwork, and holistic care approaches. The qualification equips learners with the knowledge and skills required to provide high-quality, patient-centred care to individuals with life-limiting conditions, supporting both patients and their families throughout the care journey.
The course emphasises both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Learners will gain insights into advanced clinical interventions, care planning, end-of-life decision-making, and the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of palliative care, preparing them to respond effectively to complex care needs.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Medicine must ensure that teaching is conducted by competent and qualified staff, supported with appropriate learning resources and materials. Accredited centres must provide a structured learning environment that promotes learner engagement, practical competency, and successful achievement of the qualification.
Upon completion, learners will be equipped to deliver high-quality palliative care, enhance patient comfort, support families, and contribute meaningfully to multidisciplinary healthcare teams, making a significant impact in the field of palliative medicine.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Medicine (Cert PM)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
24
GLH
120
Qualification #
LICQ2200837
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Medicine (Cert PM), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2200837-1 |
Principles of Palliative Medicine |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200837-2 |
Pain and Symptom Management |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200837-3 |
Communication and Patient Support |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200837-4 |
End-of-Life Care and Decision-Making |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200837-5 |
Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Palliative Care |
4 |
20 |
|
LICQ2200837-6 |
Professional Practice and Ethics in Palliative Medicine |
4 |
20 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Principles of Palliative Medicine
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Explain the role and scope of palliative care within healthcare systems.
- Analyse patient-centred and holistic approaches to end-of-life care.
- Evaluate the impact of palliative care on patients, families, and communities.
- Identify emerging trends and contemporary challenges in palliative medicine.
Unit 2: Pain and Symptom Management
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Identify common symptoms and complications in palliative care patients.
- Apply evidence-based strategies for effective pain relief and symptom control.
- Monitor and evaluate patient responses to interventions.
- Discuss ethical considerations when managing symptoms in palliative care.
Unit 3: Communication and Patient Support
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication with patients and their families.
- Apply techniques for delivering difficult news and providing emotional support.
- Promote patient engagement in care planning and decision-making.
- Consider cultural, psychological, and social factors affecting patient care.
Unit 4: End-of-Life Care and Decision-Making
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Explain the principles of end-of-life care planning and decision-making.
- Apply strategies for advance care planning and respecting patient autonomy.
- Support families through the dying process and bereavement.
- Make ethical and compassionate decisions in complex care scenarios.
Unit 5: Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Palliative Care
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Identify the roles of different healthcare professionals in palliative care.
- Apply effective teamwork and interprofessional collaboration skills.
- Coordinate care planning and service delivery within a multidisciplinary framework.
- Evaluate strategies to improve patient outcomes through collaborative practice.
Unit 6: Professional Practice and Ethics in Palliative Medicine
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Apply professional standards and ethical principles in palliative care practice.
- Maintain accurate records and ensure patient confidentiality.
- Engage in reflective practice and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Deliver safe, effective, and compassionate palliative care interventions.
This course is designed for learners seeking to enhance their expertise in palliative and end-of-life care. It is ideal for:
- Healthcare professionals such as nurses, healthcare assistants, and allied health workers who wish to specialise in palliative care.
- Clinical staff working with patients with life-limiting conditions seeking to improve symptom management, patient support, and care planning skills.
- Medical and care practitioners involved in end-of-life care, hospice, or home-based palliative care services.
- Healthcare workers committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and advancing their careers in palliative medicine.
- Multidisciplinary teams who wish to strengthen collaboration and improve patient outcomes in palliative care settings.
- Individuals interested in compassionate patient-centred care and ethical decision-making at the end of life.
- Organisations and care providers aiming to upskill staff to deliver high-quality, safe, and effective palliative care services.
To deliver the LICQual Level 3 Certificate in Palliative Medicine effectively and maintain high-quality training standards, centres must meet the following requirements:
- Accredited Training Facility: Centres must hold proper accreditation to deliver Level 3 healthcare and palliative medicine qualifications in compliance with LICQual quality standards.
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Trainers should be experienced healthcare professionals with expertise in palliative and end-of-life care, symptom management, and patient support.
- Comprehensive Learning Resources: Centres must provide learners with up-to-date textbooks, journals, digital resources, and evidence-based guidelines relevant to palliative care.
- Practical Training Facilities: Access to clinical or hospice settings, simulation labs, or patient care environments for practical exercises and applied learning.
- Health and Safety Compliance: Centres must maintain strict health, safety, and infection control protocols to ensure the safety of learners and staff.
- Assessment and Evaluation Capability: Ability to conduct theoretical and practical assessments, including case studies, projects, and clinical demonstrations, aligned with LICQual standards.
- Learner Support Services: Provision of mentoring, academic guidance, and additional support to ensure learners achieve their outcomes successfully.
- Technology and IT Infrastructure: Access to e-learning platforms, online research databases, and digital tools to support both theoretical and practical learning.
- Record Keeping and Reporting: Systems for accurate learner registration, progress tracking, assessment documentation, and timely certification.
- Compliance with International Standards: Centres should align training delivery with global best practices in palliative medicine, end-of-life care, and clinical governance.
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.
