Advanced Palliative Practice Skills (APPS)

This course is for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) or Health Care Aides (HCA) who have completed the Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care course and would like to build more skills in providing palliative and end-of-life care.

Course Overview

This 8-week course builds on your learning from the Fundamentals course. You will learn how to:

  • Build on your knowledge and confidence in providing palliative and end-of-life care as a PSW or HCA
  • Strengthen skills in communication, teamwork, and symptom management
  • Deepen understanding of loss, grief, ethics and comfort at end-of-life
  • Build skills and strategies to help manage common symptoms at end-of-life
  • Strengthen your own self-care and resilience

Why Take the APPS Course?

This course helps you meet the palliative care competencies for PSWs outlined by the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework and Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework. It also supports confidence and comfort in providing compassionate care.

Eligibility

  • Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care course completed within the last 5 years
  • After registering, please email your certificate to: [email protected]

Course Requirements: (Total course time is approximately 20 hours)

To receive a Certificate of Completion, you must:

  • Complete all 8 online modules before the live online session
    • Module 1: Laying the Foundation 
    • Module 2: Roles in Caregiving: Therapeutic Communication & Self-Care
    • Module 3: Considering Advance Care Planning, Ethics, Loss & Grief 
    • Module 4: Tools for Symptom Management 
    • Module 5: Pain  
    • Module 6: Psychosocial/Spiritual Issues 
    • Module 7: Skin Care and the Dying Process
    • Module 8: After Death Care & Bereavement 
  • Take part in interactive activities and case studies 
  • Complete the self-checks & quizzes 
  • Attend and participate in the live online Case-Based Learning Session (Note: participation includes small group discussions)

Course Access: You will receive a welcome email one week before the course starts with login instructions. If you do not receive it, please contact the Admin Assistant at 905-827-8111.

Technology Needed: Course modules are online (D2L Brightspace Learning Environment). You will need access to a computer, tablet or smart phone with internet, microphone and camera. If this is a barrier, please let us know – we are here to help.

The deadline for registration and refund is January 4, 2027

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Register
Course ComponentDates & Times
Course Modules OpenMonday, January 11, 2027
Live Online Case-Based
Learning Session		Tuesday, March 8, 2027
– 6:00 – 8:30pm

Cost

$40.00

Contact Information

JC Sagar, 905-827-8111 or 1-800-426-9666 x2510