Facilitating patient centred care and choice through advanced communication skills

Welcome to:

HEAD354 Level 6 – BSc (Hons) 20 credits – Part Time

APP784 Level 7 – MSc 20 credits – Part Time

These two face to face modules are delivered simultaneously and taught by a mix of specialist multi-disciplinary palliative care practitioners . They are open to multi-professional practitioners working in palliative and end of life care settings.

2026 dates

Cost £1280

Day 1: 24 February 2026

Day 2: 3 March 2026

Day 3: 10 March 2026

Day 4: 17 March 2026

Day 5: 23 March 2026

Day 6: 31 March 2026

Tutorials – 7 April 2026

Venue: St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, Stamford Road, Turnchapel, Plymouth, PL9 9XA

Closing date for applications are 23 January 2026

Your feedback

Here is what some of our multi-professional students, who work in a range of palliative and end of life care settings, have to say:

“The level of teaching and support on this course so far has been excellent. I am learning so much and it has already informed my practice making me a more confident nurse.”

“I really enjoy the sessions and expanding my knowledge and all information is easy to understand and able to ask questions if we do not understand anything.”

“Loved this course. I learned a lot more that I was expecting to, and it was made all the more interesting by the way it was delivered and the people who delivered it.”

“It was really interesting and useful for my professional work.”

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Module information

Level 6

Level 7

This module will focus on the communication and advance care planning competencies required to support those who need end of life care or have a life limiting illness and help them to express choice and engage in complex decision-making. Communication strategies for advance care planning and directives, the patient choice agenda and the legal, ethical and professional issues will also be explored.

At the end of the module the learner will be expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding of the theoretical models that underpin effective communication strategies with patients, family/carers and the multi-professional team.

• Identify concepts within existing knowledge and frameworks, evaluating the impact on clinical practice, when working with patients with emotional needs, their family/carers and multi-professional team, to ensure safe patient centred care.

• Incorporate personal responsibility and relevant professional codes of conduct into their practice, by analysing the relevant legal and ethical frameworks when facilitating patient choice and Advance Care Planning.

• Demonstrate their confidence and flexibility when dealing with complex communication problems and relationships between multi-professional / multi-agency teams, patients, and family/carers, within professional and ethical boundaries.
More information

This module aims to enable HCPs to apply systematic, evidence-based understanding to the complexities of communication when caring for those at end of life and with long-term conditions. A practical yet critical and reflective approach is taken to develop advanced communication skills which promote effective engagement in emotive conversations, shared decision-making, and positive multi-professional working.

At the end of the module the learner will be expected to be able to:

• Applies systematic understanding and critical appraisal of the theoretical models that underpin effective advanced communication skills, person centred care, delivery of feedback and multi-professional team working

• Critically appraise principles and concepts within existing knowledge and frameworks to evaluate the impact on clinical practice when communicating with patients with complex needs, their family/carers and the multi-professional team.

• Act autonomously within codes of professional conduct and critically evaluate and apply relevant legal and ethical frameworks, when facilitating patient choice and Advance Care Planning.

• Evaluate confidence, competence and leadership skills when dealing with complex communication problems and relationships between multi-professional / multi-agency teams, patients, and family/carers, within professional and ethical boundaries.
More information

Funded places

Please speak to your Practice Educator regarding any HEE CPD funding available within your organisation.

Non-funded places

To apply for a self-funded place please click to complete the application form and send to education@stlukes-hospice.org.uk or post to St Luke’s Education Team, St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, Stamford Lane, Turnchapel, Plymouth, PL9 9XA.

Both Level 6 & 7 modules can be studied as stand-alone CPD short courses or masterclasses. Please contact education@stlukes-hospice.org for further information.

Payment can be made via credit card or invoice request. To make payment by credit card please contact the St Luke’s education administration team on 01752 964250, for invoicing, please submit details with your application form at least four weeks prior to the start date. Please note that payment is required prior to the course start.

Venue: St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, Stamford Lane, Turnchapel, Plymouth, PL9 9XA

Self-funded application form Study support resources