CARE Course Topic: Bereavement

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One day Principles and Practice of Palliative and End of Life Care for Homecare workers

Providing the essential building blocks to support people at the end of life and their families

Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Nurse Consultant Development Programme

A one-day training day to increase the confidence and skills of homecare workers caring for people who are approaching the end of life and their families. By attending the training, carers will gain an understanding of:

  • What is palliative and end-of-life care? Dispelling myths
  • Sensitive communication and working with informal carers
  • Maximising the potential of the person you are supporting
  • Recognising and responding to common symptoms 
  • Recognising dying and care in the last days of life
  • Lone working, self-care and reflective practice

St Christopher’s are really pleased to be putting into practice recommendations for palliative and end-of-life training for homecare workers following an extensive study of the first-hand experiences of homecare workers, managers, people receiving care and their family members, health and social practitioners and commissioners.

We are looking to partner with homecare agencies who can send up to 5 team members on our first iteration of this training on Wednesday 11th November with the ask that the attendees also take part in evaluation of the training so we can understand how the training has impacted on practice. 

Attendees will receive refreshments, lunch, a tour of the hospice, a certificate of completion and resources to support their ongoing practice.

We really hope you can join us.

Managers, Carers and Senior Carers at Homecare agencies.

We encourage up to 5 attendees from each agency to maximise the impact.

Gill Early

Gill started her career in a Croydon nursing home at the age of 16 years old. She trained as a nurse, graduating as a Registered General Nurse in 1986.
Read More Gill Early

Additional tutors may present certain sessions on the day.

Principles and Practice of Palliative and End of Life Care

Providing the essential building blocks to support patients and their families at the end of life

Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Nurse Consultant Development Programme

Join us for a one day course, which provides health and social care professionals working in any setting with an introduction to the key principles and fundamental skills in Palliative and End of Life Care.  

What will the course look like? 

By attending this course, you will have the opportunity to discuss, evaluate and increase your knowledge, skills and confidence in end of life care.  

Our course embraces a multidisciplinary approach to support a truly holistic response to caring for people approaching the end of life. 

Our trainers bring together expertise from a range of professional backgrounds. While we acknowledge and speak directly to the unique contributions of individual professions during our sessions, we remain grounded in the core value of effective Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) working. 

The diagram below highlights the five key principles that form the foundation of our course: 

A diagram of the Five Principles

This course is for all professionals working in the health and social care sector who have limited knowledge of, or wish to refresh their understanding of palliative and end of life care. It is suitable for staff across a wide range of settings, including Care Homes, domiciliary care and may also be relevant for those working in primary care, social work, or those new to working in hospices.   

You will understand the difference between palliative care and end of life care and dying (including key definitions). You will be able to explain key terminology and understand the changing face of death and dying with an aging population. You will develop an awareness of personhood and person-centred practice. 

You will understand the importance of key communication skills and how to apply these to common difficult questions from patients and family. You will understand how to manage and support patients and family who are upset or angry as well as considering conversations related to assisted dying. 

What matters to you? A central question to ensure we are person centred in future care planning. We will look at the basic outline of planning ahead and what it involves, including how we document future care planning. We will use scenarios to explore key terms and aspects related to Advance care plans. 

You will understand the importance of maintaining activity and function through deterioration. You will be able to employ basic exercises to maintain function and describe the importance of understanding “What Matters” to each person.  

You will understand and recognise key features of normal dying. You will be able to increase awareness and provision of holistic care at the end of life. You gain an awareness of the five priorities of care of a dying person, and their loved ones and how to relate these to practice.   

You will understand ways of reflecting, including debriefing. You will be aware of wider support such as the NHS guidelines on self-care. 

Gill Early

Gill started her career in a Croydon nursing home at the age of 16 years old. She trained as a nurse, graduating as a Registered General Nurse in 1986.
Read More Gill Early

Additional tutors may present certain sessions on the day.

End of Life Scenarios Skills Workshop

Scenario-based training to build confidence in communicating and managing a range of situations that may occur in the last days of life.

CPD accreditation logo

Participants will be able to practice skills such as assessment, decision making at the end of life and communicating with relatives. This workshop aims to provide a safe space, allowing professionals to experience what it might be like to care for someone at the end of life, encouraging them to feel more confident to do this in their place of work.

We are delighted to confirm this workshop now has CPD Accreditation.

During this workshop you will:

  • Feel more confident to care for someone at the end of life
  • Be able to discuss the communication skills needed to work with this patient group
  • Be able to discuss cultural differences with regards to end of life care

This workshop will take place at St Christopher’s CARE in Sydenham.

Who is it for?

The course is appropriate for all Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants, Care Home Managers and other allied health professionals looking to refresh their knowledge about end of life care.

