PgCert Palliative Care
01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028
| Course Leader | Clare Churcher |
|---|---|
| Course Team | Maria Parry, Stuart Todd |
| Awarding Body | University of South Wales |
| Teaching Institutions | University of South Wales |
| Modes of Study | Part Time, Full Time |
Document Version
| Version | 4 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2022 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2028 |
QAA Benchmarks
Educational Aim
The aim of this award is to enable professionals to enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding in order to deal with the complexities of patients and their families living with a life limiting illness and who are at the end of life. This course also gives the opportunity for student to develop specialist understanding of palliative care and end of life care and the legal, ethical, moral and professional aspects of this specialism.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) Master’s Degree Characteristics (2020) provided the basis for the educational aims of the Post Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care. The course comprises the following aims to enable the student to:
• Demonstrate how to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively with patients, families and carers with life limiting conditions in all settings.
• To be able to make comprehensive judgements in the absence of a thorough history and to communicate their conclusions clearly to other healthcare professionals;
• Demonstrate patient centred care and advocacy in tackling and solving ongoing issues with patients, families and carers problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks within their scope of professional practice;
• Continue to advance their knowledge in palliative care and to develop new or enhance current skills, to be able to provide a high level of understanding and awareness.
• To improve skills to meet the changing needs of patients, families and carers with life-limiting illnesses.
• To encourage self-direction, independence and research in learning and creativity in palliative care. Using evidence based practice, to continually evolve knowledge and application of theory to the student’s own professional practice.
The Graduate Attributes are incorporated within modules and are related to relevant assessments as appropriate. These are detailed within module descriptors.
Learning Outcomes
| A1 | Demonstrate expertise and proficiency in selecting and applying knowledge and skills to complex and potentially unexpected situations through the ability to assess and recognise, define and prioritise problems in palliative and end of life care. |
| A2 | Demonstrate improved clinical judgement, critically evaluating and synthesising information to enhance the effectiveness of clinical judgement and teamwork in palliative and end of life care. |
| A3 | Critically demonstrate knowledge and understanding of subjects and skills that underpin contemporary practice to provide innovative and solutions to patient care in palliative and end of life care. |
| A4 | Critically analyse and synthesise data to appraise its value for healthcare delivery along with an awareness of the principles and practice of other relevant health and social care in palliative care. |
| B1 | Critically analyse, investigate and synthesise contemporary research and evidence, environmental and health behaviours to inform practice to enhance patient centred care approaches in palliative care. |
| B2 | Critically analyse and reflect on individual performance in light of contemporary evidence based practice in own area of practice. |
| B3 | Interpret and critically challenge contemporary evidence based practice in relation to both familiar and unfamiliar problems. Articulate information, arguments and ideas clearly and succinctly to others. |
| B4 | Differentiate between and apply pertinent theoretical frameworks to improve practice and critically reflect upon own practice and that of others. Identify skills and knowledge gaps in relation to own practice and reflect on ways to ensure further development. |
| C1 | Critically reflect on the application of knowledge to practice based skill levels in order to deliver the expected standards of care, within a changing dynamic environment. |
| C2 | Demonstrate the ability to critically challenge practice taking into account dynamic social, cultural, spiritual , ethical, legal , environmental, political and economic factors in palliative and end of life care. |
| C3 | Manage themselves, their own professional practice whilst continuing to practice in line with current Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (2018) and associated Allied Health Professions/Health and Care Professions Council (2016). |
| C4 | Critically analyse the need to obtain, record, collate and critically evaluate all appropriate information/data to ensure continuity of healthcare by all professional groups, irrespective of traditional professional and institutional boundaries in palliative care. |
Course Structure
Level 6 Modules
| Module Code | Module Id | Module Title | Module Status | Credit Value | Module Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU3S057 | MOD010792 | Nature and Scope of Palliative Care | Running | 20 | core |
Level 7 Modules
Teaching and Assessment
Learning and Teaching Methods
Employer Engagement
Visiting Speakers
Visiting speakers will be involved with the course providing patient stories/lived experiences. There are opportunities for seminars / webinars etc that sit outside the core teaching, but is linked to the modules that student can attend if they so wish. This gives added knowledge and scope of learning experience to the students on the course.
Work-based Learning
The ethos of the course is work-based learning. It is about bridging the gap between theory and clinical practice. In essence it recognises the commitment and enthusiasm of work-based health care professional to achieve their full potential and to continue their own personal development.
Based on work-based learning (WBL) pedagogies, the course encourages the health professional to undertake reflective practice, through the think points in the course book or through the case studies in the assignments by using real examples of practice. This will produce reflective practitioners and active learners that are able to apply the knowledge and skills gained in real-life situations and work places.
Other
This is a course where various aspects of Palliative Care, Symptoms Control and end of life are discussed and evaluated. Modules are assessed through case-based real-life assignments. Students on this course are employed as healthcare professionals and will have prior varied skills, knowledge and experience that they will bring to the academic discussion and debate within the course. Students within the Community of Practice and discussion boards will learn with and from each other allowing richness of lived professional experiences that can be shared, thus enhancing learning.
