Unit 1: Working in Palliative Care

• Identify the various age groups and their specific needs at this stage of life.
• List the principles of hospice and palliative care
• Have an understanding of the important of pain control and quality of life
• Understand the difference between palliative care and terminal care
• Recognise the importance of the family members
• Be aware of fears/anxieties/ worries that client and family may have.
• Respect for client’s wishes and confidentiality, and dignity
• Adapt levels of assistance to clients needs ensuring a sense of worth, quality of life and self-esteem.
• Reflect on carer’s own feeling about death, dying and bereavement and coping abilities.
• Be aware of need for support and guidance for care workers.
• Explain the grieving process

Unit 2: Communication Skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills with clients who are angry, anxious, sad, depressed, withdrawn or confused
• Understand various non-verbal signals that are effective when communicating with the dying person and his/her family members
• Awareness of ways in which the body communicates, e.g. distress, pain etc.
• The role of perception and sensitivity when communicating with clients at this stage of life
• Be aware of the way in which the physical environment communicates
• Observe the role of the various members of the healthcare team in communicating information to clients and family members
• Responds sensitively to grieving family members
• Know when to seek advice and assistance from other team members

Unit 3: Caring for People with Specific Needs

• Outline & evaluate the physical, social, spiritual, emotional & sexual needs of the dying person
• Be able to adapt care practice to meet the needs of the person who is experiencing: fatigue, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, pain and discomfort, constipation and diarrhoea, swallowing difficulties, oral health problems
• Be able to adapt care practice to meet the needs of the person who is using a syringe driver.
• Provide care for the unconscious person/end of life stage, ensuring safety, respect and comfort
• Understand some of the conditions that clients may have.
• Be conscious of the sensitivity of people to altered body image
• Carry out all duties after death with respect for the person and family members

Component Certificate in Palliative Care Support (FETAC Level 5)

Certificate in Palliative Care Support (The College of Progressive Education)

This course is designed for those people working, or planning to work, with people who are at this stage of their life cycle in a paid or voluntary capacity. This is one of the elective modules for the Healthcare Support cetificate FETAC level 5 DHSXX.

• Provide holistic care for clients at this stage of their life cycle
• Develop and acquire effective communication skills with the client and the family members
• Recognise and respect the individual's uniqueness at this stage of life
• Recognise the importance of working as a team to ensure quality care for the individual client.

There are no specific entry requirements. Minimum age is 17 years.

Learners must also be capable of undertaking assessment work to Ordinalry Level Leaving Certificate standard.

Learners must also submit a letter detailing how and where they are going to obtain their work experience.

International learners undertaking this course should have confidence in their English language, reading, writing and comprehension skills and have at least a 5 IELTS score or equivalent

Learners must be working with an individual or individuals who are receiving palliative care and must also gain experience of working with a person who is in the end stages of life. A minimum of 20 hours work experience is required during the programme.

Learner Record - 70%

Assignment - 30%

FETAC Level 5 Health Support Certificate (DHSXX)

Practical Home Care Skills - FETAC Level 5 Component Certificate

Care Worker

Family support member

12 evenings one per week and 2 saturdays

Learners must be working with an individual or individuals who are receiving palliative care and must also gain experience of working with a person who is in the end stages of life. A minimum of 20 hours work experience is required during the programme.