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Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Loss & Bereavement

MSc Loss & Bereavement

This programme aims to impact on health, social and community systems and ultimately to enhance quality of life.

Since 2004 RCSI has supported bereavement education programmes convened at the Irish Hospice Foundation.

During 2016/17 we revised the MSc Bereavement Studies and now open applications for two MSc variants the MSc Loss & Bereavement and the MSc Loss & Bereavement (Counselling) with accreditation pending. These are a level 9 bereavement studies programmes.

This programme is rooted in contemporary scientific research about loss and bereavement as well as being designed against a policy and professional regulation backdrop. There is an increasing impetus in Irish policy on developing competence in loss/ bereavement and discussions about dying; these programmes address some of the associated educational needs.

The programme attracts participants from health, education, private and community sectors and aims to promote competence, understanding and application of research findings to bereavement care in Ireland and to develop expert educators.

Applications are invited from representatives of a wide range of professional disciplines whose work or volunteering roles involve the provision or organisation of bereavement support care in community, health or other areas.

Aims and objectives

This programme aims to promote critical inquiry into the place of loss, death and bereavement in Irish society and in health and social care systems. Through this process we aim to equip practitioners and managers to promote and provide a range of appropriate supports in their communities, work places and professional practices.

Learning outcomes

Critically debate and contribute to theoretical understanding and knowledge about loss and grief across the lifecycle and grief support structures relating to health, community and work organisations and in the voluntary sector.

Evaluate different contemporary perspectives on death, dying and loss in society including social history, cultural issues, cause and circumstance of death in contemporary Ireland, death education, loss through the life cycle, family bereavement, cultural issues, gender issues, research and ethical issues.

Critically appraise, apply and design bereavement research, audit and evaluation.

Critique, select and utilise support and counselling skills in the context of loss and bereavement.

Analyse the organisation of bereavement support and formulate strategic and systematic developments in bereavement care in different settings.

Develop and utilise advanced bereavement counselling skills as part of professional counselling practice.

Design models for self-care and staff support in environments where people are consistently working with or meeting dying, death and bereavement.

Manage and evaluate changes in work practices relative to an area of bereavement care.

Reflect on personal development and personal growth through the educational experience.

Display an integrated value-based and evidence-based approach to the support of bereaved people.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements
Applicants must possess counselling/psychotherapy accreditation through a national body and a Level 8 degree in relevant area (or equivalent as demonstrated through RPL). Recognition of prior learning (RPL) process involves demonstration of formal training in counselling/ psychotherapy; significant professional experience in loss/bereavement related work; evidence of personal insight into loss and bereavement.

Duration

2 years part-time. Class time 9.15am to 5.30pm on Thursday to Saturday.

Further enquiries

For general enquiries contact:

Maura Dunne
Education Administrator
Irish Hospice Foundation 4th Floor, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 679 3188 Fax: (01) 673 0040
E-mail: maura.dunne@hospicefoundation.ie

Course content enquires:
Orla Keegan
Course Director
Irish Hospice Foundation, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 6793 188
E-mail: orla.keegan@hospicefoundation.ie

Subjects taught

This is a part-time course, over two years. There are seven modules in year one (5 at 10 credits, two at 5 credits) and a dissertation in year two. A 10 credit module consists of 250 hours of learning including lecture time, self-directed learning, course preparation, examination time, and supervision. The two-year programme equates to 90 credits and it is devised to support Level 9 learning outcomes.

Module title(s) Type of module Credits Year Delivery mode

Module 1: Loss, grief and bereavement, psychological theories and models Core 10 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 2: Counselling in loss and bereavement Core 10 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 3B: Organisational staff support and self-care Core 10 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 4: Loss, death and bereavement in society Core 10 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 5: Research appraisal Core 5 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 6B: Range of loss and non-finite loss 5 1 Classroom/blended learning

Module 7: Policy and management in bereavement care Core 10 1 Classroom/blended learning

Year 2
Module 8-9: Dissertation Core 30 2 Classroom/blended learning

Comment

Accreditation
The course is convened by the Irish Hospice Foundation and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Accreditation is pending through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the National University of Ireland.

Location

All classes, tutorials and seminars will be held at the training rooms of the Irish Hospice Foundation, 4th Floor, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.

The Irish Hospice Foundation also houses the Thérèse Brady library, a specialist Library for a niche collection of bereavement books, journals and resources.