This course is designed to provide practical knowledge and skills of the palliative care approach.  Specifically participants will be enabled to:

• Provide holistic care for persons diagnosed with a life- limiting illness and in the last days of a person’s life and also for their families, carers and significant others.  
• Communicate effectively with persons with a life-limiting illness and in the last days of a person’s life and also with their families, carers and significant others.  
• Enhance the quality of life of the person with a life- limiting illness.  
• Recognise and respect the uniqueness of each person’s approach to death work effectively as part of the healthcare team.  

Working with A Palliative Care Approach 

• Define the terms ‘palliative care’ and ‘end-of-life care’  
• Explain the terms ‘cancer’ and a ‘life-limiting illness’  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy and principles of palliative care. 
• Outline the role of national end-of-life care standards. 
• Outline the structure and organisation of specialist palliative care services. 
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the specialist palliative care team and the multi-disciplinary team, when caring for a person diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. 
• Recognise the diversity of family structures and their supportive role as the primary carers. 
• Identify common fears and anxieties that may be experienced by the person diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and also by his/her family, carers and significant others. 
• Demonstrate a sensitive approach to persons experiencing altered body image. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the support worker, in promoting the following for a person diagnosed with a lifelimiting illness:
  •  self esteem and a sense of worth.
  • autonomy and respect for personal decision making. 
  • quality of life.    
• Reflect on environmental issues which impact on palliative care and end of life care provision. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact on the person, his/her family, carers and significant others of being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and their associated coping mechanisms.  
• Reflect on their own coping mechanisms for dealing with personal losses from the past.

Communication Skills  

•  Demonstrate effective communication skills with those who display emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, depression, withdrawal or confusion.  
• Demonstrate effective communication skills with those who have communication difficulties, for example hearing impairment or speech difficulties.  
• Identify personal strengths and weaknesses in communicating with the dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others.  
• Reflect on the influence of personal attitudes and feelings when communicating with dying persons and their families.  
• Promote an environment that allows the dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others to express fears and emotions, including the use of touch and silence. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of cultural and religious diversity, in relation to caring for a person, diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, his/her family, carers and significant others and also in the last days and hours of life.  
• Observe the role of the various members of the healthcare team when communicating information to the dying person and his/her family.  
• Communicate information received from the dying person and his/her family to members of the healthcare team.  
• Identify strategies for seeking advice and assistance from members of the healthcare team. 

Death and Dying 

• Describe a person-centred approach to caring for a person in the last days of their life.  
• Provide supportive, holistic care for the person while promoting safety, dignity, respect and comfort. 
• Identify the role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing. 
  • Total pain  
  • Fatigue  
  • Nausea and vomiting  
  • Breathlessness  
  • Constipation  
  • Diarrhoea  
  • Sore mouth/dry mouth  
  • Swallowing difficulties  
  • Altered state of consciousness 
• Identify the role of the support worker in meeting the needs of the person with a syringe driver or a medication patch.  
• Respond appropriately to the needs of the person who is confused or restless in the last days and hours of life.  
• Recognise the diverse signs and symptoms that death is imminent.  
• Carry out duties after a person has died, in accordance with local workplace policy and in a way that is respectful to the deceased person and their belongings.  
• Recognise the needs of specific vulnerable groups, in relation to death, dying and bereavement. For example:  
  • Children  
  • People with intellectual disabilities  
  • People with mental health problems

   Bereavement Care 

  • Demonstrate an understanding of individual patterns of grief and loss. 
  • Explain why the support worker must respond sensitively to the family, carers and significant others and also other patients/ service users and colleagues when a patient/ service user is dying and after they die.  
  • Demonstrate awareness that some people’s grief may go unrecognised. For example:  
  • People with intellectual disabilities. 
  • Divorced or separated spouses. 
  • People living or working in residential care settings. 
  • Demonstrate awareness of how to access bereavement information and the services and support available to families, carers, significant others and themselves.  

  Work Experience  

  A minimum of 10 hours work experience to be completed during the module in a Nursing Home environment or caring for an elderly person in a domestic environment.

   

   

   

   

   

A combination of appropriate assessment procedures will facilitate the assessment of learning outcomes of the course.  

Assignment 30%  

Learning Record 70% 

On completion of this module, the participant will have achieved one of eight modules which lead to a National Certificate in Health Care Support FETAC LEVEL 5.