Kim Hydes

Kim is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St Christopher’s Hospice, caring and supporting individuals and their families who are at end of life in the Bromley community area. She has recently joined the Professional Learning team at St Christopher’s CARE in a seconded role as a visiting lecturer alongside her community role. She will be facilitating the ECHOs for Bromley and Croydon mental health and learning disability care homes plus the Croydon and Lambeth care homes. She will also be teaching on a range of our skills workshops on offer. Kim has worked as a palliative care nurse in the…
Read full profile Kim Hydes

Working in Childhood Bereavement

Candle child bereavement service

A university-accredited programme for professionals supporting bereaved children and young people

For nearly 30 years, this respected programme has supported practitioners across the UK to deepen their understanding of childhood bereavement and strengthen the support they offer to children and families.

Now hosted by St Christopher’s, the course brings together a small, carefully selected cohort of professionals for 10 months of specialist learning, reflection and peer exchange.

Places on the course are limited and we aim to bring together a small, carefully selected cohort of practitioners.

Please note the course is only for learners based in the UK.

Applications for 2026 closed at the end of June but please do register your interest if you would like to be contacted about the next cohort.

Why apply?

Working with bereaved children and young people requires sensitivity, skill and a deep understanding of how grief is experienced at different stages of development.

This programme offers a rare opportunity to step back from day-to-day practice and develop your knowledge, confidence and impact alongside others working in this specialised field.

Participants will:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of childhood bereavement theory and practice
  • Strengthen confidence in supporting children, young people and families
  • Learn from experienced practitioners and researchers
  • Join a valuable professional network in a specialist field
  • Gain 40 university credits accredited by Middlesex University
FINAL Information pack – Working in Childhood Bereavement July 2026Download

This programme is designed for practitioners who are already supporting children and young people where bereavement is part of their work.

You may recognise yourself in some of the following:

  • You work with children, young people or families affected by loss
  • You want a deeper understanding of how children experience grief
  • You are looking for evidence-based approaches to support your work
  • You value reflective practice and learning alongside others
  • You are interested in strengthening or developing bereavement support in your organisation

Participants come from a range of backgrounds, including education, counselling, health and social care.

You do not need to work in a specialist bereavement service to apply.

Please note the course is only for learners based in the UK.

Direct Practice: Working with Bereaved Children, Young People and Families:

  • Pre-bereavement
  • Theories of bereavement
  • Child development; loss through the life-cycle; the family context
  • Attachment theory and bereavement
  • Children bereaved by a traumatic death
  • Assessment issues
  • Working with individuals, with families and in groups
  • Working within intersectionality
  • Brief versus extended interventions, telephone work and online support

Context and Framework:

  • Service development: assessing need and setting up a service
  • Setting standards for service delivery: record-keeping; monitoring and maintaining
    quality; working with volunteers
  • Supervision and support
  • Inter-agency working; referral to other services
  • Safeguarding
  • Children’s Mental Health
  • Impact and implications of Covid-19 for bereavement services
  • Training issues for service providers: resources; methods; reflective practice

Learning outcomes for Level 6

At the end of the course, the successful Level 6 student will be able to:

  • Critically apply perspectives gained from bereavement theories to their practice with bereaved children and young people, including an understanding of the needs of bereaved children according to their developmental stages.
  • Assess the needs of the bereaved child/young person within their family and school systems and identify children whose needs indicate onward referral to specialist services.
  • Identify different resources available for work with bereaved children.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of working with underserved communities, and the impact of difference and disadvantage upon experiences of bereavement and services. 
  • Identify the key issues involved in the administration of a childhood bereavement service and understand the procedures to maintain services to a safe and high standard.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of a range of agencies with whom it might be appropriate to interact and a confidence with multidisciplinary working.
  • Make suggestions for: evaluating a service, obtaining user feedback and different user participation models.

Applications close Midnight on Sunday 28 June 2026

Interview dates Tuesday 7 July & Wednesday 8 July 2026 (online)

Notification of place w/c 13 July 2026

  • Days 1 & 2 Thurs 17 and Fri 18 September (in-person, Sydenham, London)
  • Day 3 Fri 16 October (online)
  • Day 4 Fri 13 November (online)
  • Day 5 Fri 11 December (online)
  • Day 6 Fri 15 January 2027 (in-person, Sydenham, London)
  • Day 7 Fri 12 February 2027 (online)
  • Day 8 Fri 12 March 2027 (online)
  • Day 9 Fri 16 April 2027 (online)
  • Days 10 & 11 Thurs 13 and Fri 14 May 2027 (in-person, Sydenham, London)

Fiona Walkingshaw

Fiona is Head of Adult and Child Bereavement Services at St Christopher’s Hospice. It is a newly created post which aims to ensure the continuous development and sustainability of St. Christopher’s bereavement services to grieving individuals of whatever age. She currently leads around 150 people who offer bereavement support through grief work in individual as well as group settings and through the psycho-education of a wide-ranging community of interest in audience specific ways. Fiona brings to this role the management and leadership experience acquired as a lawyer in the Senior Civil Service as well as the knowledge and practice accrued…
Read full profile Fiona Walkingshaw

Application form

Working in Childhood Bereavement – Application Form Guidance (PDF)

At the end of the application form we ask you to please write a supporting statement (up to 500 words). Please ensure you have your supporting statement prepared and the details of your referees to hand, as once you have started the form you can only submit it once.

