Bereavement & Loss - Children & Loss

We know that loss and bereavement have significant personal, community, and health impacts; yet are under-studied, and not sufficiently incorporated into the curricula of health and social care professionals.



The Professional Certificate in Children and Loss, a collaborative programme between RCSI and the Irish Hospice Foundation, seeks to equip professionals who work with children/adolescents with the skills to understand and support them when grieving.



When a child experiences loss, either through death or 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.



As part of this programme you'll gain skills and knowledge to support you in developing a new and informed approach to how bereavement care is provided in the settings in which you work.



This is a part-time programme delivered in hybrid model combining in-persona and online.



This course is a Level 9 award on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications



Suitable for

This programme is suitable for 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.

What you will learn



Module 1

Understanding Children and Loss

Explore child development, grief models, self-care, and family impact on loss



Module 2

Addressing Loss Issues with Children

Learn practical approaches and resources for supporting bereaved children and adolescents

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.



Applicants must possess a Level 8 degree in a relevant area or international equivalent*. Alternatively, eligibility may be demonstrated through a defined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process. RPL requires demonstration of significant experience in working with children in a professional capacity or through formal volunteering, completion of CPD or other training in a relevant area, and relevance of the course to career/opportunity to apply learning.



An academic transcript is also required. An academic transcript lists your complete academic history: programmes attended, a breakdown of marks/grades achieved, the degree awarded, your overall grade and conferring date.



Applicants for whom English is not their native language may need to arrange a test to confirm proficiency in English with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). More detailed information on requirements, exceptions and test centres is available here.



*International degree equivalency should be verified using the NARIC service from QQI



Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Eligibility may be demonstrated through a defined recognition of prior learning (RPL) process. RPL requires demonstration of significant experience in working with children in a professional capacity or through formal volunteering, completion of CPD or other training in a relevant area and, relevance of course to career/opportunity to apply learning.



English language requirement exceptions

Applicants for whom English is not their native language may need to arrange a test to confirm proficiency in English with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).



More detailed information on requirements, exceptions and test centres is available at

https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements

6 months



Mode of delivery

Hybrid - Part-time

Next start date September 2025