Enquire about Course Booking Form

Palliative Care Course For Care Assistants

Cost: £370
Duration: 7 weeks

Course Dates

• Preview afternoon Friday 10 September 2010 then Friday, 24 September to Friday, 5 November 2010
  Education Centre, St Luke's Cheshire Hospice, Winsford

Course Information

Background to the Course

The rationale for developing this introductory course in palliative care for care assistants was based upon evidence that suggests the care of the terminally ill is often carried out by care assistants. The research also indicates that despite their broad range of practical and theoretical skills and the support given to them, they still feel ill prepared for this difficult, yet vital work. (Clark 1993, Zehmyr 2000, Komaromy 2000)

The contexts of care are diverse and can include the patients' own home, nursing home, hospital, residential care home and hospice, which are reflected by current demography and social policy (Komaromy 2000)

As these carers form a large and important part of the workforce within both the social and health care services and the private and independent sector, it is recognised that the provision of education will encourage the provision of high quality palliative care to the population.

Cheshire Hospices Education recognises this need for "education across the board" and looks to provide palliative care education in areas where traditionally little had been offered. Cheshire Hospices Education works closely with many other agencies and has developed a course that responds to the needs identified by those who have care assistants employed within their ranks. With help and support from Cheshire and Wirral Education and Training Consortium, Cheshire Social Services and St John's Hospice on the Wirral, a Short Course in Palliative Care for Care Assistants was piloted in May 2000.

The innovative nature of this course combines theory, practice in a specialist palliative care setting, and a period of clinical facilitation which encourages the application of knowledge and skills into the students' own workplace. An individual programme of facilitation is arranged with each student to meet their needs and those of the setting within which they work.

Outline of the course

Format of course and topics/themes covered:

Introductory 1/2 day

• Aims of the course
• Allocation to placement bases
• Developing personal action plan (one-to-one with tutor)

Week1 (1 theory day)

• Introduction to palliative/terminal care of life-threatening illnesses
• Attitudes and importance of good communication

Week 2 (1 theory day)

• Aspects of physical care

Week 3 (2 practice days)

• Time spent in specialist palliative care practice supported by a mentor

Week 4 (1 theory day)

• Loss and grief

Week 5 (2 practice days)

• Time spent in specialist palliative care practice supported by a mentor

Week 6 (1 theory day)

• Communication skills

Week 7 (1 theory day)

• Reflection on practice
• Evaluation of course
• Facilitation in practice

The course comprises of five full and one half theory days and four days in a specialist practice placement. It is designed for all care assistants who work in an area where palliative care is provided.

Course Aims

1. To enable students to increase their knowledge and skills in the theory and practice of palliative care
2. To support and guide students to facilitate change within their own area of practice

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how the philosophy of palliative care can adapt and improve care in a variety of settings
2. Recognise the importance of promoting comfort and quality of life
3. Identify how personal and societal attitudes and feelings to death and dying can affect the management of care