Course Summary
We know that loss and bereavement have significant personal, community, and health impacts yet are under-studied and not sufficiently incorporated into the curricula of health and social care professionals.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Applications are invited from professionals whose work brings them into contact with children who are bereaved through a family death or parental separation. The course will be of interest to teachers, chaplains, social workers, social care workers, psychologists, counsellors, nurses and others who meet bereaved children in their work.
Applicants must possess a Level 8 degree in a relevant area or international equivalent*. Alternatively, eligibility may be demonstrated through a defined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process. RPL requires demonstration of significant experience in working with children in a professional capacity or through formal volunteering, completion of CPD or other training in a relevant area and, relevance of course to career/opportunity to apply learning.
An academic transcript is also required. An academic transcript lists your complete academic history: programmes attended, a breakdown of marks/grades achieved, the degree awarded, your overall grade and conferring date.
Applicants for whom English is not their native language may need to arrange a test to confirm proficiency in English with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
*International degree equivalency should be verified using the NARIC service from QQI.
Application Details
Fees
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
Participants on this programme come from a range of professions and sectors across Ireland and the UK.
We aim to work with you to develop a new and informed approach to how bereavement care is provided in the settings in which you work.
Duration
Understanding Children and Loss
Addressing Loss Issues with Children
This is a part-time blended course that runs from September to March each year with two modules. Each module consists of approximately 200 hours of learning, including lecture time, self-directed learning, assignment preparation and integrative sessions.
Module 1 (September-December 2024) will be taught online on Zoom (with the exception of the orientation session on 5 September 2024, which will be in-person).
Module 2 (January-March 2025) will be taught in person (with the exception of the 6 March 2025 integrative session, which will be online).
All in-person sessions will be held at the Irish Hospice Foundation, Morrison Chambers, 4th Floor, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2, D02 X627 from 9:15am-4:15pm.