Expand+This course seeks to equip practitioners with the necessary skills to understand and support children on their grief journey. When a child experiences loss, either through death or a parental separation, their needs are often misunderstood or overloo...

Hide-This course seeks to equip practitioners with the necessary skills to understand and support children on their grief journey. When a child experiences loss, either through death or a parental separation, their needs are often misunderstood or overlooked. Because children may express their grief in ways that are different to adults their reactions may go unrecognised.

2016/2017 Professional Certificate in Children and Loss

Aims and Objectives
This Professional Certificate in Children and Loss aims to equip professionals who work with children with an informed understanding of bereavement and loss in children and adolescents.

Specific educational objectives
◾Develop a critical understanding of the theory underpinning childhood loss and bereavement
◾Evaluate the different types of loss issues experienced by children at different stages in their development e.g. younger children and adolescents, loss through separation and divorce.
◾Critically appraise therapeutic interventions – including art and clay and group work with children.
◾Analyse the role of resilience in bereaved children and an ability to incorporate resilience into care plans.
◾Assess support systems for working with children and loss.
◾Integrate new knowledge and skill into professional practice.
◾Exhibit an integrated value-based and evidence-based approach to the support of bereaved children.

This part-time course runs from September to March each year. It comprises of two modules:

- Module 1 - Understanding Children and Loss

- Module 2 - Addressing Loss Issues with Children

Each module consists of approximately 200 hours of learning including lecture time, self-directed learning, assignment preparation and tutorials. Registration will take place in the RCSI on a date in September to be confirmed. There will be a half day orientation at the start of the course. There are ten full day inputs (on Thursdays and Fridays) over a seven-month period. All the course presenters are skilled practitioners who work with bereaved children. The course also includes two integrative tutorial sessions. These tutorials facilitate the integration of course learning in a small group setting and are led by our senior tutors.


Eligibility and admission 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. Participants must fulfil the NUI entry requirements for matriculation; i.e. candidates must hold an honours primary degree. Consideration will be given to applicants without a primary degree who can demonstrate equivalent educational or work experience in a relevant area.