Support Individuals at the End of Life

Unit ID:
CCY277
Unit Code:
PT13CY014
Level:
Three
Credit Value:
7
Sector:
1.3
LDCS:
PT1
GLH:
53
Last registration date:
30/11/2028
Lower age restriction:
16
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Purpose and Aim

This unit is aimed at those working in a wide range of settings. It provides the learner with the knowledge and skills required to support end of life care.

Learning Outcomes

The learner will

Assessment Criteria

The learner can
1. Understand the requirements of legislation and agreed ways of working to protect the rights of individuals at the end of life.
1.1Outline legal requirements and agreed ways of working designed to protect the rights of individuals in end of life care.
1.2 Explain how legislation designed to protect the rights of individuals in end of life care applies to own job role.
2. Understand factors affecting end of life care.
2.1Outline key points of theories about the emotional and psychological processes that individuals and key people may experience with the approach of death.
2.2 Explain how the beliefs, religion and culture of individuals and key people influence end of life care.
2.3 Explain why key people may have a distinctive role in an individual’s end of life care.
2.4 Explain why support for an individual’s health and well-being may not always relate to their terminal condition.
3. Understand advance care planning in relation to end of life care.
3.1Describe the benefits to an individual of having as much control as possible over their end of life care.
3.2 Explain the purpose of advance care planning in relation to end of life care.
3.3 Describe own role in supporting and recording decisions about advance care planning.
3.4 Outline ethical and legal issues that may arise in relation to advance care planning.
4. Be able to provide support to individuals and key people during end of life care.
4.1Support the individual and key people to explore their thoughts and feelings about death and dying.
4.2 Provide support for the individual and key people that respects their beliefs, religion and culture.
4.3 Demonstrate ways to help the individual feel respected and valued throughout the end of life period.
4.4 Provide information to the individual and/or key people about the individual’s illness and the support available.
4.5 Give examples of how an individual’s well-being can be enhanced by:
  • environmental factors
  • non-medical interventions
  • use of equipment and aids
  • alternative therapies.
4.6 Contribute to partnership working with key people to support the individual’s well-being.
5. Understand how to address sensitive issues in relation to end of life care.
5.1Explain the importance of recording significant conversations during end of life care.
5.2 Explain factors that influence who should give significant news to an individual or key people.
5.3 Describe conflicts and legal or ethical issues that may arise in relation to death, dying or end of life care.
5.4 Analyse ways to address such conflicts.
6. Understand the role of organisations and support services available to individuals and key people in relation to end of life care.
6.1Describe the role of support organisations and specialist services that may contribute to end of life care.
6.2 Analyse the role and value of an advocate in relation to end of life care.
6.3 Explain how to establish when an advocate may be beneficial.
6.4 Explain why support for spiritual needs may be especially important at the end of life.
6.5 Describe a range of sources of support to address spiritual needs.
7. Be able to access support for the individual or key people from the wider team.
7.1Identify when support would best be offered by other members of the team.
7.2 Liaise with other members of the team to provide identified support for the individual or key people.
8. Be able to support individuals through the process of dying.
8.1Carry out own role in an individual’s care.
8.2 Contribute to addressing any distress experienced by the individual promptly and in agreed ways.
8.3 Adapt support to reflect the individual’s changing needs or responses.
8.4 Assess when an individual and key people need to be alone.
9. Be able to take action following the death of individuals.
9.1Explain why it is important to know about an individual’s wishes for their after-death care.
9.2 Carry out actions immediately following a death that respect the individual’s wishes and follow agreed ways of working.
9.3 Describe ways to support key people immediately following an individual’s death.
10. Be able to manage own feelings in relation to the dying or death of individuals.
10.1Identify ways to manage own feelings in relation to an individual’s dying or death.
10.2 Utilise support systems to deal with own feelings in relation to an individual’s dying or death.

Assessment Methods:

There are no prescribed assessment methods for this unit. Assessments used should be fit for purpose for the unit and learners, and generate evidence of achievement for all the assessment criteria.

Assessment Information:

Learning outcomes 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 must be assessed in a real work environment in ways that do not intrude on the care of an individual at the end of life.

Legislation and agreed ways of working will include policies and procedures where these apply, and may relate to:

  • equality, diversity and discrimination
  • data protection, recording, reporting, confidentiality and sharing information
  • the making of wills and living wills
  • dealing with personal property of deceased people
  • removal of medical equipment from deceased people
  • visitors
  • safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
Systems for advance care planning may include:
  • Gold Standard Framework
  • Preferred Priorities for Care.
An individual is the person requiring end of life care.

Key people may include:
  • family members
  • friends
  • others who are important to the well-being of the individual.
Support organisations and specialist services may include:
  • nursing and care homes
  • specialist palliative care services
  • domiciliary, respite and day services
  • funeral directors.
Other members of the team may include:
  • line manager
  • religious representatives
  • specialist nurse
  • occupational or other therapist
  • social worker
  • key people.
Actions may include:
  • attending to the body of the deceased
  • reporting the death through agreed channels
  • informing key people.
Agreed ways of working will include policies and procedures where these exist.

If not specifically stated in the assessment information, a plural statement in any assessment criterion means a minimum of two.

Other Mappings:

Mapping to National Occupational Standards (NOS) and the Knowledge and Skills Framework(KSF) for the NHS.

NOS ref: HSC385

Assessor Requirements:

This unit must be assessed in accordance with Skills for Care and Development's QCF Assessment Principles.