Palliative Practitioner Pathway 

Tier 1: Foundations in Palliative & End-of-Life Care

(Palliative Care Liaison Worker – PCLW)
6-week foundational training + Integration Module

Learn the essential skills, values, and competencies required to support individuals and families through the end-of-life journey. Tier 1 builds the professional foundation for compassionate, ethical, culturally aware palliative care.

WEEK 1 — Foundations of Compassionate Presence

We begin with the heart of the work: grounding, nervous system regulation, and learning how to show up with calm, steady presence.
You explore what compassionate presence means, how it translates into real bedside support, and why it is the cornerstone of every palliative role.

WEEK 2 — Understanding Loss & Grief

This week offers a clear, human-centered introduction to how grief actually functions.
You’ll learn key concepts, explore cultural expressions of grief, and build the literacy needed to companion families with empathy and respect.

WEEK 3 — Communication at the End of Life

Learn how to communicate clearly, gently, and effectively in emotionally charged environments.
This week strengthens your ability to listen deeply, respond skillfully, and support difficult conversations with compassion.

WEEK 4 — Cultural Sensitivity & Inclusivity in Care

End-of-life experiences are shaped by culture, identity, spirituality, and community.
You’ll learn how to companion across differences, recognize cultural strengths, and avoid unconscious bias while honouring each family’s unique values.

WEEK 5 — Supporting Families & Caregivers

Families and caregivers carry enormous burdens — emotionally, practically, spiritually.
This week teaches you how to support them with empathy, clarity, boundaries, and practical strategies that reduce overwhelm.

WEEK 6 — Understanding the Dying Process

A grounded introduction to the physical, emotional, and spiritual signs of dying.
This week helps you stabilize families through knowledge and presence, reducing fear by offering clarity and reassurance.

AFTER WEEK 6 — Integration Module (Self-Guided)

A gentle self-paced reflection to consolidate learning and prepare for Tier 2 if you choose to continue.
(Does not include a live class.)

Tier 2: Advanced Palliative Care Practice

(Certified Palliative Care Specialist – CPCS)
6-week advanced training + Capstone Integration Module (required for completion & future CEU eligibility)

Tier 2 expands your professional capacity — preparing you for more complex cases, deeper family dynamics, multidisciplinary collaboration, and advanced communication scenarios. This is where your identity as a palliative care specialist comes into focus.

WEEK 1 — Advanced Casework & Family Systems

Learn how to navigate complex family dynamics, conflict patterns, layered decision-making, and emotionally charged situations.
This week strengthens your ability to understand and support whole family systems during critical moments.

WEEK 2 — Trauma-Informed Palliative Practice

End-of-life care requires sensitivity to trauma histories, nervous system thresholds, and emotional overwhelm.
You’ll learn how to recognize dysregulation, respond safely, and offer support without stepping outside your scope.

WEEK 3 — Advocacy, Systems Navigation & Collaboration

Deepen your understanding of how to work alongside healthcare teams, hospice staff, physicians, and community supports.
You’ll learn how to advocate appropriately, document clearly, and collaborate while staying grounded in your role as a non-medical specialist.

WEEK 4 — Cultural, Spiritual & Identity-Informed Care

Complex cases often involve layered cultural, spiritual, or identity-based needs.
This week strengthens your skill in supporting diverse families through moments of high vulnerability, honouring the values that matter most to them.

WEEK 5 — Professional Boundaries, Ethics & Role Integrity

You’ll clarify what sits inside and outside your scope, prevent role drift, and learn how to navigate ethically complex situations with confidence and composure.

WEEK 6 — Practitioner Identity & Practice Development

This week focuses on your professional identity — who you are in this work, what strengths you bring, and how to grow sustainably.
You’ll also learn practical steps for beginning or expanding your palliative care practice.

CAPSTONE INTEGRATION MODULE (Required for Completion)

A structured, self-guided capstone that consolidates your learning, clarifies your practitioner identity, and completes the requirements for Tier 2.
This module is necessary for:

• Tier 2 certificate issuance
• Professional recognition
• Future CEU eligibility (pending approval)

(No live class — but it is required.)