Students can progress during or on completion of the course onto employment within the area of specialist Palliative Care.
Means of Assessment
Learning Support
Induction
An induction meeting using Microsoft teams is provided for all modules within this course which allows students the chance to speak to and get to know other students, as well as the academic staff. This is set up over teams because of the online nature of this course delivery
Personal Academic Coach
All students are able to contact the course leader to support their academic progress, this can be utilised by using the set contact days, or discussion can be had via email and/or teams. The course leader will also advise the student on how to seek support for any personal matters arising that are affecting their studies.
Office hours
Office hours are communicated to the students at the start of each academic year and within each module induction. This is explained within the course handbook.
The academic week is Monday – Friday and the working day is generally 09.00hrs to 17.00hrs.
Announcements are placed on blackboard for when staff are on annual leave and there are key dates for each of the modules where it shows clearly when the University is closed.
Seminars
Webinars that would be useful for the students to attend are placed on blackboard as announcements. These would not be linked to the university course but are external webinars/conferences.
Formative Assessment
The modules throughout the courses incorporate formative learning and assessment in order to support an ongoing dialogue with students as they develop their knowledge, skills and proficiency.
For two of the modules Nature and Scope of Palliative Care and Therapeutic Management of Life Limiting illness in Palliative Care, the formative assessments are essays based on a case study. Each case study is a scenario that the student chooses from their own clinical practice area where they analyse the application of theory to practice.
Progress meetings
There are no set progress meetings, as the students on the course are working professionals and time is always key. However there are contact days arranged throughout each of the modules where students are able to get in touch to discuss their own progression and development.
Research Supervision
Supervisors will be allocated for each piece of academic work in order to provide both the academic and pastoral support needed. This allows the student to maximise their potential during the course. Students will be encouraged to be active in the supervision process and will be supported by a named academic who is allocated to them for each of the course modules.
Online Resources
All modules are linked to UniLearn, the USW integrated system, which supports assessment, learning and teaching activities through technology. As this course is distance learning, students are not necessarily in the geographical area close to the university therefore all resources are sourced online, this includes the course handbook, timetable of key dates throughout the year, and dedicated contact days to each of the modules. There is an extensive leaning material portfolio, which has various articles, polices relating to palliative care and a reading list linked to the library, where many of these resource can be seen/read online. The students are able to access support for distance learning students, which gives then access to the library and help and support via the advice zone.
A Microsoft teams, Community of Practice of Palliative Care, has been developed this year with the aim of bringing all the students together across all the palliative care modules.
The course book, which has been written by the course team and developed over the years, includes a variety of activities and think points with the aim for students to engage with each other and develop their thoughts, opinions and ideas.
Advice Zone
Students are able to self-refer or be directed to the USW advice zone this can be accessed in person or online. Staff within the advice zone are able to offer advice about the circumstances where extenuating circumstances are offered. Students can also seek advice about the complaints procedure, if necessary.
http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3024-advice-zones.
Instruction on the services available and how to make an appointment are included in course handbooks and on the USW website.
Disability
The DDS provides a confidential and professional service where students can discuss individual requirements relating to disability.
Advice and support are available for all students who have additional learning needs or those that require reasonable adjustments to be made. Students are encouraged to discuss additional needs or support with the course leader.
http://dds.southwales.ac.uk The DDS is located in the Library on the Treforest campus and offers regular drop-in sessions and can be accessed online.
IT/Library
Students have access to all USW resources both on and off campus. The School has a subject specialist librarian available to help and support students. Students have access to Findit, online resources and hard copy reservation (if they live close enough to the university). The course team also provide specific reading resources as part of modules within the course.
Course Exit Points
| Award | Criteria | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Certificate | 60 credits with at least 40 at Level 7 and no more than 20 at Level 6 | Final |
Progression Route
Graduates of the Pg Cert Palliative Care at USW will be prepared for a wide range of further career opportunities in healthcare. There is potential for progression to MSc and PhD study.MSc in Professional Practice- USW
Entry Requirements
Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:
For admission to the course, the student needs need to be a registered professional with their regulatory body, such as The Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Social Care Wales and General Medical Council, or equivalent. They should practice in a setting that provides interventions for those patients deemed palliative or at end of life and have consolidated their initial pre-registration qualification through a minimal of 6 months’ experience.
The applicants must possess an Honours degree or equivalent. Applications from individuals with evidence of ongoing professional development will also be considered through the accreditation of recognised prior learning (RPL).
The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent.
Students MUST be able to demonstrate the application of the course to their clinical area of practice via an appropriate and detailed personal statement in their application.
Will students be required to undergo a DBS check? No
Inclusive Curriculum Statement
The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/
Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution
N/A
Methods Of Quality Standards
N/A
Quality Of Standards Indicators
N/A