Funding has been secured from the HSE National Health & Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO) to cover the tuition fees for two social workers on the part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care. Applicants do not need to be an IASW member. 

The Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care for Social Workers was developed to help address the educational and career progression gap that opened up between social workers and other disciplines delivering care to people living with life-limiting or life-threatening illness.

The course is delivered part-time and online over two years. The next intake starts in October 2025. There will be three modules per year. There will be four days of teaching per module (alternate Wednesdays) with an expectation that students will also complete self-directed learning and academic assignments or presentations.

The course will be of interest to social workers in specialist palliative care posts with adults and children and to those in generalist palliative care, including those in disability services with adults, primary care, mental health, community mental health teams for older people, older peoples’ services, hospital social work posts or hard to reach populations (e.g. homelessness or addiction services). Visit https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/palliative-care-pgdip/ for further details on the course content, assessment and criteria.

Hear from some of the current students and staff involved in supporting the course using this link:  https://youtu.be/zUVd3rBkjt4

Criteria for Eligibility 

Applicants must:

- Work in the publicly funded healthcare service

- Have at least three years post qualifying social work experience

- Be employed in a social work post that includes working with people who have palliative care needs

Application for Recognition of Prior Learning is not applicable to this programme. A requirement for registration is that participants are computer literate and have reliable internet access and access to a computer, which will be assessed at interview.

Conditions

Successful applicants will be required to deliver a series of webinars & skills workshops on palliative care in social work as part of the IASW CPD programme.

In addition, one applicant will be required to develop a document on pathways to specialist practice for the profession and the other a document on advanced practice for the profession. The development of AP and specialist pathways in palliative care will support the social work profession to meet the increasingly complex needs of service users across the life cycle, many of whom are living longer with chronic conditions. In this way, the benefits of participation in the Postgraduate Diploma will be reaped by the wider social work profession and by those with whom they work. The Hospice and Palliative Care Social Workers group can offer support to the candidates in developing the documents.

To express interest in a funded place on the course, please confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria required and submit a 500 word statement covering the following: outline how your participation in the course will benefit your professional practice, service users, colleagues, your service and the social work profession.  Please indicate your preference for development of a document on Advanced or specialist pathways in palliative care. (max 500 words)

Shortlisting will be based on the information provided in the statement. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview on Wednesday 18^th June 2025 and will be notified by Thursday 12^th June.

Email your 500 word statement & confirmation that you meet the criteria for eligibility to cpdofficer@iasw.ie by COB on Monday 9^th June

Please ensure ‘Palliative Care Course’ is used for the subject line.  

A Testimonial about the Diploma...

The Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care Social Work was developed to address the specific training needs of social workers involved in caring for individuals with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses, as well as supporting informal caregivers before death and into bereavement. I had heard about the planning for this course a few years ago and when it was launched, my manager Louise Morgan encouraged me to apply. I was delighted that my application was successful, and I am currently in the second year of the course. As the first course of its kind in Europe, I was thrilled to be the first person to attend the course from Southern Ireland. I was fortunate to receive financial support and study leave from St. Vincent's University Hospital, as it was recognised that my participation in the programme would benefit patients and families. I have a background in specialist palliative care and was surprised to find that my fellow students work across a wide range of settings. Some work in Specialist Palliative Care in-patient units or in Community Teams; some are based in acute hospitals or work in Care of the Older Person or Disability Services. This mix of social workers from a variety of settings has been a really positive experience and has added greatly to everyone’s learning.

The course has really enhanced the quality of my work with patients and families/significant others. I now have knowledge of a whole range of theoretical and practice frameworks relevant to my day to day work with patients and families.  I have gained an in-depth understanding of such topics as the illness journey; person centred care; advance care planning; anti-oppressive practice; spirituality; CBT; communication skills and teamwork. I am looking forward to the next module on leadership in palliative care!  The course has also helped me to understand policy frameworks and to focus on strategic drivers of change.

The part-time online format of the course has proven to be especially helpful as it affords me the opportunity to balance work and study. Despite it being offered online, I have developed strong connections with my fellow students. All the lecturers have a wealth of knowledge and have been incredibly approachable and supportive throughout the program. The curriculum is inclusive, aligning with the standards of CORU and addresses the issue of Specialist and Advanced Practice for social workers which is now becoming a feature of Workforce Planning in the HSE. From my experience, I would highly recommend this training course to all Social Workers.

Eibhlin McNamara