End of Life Care (Level 7) UCPCE course

Program Overview

The End of Life Care University Certificate in Postgraduate Continuing Education (UCPCE) is a 14-week online program designed for healthcare practitioners. It provides principles and practical skills in palliative and end-of-life care, focusing on holistic assessment and excellence in patient and family care. The program aligns with national priorities and guidelines, and includes modules on integrated approaches to care, planning future care, and respecting patient choices.

Program Outline

Extracted Information from the Context:

Degree Overview:

• Title: End of Life Care (Level 7) University Certificate in Postgraduate Continuing Education (UCPCE)
• Course Aims:
• Aligns with palliative/end-of-life care philosophy.
• Prepares experienced healthcare practitioners with principles and practical skills.
• Focuses on holistic assessment and excellence in palliative and end-of-life care for patients and their families.
• Learning Outcomes:
• Understand integrated approaches to care.
• Plan future care for terminally ill patients.
• Recognize and provide care for patients in line with national priorities and guidelines.
• Respect patient choices when dying has been recognized.

Outline:

• Learning Format: 100% online distance learning.
• Duration: 14 weeks.
• Structure:
• 10 weeks of learning materials available anytime.
• 4 weeks of independent study and tutorial support.
• 200 learning hours for a 20-credit module.
• Content:
• Integrated approaches to care.
• Planning future care.
• Dealing with uncertainty regarding terminal illness.
• Recognizing, updating, and providing care for patients.
• Priorities for Care of the Dying (2014).
• NICE Guidance for Care of the Dying Adult (2015 and 2017 update).
• Respecting patient choices.
• Leadership in symptom management.
• Current evidence, policies, and guidelines.
• Cultural aspects.
• Ethical decision-making.
• Identifying dying patients.
• Advance decisions.
• Communication skills for psycho-social support.
• Modules:
• Each module focuses on a specific area of palliative and end-of-life care.
• The course considers end-of-life care from a holistic perspective.

Assessment:

• Assessment Method:
• 3,000-word written case study.
• Assessment Criteria:
• Critical analysis and evaluation of an episode of patient care.

Teaching:

• Learning Methods:
• Discussion boards.
• Recorded lectures.
• Interactive quizzes.
• Learning Platform:
• Brightspace Learning Environment.
• Available on smartphones, tablets, and computers.
• Accessible anytime.
• Easy to use and navigate.
• Provides clear progress tracking.
• Offers tutorial support.
• Faculty:
• Tutors provide feedback, help, and guidance throughout the course.
• Live activity feed keeps students updated.

Careers:

• Career Opportunities:
• Increased understanding and knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care.

Other:

• Cost: £750 for applicants.
• Start Date: April.
• Application: Online.
• Eligibility:
• Healthcare practitioners involved with patients/clients requiring end-of-life care.
• Previous degree-level study.
• University: Teesside University.
• Learning Environment: Supportive and interactive online learning environment.
• Student Support: Access to all of Teesside University's world-class teaching and support.

Additional Information:

• The course content considers the societal approach to health, illness, and death.
• The course includes disease trajectories and life transitions.
• The course explores complex symptom management with a focus on the most distressing symptoms.
• The course addresses advance decisions and communication skills associated with psycho-social support.
• The course aligns with the latest policies and guidelines, including the Priorities for Care of the Dying (2014) and the NICE Guidance for Care of the Dying Adult (2015 and 2017 update).
• The course focuses on leadership in palliative and end-of-life care.
• The course is designed for healthcare practitioners who want to improve their skills and knowledge in providing compassionate and holistic care to patients and their families at the end of life.