If selected for interview you are also asked to write a review (up to 500 words) of the Dawson et al (2023) article that can be accessed here. We ask that you evaluate the article, reflect on the impact that reading it had upon you as well as any insights you gained about working in childhood bereavement. This review is to prepare you for the type of thinking that will be encouraged as part of the course. The review must be sent to education@stchristophers.org.uk before your interview date. 

Please email education@stchristophers.org.uk if you wish to receive a PDF of the application questions.

Principles and Practice of Palliative and End of Life Care – Intermediate Three Day Course for Registered Professionals  

Two female nurses talking to each other

This three-day course provides nurses and Allied Health Professionals working in any setting with the essential building blocks to support patients and their families at the end of life.

What will the course look like? 

This three-day foundational course provides health and social care professionals who are registered with a professional body with the essential building blocks to support patients and families at the end of life. This includes a range of settings including: primary care, acute hospitals, the community and care homes.  

Our course embraces a multidisciplinary approach to support a truly holistic response to caring for people approaching the end of life. 

Our trainers bring together expertise from a range of professional backgrounds. While we acknowledge and speak directly to the unique contributions of individual professions during our sessions, we remain grounded in the core value of effective Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) working. 

The diagram below highlights the five key principles that form the foundation of our course: 

A diagram of the Five Principles
(diagram adapted from Richardson and Cooper, 2024)

This course is for registered professionals working in the health and social care sector (for example a nurse, Allied Health Professional, doctor, registered manager of a care home etc).

This course enables you to build on foundational knowledge of how to provide person-centred, high quality end of life care. You are likely to work in an environment where you will encounter individuals who need such support, such as Care Homes, primary care, social work etc. 

What is Palliative Care? You will be able to explain the history of palliative care including reference to the World Health Organisation definition and NICE guidelines. You will understand the concept of holistic assessment in end of life. You will explore the concept of personhood applied to people with incurable illnesses. 

You will the foundations in communicating with people at the end of their life and their families, particularly in event of them expressing strong emotions. You will be able to support team members who have encountered challenging conversations.  

You will understand how to initiate conversations regarding advance care planning, how and where to document these.  You will understand the legal aspects and key terms such as Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR). You will consider the barriers of advance care planning and how to address these. You will know the process of registering a death and the legal practicalities involved. 

You will be able to initiate conversations around what matters to individuals and to be able to set goals with individuals.  

You will understand physiological changes during dying and death. You will consider the five priorities of care of a dying person. You will explore care in the last weeks of life and last days of life including medicine management at end of life. You will understand and recognise common symptoms in palliative care. 

You will be able to recognise symptoms and how to report changes including identification of palliative care emergencies. You will understand and apply evidence-based management of pain, breathlessness, nausea and vomiting. You will recognise and can respond to common side effects of common medications at end of life and be able to judge when to initiate a syringe driver.  

You will recognise spiritual needs and how this can be expressed. You will be able to demonstrate how to support a person experiencing spiritual distress. You will reflect on your own spiritual framework and how this can impact on how we care.  

You will understand the diversity and normality of grief. You will be able to reflect on your own experiences of grief and bereavement and recognise and respond to cultural diversity in grief. You will explore models of grief and the concept of anticipatory grief. You will evaluate the difference between normal and prolonged or complicated grief. You will be able to plan support and signpost someone who is grieving to appropriate services.  

You will explore key terms such as equity, inclusion, intersectionality and recognise causes of health inequalities. You will gain an understanding of the current challenges in palliative and end of life care for diverse populations. You will explore factors that influence health inequalities and consider ways in which we can raise awareness to reduce barriers to accessing good quality palliative and end of life care. 

You will recognise stress in yourself and others and understand ways to support colleagues and create an effective working environment that is supportive and enhances wellbeing. You will understand how to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue and how to build personal resilience. You will understand the role of members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in collaborative practice and support. You will reflect on your own experiences of loss and illness and how that impacts how you care for others. 

The next three-day course will be held virtually on Zoom:

  • Tuesday 17 November
  • Wednesday 18 November
  • Wednesday 25 November

We will then hold an in-person course in February 2027:

  • Tuesday 2 February
  • Wednesday 3 February
  • Wednesday 10 February

Previous attendees have said:

“[The teachers] were very knowledgeable and delivered the training with utmost passion for the course.”

“Very knowledgeable and was very helpful. Has changed my mindset of palliative care.”

“Very interactive”

“Keep up the good work in imparting knowledge that will have a great impact on how professionals give care.”