Published: 05/02/2025

HEIW, in collaboration with the NHS Wales Executive Palliative and End of Life Care (PEoLC) programme, is developing a foundational, multi-professional PEoLC competency framework. This framework is designed for health and social care staff, including those employed or contracted by the NHS, local authorities, independent sector organisations, hospices and charities. It aims to support those who care for, or are likely to care for, individuals approaching the end of their life.

This is a 12-month project, concluding in October 2025, with a multi-professional steering group formed to oversee the framework.

The project aligns with the Welsh Government’s Quality Statement for PEoLC and supports the 'A Healthier Wales' vision for integrated, person-centred healthcare. The framework has been developed to:

• Improve the quality of palliative and end of life care practice through the development of competencies to underpin education and training programmes.
• Provide skill standardisation across healthcare roles, ensuring that all professionals have the necessary competencies to provide effective palliative care.
• Enhance communication and efficiency: With a common set of competencies, healthcare teams can communicate more effectively and work more efficiently, as everyone understands their roles and responsibility.
• Increase patient-centred palliative end-of-life care: The framework will emphasise patient-centred care, ensuring that the needs and preferences of patients are at the forefront of care planning and delivery.

Dr Meinir Jones, National Clinical Director at NHS Wales Executive commented, “Around 35,000 people each year need some form of palliative and end of life care in Wales, and they’re cared for in all settings and by many different clinical staff and teams.  We’re looking forward to the new competency framework helping us support staff across the health & care system to provide excellent care to people with progressive life shortening illnesses wherever they are.”

For further information on this programme please contact heiw.nationalprogrammes@wales.nhs.uk