Professional placements in palliative care
Clinical placement opportunities for healthcare professionals and students interested in specialist palliative and end-of-life care.
Learning in a specialist hospice setting
We are proud to support the development of healthcare professionals by offering placement opportunities within our hospice. Working alongside our experienced multidisciplinary team, learners gain valuable insight into specialist palliative and end-of-life care in a compassionate, patient-focused environment.
Placements provide the opportunity to develop clinical skills, communication, and confidence while learning how holistic hospice care supports patients and families.
Available placement opportunities
We can host placements for qualified and trainee healthcare professionals with an interest in palliative care, including:
- GP registrar trainees – short and long placements are available depending on the individual’s rotations.
- Student nurses from the Leeds universities and Huddersfield University – placements are available at all stages of the nursing course.
- Social work students – the required placements can be hosted by the Hospice
- Other individual healthcare professionals, including social care professionals may be accomodated on short placements or visits.
What to expect from a placement
During a placement, you’ll have the opportunity to:
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Observe and contribute to specialist palliative care practice
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Learn from a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, therapists and wellbeing staff
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Develop communication skills for supporting patients and families
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Understand holistic care approaches, including emotional and psychosocial support
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Experience care across inpatient and community-focused services where appropriate
Every placement is supported by experienced staff who are committed to helping learners get the most from their time with us.
What our placement students say
“From the moment I arrived at the Prince of Wales hospice I was very impressed. I was impressed by the building, the staff appeared content to be there. Then I met Dawn and Jo who were very welcome, supportive and positive. Everything had such a warm and professional feel to it and I immediately wanted to be a part of it. I’ve had regular contact with Jenny too who works on reception who has always been warm and welcoming.
After my interview, thankfully I was successful in gaining a placement. My experience has been superb and I can’t think of any way it could have been better. Before each client, I’ve always been appropriately informed about the reasons my clients have come to counselling. Clients have always been thoroughly assessed and even before seeing my very first client I felt safe. The support I’ve had has been amazing. Dawn completes a LMM meeting with me once per month. This has been vital to check in on my wellbeing and to see how my caseload is going. These sessions have been vital for my own emotional and practical support. On top of this dawn’s vast experience as a counsellor has proved very important. On a few occasions I have experienced blind spots during sessions and dawn has offered me new perspectives. Peer supervision has been available regularly too for myself and other students.
To add to this very important training has been provided on bereavement and safeguarding. There has also been online training offered regarding trauma, which I attended. All of these were vital to my further development. The importance of boundaries was made very clear during these times.
Lastly, I want to thank Dawn and Jo with providing me with this opportunity. It’s been life changing for me in a positive way and I’m genuinely sad it’s coming to an end. Overall, I could not speak any higher of the Prince of Wales hospice and every person I’ve met here. It has five-star reviews online and you can see why. This isn’t just my view but also the view of clients who have lost family members here.” – Rob Corker
How to apply or find out more
If you are interested in arranging a placement or would like more information, please contact our clinical team to discuss availability and requirements.
