

For the people we support, their final days, weeks or hours are among the most important moments of their lives. For their families and loved ones, the memories created during this time will last forever. As care professionals, we have just one opportunity to get it right, to ensure that every individual experiences dignity, comfort, compassion and respect, and what many professionals describe as a “good death.”
Providing excellent end of life care is not just the responsibility of specialist palliative care teams. Every health and social care professional may, at some point, support someone approaching the end of their life. Having the confidence, knowledge and understanding to do this well can make an immeasurable difference to both the individual and those closest to them.

Great news! LDSS funding has returned for 2026/27, including the Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF)!
The Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF) has been designed for anyone working in health and social care who wants to develop the knowledge and understanding needed to provide compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care. The qualification explores the principles of end-of-life care, communication, dignity, advance care planning, and the support available to individuals and their families, helping learners approach these sensitive situations with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.
Whether you are new to care or looking to enhance your professional development, this nationally recognised qualification will give you a strong foundation in one of the most rewarding and important aspects of care practice. It is regulated by Ofqual, carries 3 credits and is suitable as continuing professional development (CPD) for those already working in the sector.
Who is the Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF) for?
Who is this qualification for?
This course is suitable for a wide range of roles at all levels of the Care Workforce Pathway including:
- Care Assistants and Support Workers
- Senior Care Workers and Team Leaders
- Registered Managers and Deputy Managers
- Domiciliary Care Workers
- Residential Care Home Staff
- Nursing Home Staff
- Healthcare Assistants
- Personal Assistants
- Hospice Support Staff
- Community Care Workers
- Reablement Workers
- Learning Disability Support Workers
- Mental Health Support Workers
- Rehabilitation Support Workers
- Activities Coordinators
- Volunteers working in end-of-life settings
- Individuals considering a career in health and social care
Qualification Information
Payment terms for LDSS-funded qualifications and programme
The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) provides financial support for vocational learning and continuing professional development (CPD) of staff in the adult social care sector. It is offered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and helps cover the costs of various adult social care qualifications, learning programs and digital learning modules.
What does the Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF) cover?
This is a single-unit qualification, which will build a strong foundation for anyone wishing to grow their knowledge and skills when working with people at the end of life. You will explore different perspectives on death and dying by reflecting upon your own views and those of others. You will also have the opportunity to consider how your own views and those of the people you support can impact your practice as a social care professional caring for a person at the end of their life.
Next, you will learn about the aims and principles of end-of-life care, including the stages of the local end-of-life care pathway, and you will explore local and national policy and guidance for care after death.
You will then move on to learn about your role in supporting people and their families after the end of life. This can be an incredibly emotional time for people, and requires strong communication skills and compassion. It is important to remember that as a health and social care professional, end-of-life care is something that we deal with regularly, but for the individuals we are supporting, it is the end of their life and personal to them. It is inevitable that they and their loved ones will ask questions that we may find difficult to respond to. This qualification will help you to respond appropriately with compassion and professionalism.
It is also important to understand how to share appropriate information according to the principles and local policy relating to confidentiality and data protection.
Finally, you are part of a wider team when supporting people with end-of-life care, and you will not be supporting people alone. You will identify the different support services that are available to individuals and their families and loved ones. You will also explore key people who may be part of the end-of-life multi-disciplinary team , which is there to provide additional support and guidance.
Learning about how to support someone at the end of their life is a valuable skill, both professionally and personally. Remember, we only get one chance to get it right. Let’s ensure that everyone in our care receives the “good death” that they deserve.

Study Skills Workshop
Many of us may not have studied for a qualification for many years, and the thought of doing a qualification can, understandably, be daunting. Our FREE course demystifies academic language by explaining the meaning of different "command verbs", reassures about the wide variety of assessment methods we use, so writing reams is not required (unless you enjoy writing!) and describes what can be used as "prior learning", so you don't have to repeat recent work.
We discuss the use of AI in your qualification, and answer any concerns you may have - no matter how trivial they seem. This course is available as a video, to watch when it suits you, or as a workshop where you can engage with others and realise that you aren't alone!

Flexible learning
We understand that balancing work, family and study can be challenging, particularly for busy health and social care professionals. That’s why our End of Life qualifications are designed to fit around your existing commitments, allowing you to learn at a pace that works for you.
Learners have access to dedicated tutor support and a huge range of resources to help you succeed.


Funding for the Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF)
This qualification is funded by the Learning and Development Support Scheme for the adult social care workforce.
Here is the detailed information on how to reclaim the cost of the Highfield Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care (RQF)
What Our Clients Say Testimonials

I submitted my first 2 claims through the LDSS last week and found the process much smoother than I initially thought it would be. Once I was told the qualification number (which is required), the rest of the process was very easy to follow. I uploaded both a copy of the invoice, and the receipt and both claims were accepted first time round. I was informed they were accepted on the same day as submission so a very quick turnaround.Mel Macaulay

Our experience with the new Learning & Development Support Scheme has been really positive. We have found the new system to be very straight forward, easy to use and have already received the 60% funding for each submitted application. The new service also enables providers to more easily obtain funding for qualifications to support their employee's progression, learning and development.Joseph Taylor