The LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Dip PM) is a professionally designed qualification tailored for healthcare professionals who are committed to advancing their expertise in palliative care and improving patient outcomes. This diploma is not intended for fresh candidates but is aimed at experienced practitioners who wish to enhance their career prospects, strengthen their clinical knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to the field of palliative medicine.
The course provides learners with an in-depth understanding of advanced palliative care principles, symptom management, ethical considerations, communication strategies, and multidisciplinary approaches to end-of-life care. By addressing both theoretical foundations and practical applications, the programme equips learners with the skills to deliver compassionate, patient-centred care in diverse healthcare settings.
Centres delivering this qualification must ensure that training is facilitated by competent and qualified staff with relevant expertise in palliative medicine. Additionally, they are required to provide access to essential learning resources, modern facilities, and robust academic support to ensure learner success. The structured approach of the diploma aligns with international standards, promoting high-quality education and continuous professional development (CPD).
The LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine is ideal for medical doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals who wish to specialise in palliative care, progress in leadership roles, or expand their scope of practice. By completing this programme, learners gain the confidence, advanced knowledge, and professional recognition needed to excel in this vital field of medicine.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Dip PM)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
480
Qualification #
LICQ2200923
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Dip PM), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2200923-1 |
Foundations of Palliative Medicine and Ethical Practice |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2200923-2 |
Pain Management and Symptom Control in Palliative Care |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2200923-3 |
Communication Skills and Psychosocial Support |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2200923-4 |
Palliative Care for Specific Populations (Adults, Paediatrics, and Geriatrics) |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2200923-5 |
Integrated Multidisciplinary and Holistic Approaches to Palliative Care |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2200923-6 |
Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Innovations in Palliative Medicine |
20 |
80 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Foundations of Palliative Medicine and Ethical Practice
- Critically evaluate the historical development, principles, and scope of palliative medicine.
- Analyse ethical, cultural, and legal challenges in end-of-life care.
- Demonstrate advanced decision-making skills in ethically complex palliative care situations.
- Appraise the professional responsibilities and multidisciplinary roles in palliative practice.
Unit 2: Pain Management and Symptom Control in Palliative Care
- Apply evidence-based methods for the assessment and management of pain in palliative patients.
- Evaluate pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for symptom control.
- Manage complex symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnoea, nausea, and cachexia with a holistic approach.
- Integrate advanced clinical protocols to optimise patient comfort and quality of life.
Unit 3: Communication Skills and Psychosocial Support
- Demonstrate advanced communication techniques in sensitive and emotionally charged contexts.
- Critically assess psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual factors affecting patients and families.
- Provide effective emotional support to patients, families, and caregivers in palliative settings.
- Apply counselling frameworks and evidence-based psychosocial interventions in practice.
Unit 4: Palliative Care for Specific Populations (Adults, Paediatrics, and Geriatrics)
- Analyse the unique palliative care needs of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Critically evaluate strategies for paediatric palliative care and family-centred approaches.
- Integrate gender, cultural, and socio-economic perspectives into personalised palliative plans.
- Develop advanced care strategies tailored to vulnerable and diverse populations.
Unit 5: Integrated Multidisciplinary and Holistic Approaches to Palliative Care
- Critically appraise the roles of healthcare professionals in a multidisciplinary palliative care team.
- Integrate holistic care principles, addressing physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs.
- Design collaborative care pathways involving hospitals, hospices, and community services.
- Evaluate models of multidisciplinary teamwork to ensure patient-centred and family-inclusive care.
Unit 6: Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Innovations in Palliative Medicine
- Critically review research methodologies relevant to palliative care practice.
- Apply evidence-based frameworks to inform advanced clinical decision-making.
- Evaluate emerging innovations, digital health solutions, and global trends in palliative medicine.
- Design and conduct independent research or audits to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.
The LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Dip PM) is designed for healthcare professionals and practitioners who wish to advance their expertise in palliative care and improve patient quality of life. This programme is not intended for beginners but for experienced individuals seeking professional growth and recognition. It is ideal for:
- Doctors and Physicians looking to specialise in palliative and end-of-life care.
- Nurses and Clinical Practitioners aiming to enhance their skills in pain management, symptom control, and psychosocial support.
- Healthcare Managers and Coordinators responsible for developing and managing palliative care services.
- Allied Health Professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and counsellors involved in holistic palliative care.
- Pharmacists supporting pain relief, medication management, and palliative drug therapies.
- Hospice and Palliative Care Workers committed to improving multidisciplinary and patient-centred care delivery.
- Medical Educators and Researchers seeking to contribute to evidence-based practice and innovations in palliative medicine.
- Healthcare Professionals in Community and Home-Based Care delivering support for patients outside hospital settings.
- Learners committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and aiming to enhance their career prospects in palliative medicine.
To ensure high-quality delivery of the LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Palliative Medicine (Dip PM), approved centres must meet specific academic, professional, and resource requirements. These standards guarantee that learners receive comprehensive training and support aligned with international best practices in palliative care.
Essential Centre Requirements:
- Qualified and Experienced Staff
- Centres must employ competent tutors, trainers, and assessors with recognised qualifications and substantial experience in palliative medicine and healthcare.
- Staff should possess current knowledge of evidence-based practices and demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Adequate Learning Resources
- Centres must provide learners with access to up-to-date textbooks, journals, digital resources, and case studies relevant to palliative care.
- Facilities should include suitable classrooms, clinical simulation environments, and online learning platforms (if applicable).
- Assessment and Quality Assurance
- Robust systems must be in place for fair and transparent learner assessment.
- Internal and external quality assurance mechanisms should be followed to maintain international training standards.
- Learner Support Services
- Centres must provide academic guidance, pastoral support, and career counselling tailored to learners’ professional needs.
- Accessible communication channels should be available for feedback and learner queries.
- Health and Safety Standards
- Centres must comply with healthcare training regulations, ensuring safe and ethical learning environments.
- Practical training, where applicable, should follow approved clinical safety protocols.
- Commitment to Excellence
- Centres must demonstrate continuous improvement in training delivery, ensuring learners achieve both academic success and professional competence in palliative 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.
