NPA Palliative and End of Life Care SCQF level 6
This National Progression Award (NPA) will:
- provide learners with an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge surrounding palliative and end of life care
- provide learners with pertinent and valuable skills which can be applied in many employment contexts
- develop a range of knowledge, skills and values, which will enable learners to support the changing workforce skills mix.
The NPA will ensure learners are appropriately skilled and qualified and are able to meet the requirements of both current and future needs in health and social services for workers in a supporting care role
It covers areas such as:
- fundamentals of palliative care
- understanding loss, grief and bereavement
- care in the last days of life
This qualification is available through colleges and training providers.
Qualification structure
Group award code: (24 SCQF credit points)
SCQF level: 6
This National Progression Award consists of 3 mandatory units (24 SCQF credit points).
Mandatory units include:
- J471 46 Fundamentals of Palliative Care
- J472 46 Understanding Loss, Grief and Bereavement
- J473 46 Care in the Last Days of Life
How to assess
Assessment of learning may include: written work, visual and verbal presentations, and group work. The submission of these assessment items can help develop Core Skills. See the assessment evidence requirements for each unit for more information.
Assessment Support Packs are available for this qualification.
Deliver this qualification
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Resources
It is recommended that appropriate IT facilities be available to learners.
No other specific resource requirements have been identified in order to facilitate delivery of the award.
Approval
Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.
Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact SQA's Business Development Team for guidance.
Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Guide to Approval.
The delivery of the award is at the individual centre's discretion.
Why deliver this qualification?
NPAs can be taught as a full-time course over one year or as a part-time course over two years.
Examples of secondary features:
- knowledge and understanding of palliative and end of life care
- development of citizenship, including: concern for others; being aware of rights and responsibilities; being aware of democratic society; being outward-looking towards society; recognising one's personal role in this context, and acting responsibly
- development of employability skills including care-specific knowledge and an understanding of employment skills such as appropriate attitudes and behaviours
Examples of benefits to centres:
- offers a wide range of optional units to enable centres to meet local needs
- provides bite-sized chunks of learning that are straightforward for centres to adopt and for learners to study
- enables employees to gain new skills quickly and cost effectively
- provides centres with opportunities to work in partnership with employers/other centres
Where can you take this course?
Why study this qualification
The NPA in Palliative and End of Life Care at SCQF level 6 is designed for a wide range of learners. However, the main target groups are:
- young people
- adults
- people supporting individuals living with and dying from any advanced, progressive and incurable condition
On successful completion of the NPA, learners will be able to:
- explain what palliative care is, who would benefit from it, and when
- investigate appropriate assessment and care planning models, including anticipatory care planning
- investigate relevant legislation, organisational policies and procedures
- evaluate the key dimensions of effective multidisciplinary team working
- explain theories of loss and grief and recognise the impact loss, grief and bereavement have on families/significant others and carers
- describe the impact loss, grief and bereavement may have at different stages of life
- explain models of reflection and the importance of reflection in improving care practice
- describe the dying process including common symptoms experienced in the last days of life
- explain the importance of effective communication in the promotion of choices and preferences of the individual, family and carers in the last days of life
- explain ethical dilemmas that relate to decision making in the last days of life
- describe how principles, legislation, policy and guidelines direct care when a person dies
Learners will have the opportunity to develop the Core Skills of:
- Communication at SCQF level 6 — may be evidenced by your work with individuals and groups as well as within written assessments.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) — may be evidenced by accessing, processing, and presenting information.
- Numeracy — may be evidenced by the use of graphical information to support research, presentations as well as within written assessments.
- Problem Solving at SCQF level 6 — may be evidenced through facilitated group discussion about the most appropriate course of action for care delivery.
- Working with Others at SCQF level 6 — may be evidenced by your ability to interact, communicate and negotiate with those you come into contact with, and to work collaboratively with other professionals and individuals; may also be evidenced by recognition of professional boundaries and professional conduct in practice.
Learners will also benefit from the development of citizenship, including: concern for others; being aware of rights and responsibilities; being aware of democratic society; being outward-looking towards society; recognising one's personal role in this context, and acting responsibly. You will develop employability skills including the development of care-specific knowledge, and an understanding of employment skills such as appropriate attitudes and behaviours.
Examples of possible learner types:
- learners who are at school or who have just left school
- mature candidates who have been out of education for a long period of time
- individuals who are currently in employment and wish to obtain a formal qualification
- those who are looking to access HN programmes
- learners who want to study at a pace and style that they determine
- employees who want to develop their careers
- individuals who are seeking national recognition of their achievements
- employers who wish their employees to take part in short continuing professional development courses
Access
Entry is at the discretion of the centre.
Learners wishing to undertake this award should be able to demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills. They should be able to use these skills to give an account of their experiences, reflect on them and make valid conclusions.
Employment and progression
On completion of the NPA in Palliative and End of Life Care SCQF level 6, learners may be able to progress to other qualifications such as:
- SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 6
- HNC/HND Care and Administrative Practice at SCQF level 7/8
- HNC/HND Social Services at SCQF level 7/8
Qualification structure
Group award code: (24 SCQF credit points)
SCQF level: 6
This National Progression Award consists of 3 mandatory units (24 SCQF credit points).
Mandatory units include:
- J471 46 Fundamentals of Palliative Care
- J472 46 Understanding Loss, Grief and Bereavement
- J473 46 Care in the Last Days of Life
Resources
It is recommended that appropriate IT facilities be available to learners.
No other specific resource requirements have been identified in order to facilitate delivery of the award.