End-of-life care matters. It touches everyone, whether you’re someone providing care, a member of the person’s family, or part of the support network. This free end of life training course offers you the understanding and tools you need to provide person-centred care during these critical moments. Through learning about emotional, spiritual, legal, and practical aspects of end-of-life care, you’ll be better equipped to support people, their families, and yourself.

If you work in social care or provide end-of-life support, this course breaks down key topics in an accessible, practical way. It’s informed by UK laws, ethical guidelines, and frameworks, ensuring you receive accurate and reliable information. Together, we’ll explore how to preserve dignity, respect autonomy, and offer compassionate care.

This free end of life life care online course is designed for busy professionals and learners. You can work through it at your own pace, gaining insights that will immediately apply to your role. Join us, and enhance your confidence in making these challenging times as meaningful and supportive as possible for everyone involved.

Why Take This Course?

End-of-life care is an essential area of social care. Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding or gain actionable skills, this course is geared towards helping you support individuals and their families with empathy and knowledge.

Here’s why it matters to your work:

• Support dignity and respect: This course focuses on person-centred care, helping people maintain dignity and autonomy towards the end of their lives. You’ll learn how to honour their choices while supporting their families and social networks.
• Handle sensitive discussions effectively: Talking about end-of-life wishes can be challenging. This course equips you to facilitate these conversations with understanding and sensitivity, ensuring the person’s preferences take centre stage.
• Stay informed on laws and ethical practices: The course reflects the UK’s legislation and guidelines, so you’ll understand your roles, responsibilities, and boundaries.
• Gain practical tools for planning care: Whether you’re tackling advance care planning or addressing emotional and spiritual needs, this course gives you real strategies to improve care quality and outcomes.
• Develop resilience for this demanding work: End-of-life care can be emotionally taxing. We’ll guide you in recognising your own needs and finding the right support to continue providing care while looking after yourself.

This is your opportunity to deepen your knowledge, grow your confidence, and make a real difference in people’s lives.

End-of-Life Care Course Content Outline

Module 1: Understanding End-of-Life Care
Learners will explore what end-of-life care is and its relationship to palliative care. The module outlines the main aims of end-of-life care, including comfort, dignity, and person-centred support. Learners will understand how UK legislation, national guidelines, and service improvement initiatives shape the quality and consistency of care provided to individuals nearing the end of life.

Module 2: Supporting Individuals at the End of Life
This module focuses on the principles of dignity, autonomy, and compassion when supporting people in their final stages of life. Learners will understand how to recognise and respond to emotional, spiritual, and social needs, and explore the stages of grief and appropriate support strategies. It also highlights the importance of working in partnership with families, friends, and social networks to ensure holistic support.

Module 3: Advance Care Planning
Learners will gain an understanding of Advance Care Planning (ACP), including advance statements, advance decisions to refuse treatment, and discussions around preferred place of care. The module explains how to facilitate sensitive conversations about wishes and values, record decisions accurately, and navigate ethical and legal considerations. It promotes a person-centred approach that respects individual autonomy and informed choice.

Module 4: Communication and Conflict Resolution
This module develops learners’ communication skills for sensitive and emotionally charged situations. Learners will explore strategies for delivering difficult news, managing family expectations, and addressing conflict constructively. The module also covers maintaining trust, empathy, and professionalism while ensuring that individuals and families feel heard and respected throughout the care process.

Module 5: Maintaining Comfort and Wellbeing
Learners will examine the key components of symptom control and holistic wellbeing at the end of life. The module explores methods for managing pain, breathlessness, nausea, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as maintaining hydration, nutrition, and mouth care. Learners will understand the importance of psychological support for both individuals and families, ensuring care plans are regularly reviewed and adapted.

Module 6: Cultural and Religious Considerations
This module explores how cultural and religious beliefs influence end-of-life preferences and decisions. Learners will understand how to provide care that respects each individual’s traditions, dietary needs, rituals, and spiritual values. The module emphasises inclusive, person-centred care that involves collaboration with chaplaincy teams and community faith leaders to ensure dignity and respect for all beliefs.

Module 7: After Death
Learners will understand the procedures that follow an individual’s death, including safe and respectful care of the body, verification and notification processes, and accurate record-keeping. The module also focuses on supporting families during the early stages of grief and loss, providing information on advocacy, bereavement services, and spiritual or emotional support available through community networks.

Module 8: Managing Your Own Feelings
This module encourages learners to reflect on the emotional impact of working in end-of-life care. It explores strategies for managing stress, preventing burnout, and seeking professional supervision or peer support. Learners will develop self-care techniques and reflective practices to maintain resilience, wellbeing, and compassion while delivering high-quality care in emotionally demanding situations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this training, you’ll gain a practical understanding of end-of-life care, as well as insight into your own role as a care worker. Here’s what you’ll know:

• Explain what end-of-life care involves and how it integrates with palliative support.
• Understand the laws and national guidelines around end-of-life care in England.
• Approach advance care planning with sensitivity and legal accuracy.
• Use effective communication strategies to manage conflicts and navigate difficult discussions with families and individuals.
• Provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support, tailored to the person’s and family’s preferences.
• Respect cultural and religious beliefs that influence end-of-life planning and care.
• Manage the wellbeing of people who use services, focusing on pain control, hydration, and comfort.
• Prepare for what happens after death, including family grief support and professional practices.
• Build strategies for self-care and emotional resilience as a professional in the social care sector.

We aim to provide you with tools you can use in your everyday work environment. From legal frameworks to human-centred care practices, you’ll leave this course more confident and ready to respond to the challenges of end-of-life support.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is tailored for professionals in the social care sector. Whether you’re new to the field or have years of experience, you’ll find resources and guidance to support your work.

You’ll benefit from this course if you are:

• A social care professional who directly supports people who use services in end-of-life scenarios.
• A team leader, manager, or supervisor overseeing care delivery in this sensitive area.
• A healthcare assistant, carer, or support worker looking to deepen your knowledge about the challenges of end-of-life care.
• Someone involved in designing or improving care policies for organisations.

If you want to better understand end-of-life care or enhance your ability to manage personal and ethical challenges in this field, this course is designed for you.

FAQ

How long does the course take to complete?
It’s flexible. The course is self-paced, letting you fit it into your schedule. You can expect it to take around 1 to 2 hours to complete.

Do I need prior training in end-of-life care?
No prior knowledge is needed. This course is designed for everyone, no matter their experience level.

Is this course based on UK standards?
Yes. All content is tailored to the legal and ethical frameworks used in England.

Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. On completion, you’ll get a certificate that showcases your understanding of end-of-life care.

Can I apply this directly to my job?
Absolutely. The course is practical and helps you apply knowledge and strategies to your day-to-day role in care.

What if I have questions while taking the course?
Support is available. If something isn’t clear, you can ask for help during your learning journey.

This course is about more than just knowledge – it’s about empowering you to give the best care you can. Start today, and gain the understanding and confidence you need to provide compassionate, respectful end-of-life support to people and their families.