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Find out about the Working in Childhood Bereavement courses from St Christopher’s Candle and Hospice UK, accredited by Middlesex University. These courses at Level 6 and Level 7 for those working with bereaved children and their families.
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What's on this page
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What's on this page
Who the courses are for
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The courses are aimed at anyone with experience in working with bereaved children and their families in education, health or social care. They offer a unique opportunity to link theory to practice, but do not offer a counselling qualification.
Dates of the next courses
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We are in the process of getting the Working in Childhood Bereavement Course reaccredited with Middlesex University and this has given us the opportunity to review and revise the content. Therefore the next course will run from September 2024 to June 25 and we will start recruiting for this course early in 2024. Please note the new course will remain a hybrid programme with both face to face and online sessions.
To be notified when applications open, please register your interest.
Both courses run every two years.
What the courses cover
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Sessions will include:
- Theories of bereavement
- Child development; loss through the life-cycle; the family context
- Pre-bereavement issues
- Children bereaved by a traumatic death
- Assessment issues
- Working with individuals, with families and in groups
- Brief versus extended interventions, telephone work and online support
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Context and Framework:
- Service development: assessing need, setting up a service and evaluating
- Setting standards for service delivery: recording keeping, monitoring and maintaining quality, working with volunteers
- Supervision and support
- Inter-agency working, referrals to other services
- Safeguarding
Teaching
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The course is taught as two modules, on a part-time basis, over ten months. Students are required to attend:
- Two Thursday and Friday sessions at St Christopher's at the beginning and end of the course.
- One face to face day delivered at Hospice UK
- Six Friday sessions, delivered virtually.
Assessment
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Students will be assessed in a variety of ways, including:
- Practice Technique Presentation and Handout (250 written words plus spoken word)
- Learning Journal (2,500 words)
- Case discussion and presentation (2,500 words)
- Professional and Service Development Plan (1000 words)
Staff
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| Role | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Programme Leader | Emma Lupton | St Christopher's Candle Service Lead |
| Admissions and Assessment Tutor | Anita Hayes | Hospice UK |
| Course Manager | Amber Morgan | Hospice UK |
Testimonials
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"There is no doubt that the childhood bereavement course gave me the experience and academic underpinning that led directly to my role with SeeSaw. I would not have been able to manage the complex role of director without this training; I am extremely grateful to all involved.
I thoroughly recommend the courses to anyone currently working in the field as well as those looking to move into this important and rewarding work."
Helen Mackinnon, Former Director of SeeSaw
"I cannot overstate how much I gained from the 2014/15 level 5 course. The mix of trainers made every day that I attended truly inspirational. Working in a room of people who were daily supporting bereaved families gave the most amazing level of peer support and opportunities for professional development. The academic requirements ensured that I developed what was taught in each session by further reading, thanks to excellent guidance from the librarian at St Christopher’s Hospice.
It is now a year since we finished the course and every month I refer back to my notes or essays and I have also contacted some of my ‘study buddies’ for advice and suggestions."
