Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness

Education
Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness

Welcome to the Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness!

The Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness consists of 4 courses with a total of 16 units. (Each course is 4 MCs)

The courses are spread across 3 academic semesters, with a total of 160 hours comprising of 96 hours of synchronous teaching session inclusive of mentoring and supervision, 32 hours of assessment, 32 hours of asynchronous elearning and preparation work.

View the course brochure here.

Course Code	Course Title	Description
GMS 5241	Management of Clinical Complexities in Serious Illness	This course offers an understanding of physical, psychosocial-spiritual symptoms and distress commonly seen in serious illness. Topics include models of supportive and palliative care, treatment and prognostication in cancer and end non-cancer conditions, advanced practice in pain and symptom management, demoralisation, existential distress, suffering and complications in grief. It provides an overview of key concepts, theoretical frameworks to identify and recognize these presentations and to distil discussions for assessment of underlying issues for intervention. Interventions are explored through case studies discussions. This course aims to enhance clinical care provision and develop advanced practice for managing clinical complexities in serious illness.
GMS 5242	Advanced Practice in Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Serious Illness	This course offers in-depth exploration of evidence-based psychotherapeutic and counselling strategies that address complex psychological, spiritual, and existential challenges faced by patients with serious illness and their families. It features discussion and application of selected therapeutic models such as ADAPT Model 3.0, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative and Meaning Making Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to manage depression, demoralization, anxiety, grief and bereavement, and the quest for meaning in serious illness. Participants will gain expertise to assist patients in finding dignity and meaning, support families in their grief and bereavement journey, and provide psychosocial leadership and psychotherapeutic strategy.
GMS 5243	Cross-Cultural Psychosocial Leadership and Ethical Complexities in Serious Illness	This advanced course delves into cross-cultural perspectives, and the pivotal role of psychosocial leadership in serious illness care. It critically examines different leadership models and leadership styles, with a focus on adaptive leadership and its application within the interdisciplinary care team. Participants will discuss common leadership challenges and explore strategies to mitigate them. The course will also explore ethical complexities and examine concepts such as personhood, relational autonomy, and relational ethics in decision-making. Issues such as maintaining professional boundaries, moral distress, the appropriate use of opioids, artificial hydration and nutrition, and impact of information technology will also be discussed.
GMS 5244	Clinical Supervision, Mentorship and Team Management in Practice	This course covers advanced practice in clinical supervision, mentorship, and team management. Group supervision format will feature advanced practice in supervision-of-supervision (SOS), as well as examine professional issues arising from care provision and develop learner’s capacity for reflective-practice and giving feedback. Supervision sessions will be facilitated by two seasoned social work supervisors. Individual mentorship will be led by seasoned social work practitioners from across care settings. Learners will discuss issues related to professional development, career goals and personal and/or organisational challenges to professional growth. Team management will address issues such as interprofessional conflicts, moral distress, and team growth.

Learners may choose to take individual courses* instead of the full graduate certificate with the exception of GMS 5244 (only available as part of the full graduate certificate programme)
*Kindly refer to the Admission Eligibility below on Prerequisites to specific courses.

CONTACT US
For more information, please contact us at lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg or 6601 1097 (Ye Min)

The content may be subjected to change without prior notice. Course participants will be duly updated should there be any changes.

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Course Content

Learning Outcome
At the end of the programme, learners will be able to

To critically appraise and apply evidence-based practice in psychosocial care delivery.
To apply appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions to address complex bio-psycho-social-spiritual issues in serious illness.
To develop and deliver an education initiative related to psychosocial care in serious illness in their respective organization.
To provide leadership and supervision in psychosocial care delivery within the interdisciplinary care team and across care settings.

Programme Details

Programme Requirements:
You are required to complete all 4 courses which comprises of class participations, quizzes, assignments and end-of-course assessments to be conferred the Graduate Certificate from Duke-NUS Medical School.

Learners may also choose to take individual courses* with the exception of GMS 5244 (only available as part of the full graduate certificate programme).
*Kindly refer to the Admission Eligibility below on Prerequisites to specific courses.

Academic Year AY 2026/27 - AY 2027/28

Course Code	Course Title	Course Dates
GMS 5241	Management of Clinical Complexities in Serious Illness	Aug 2026 – Sep 2026
GMS 5242	Advanced Practice in Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Serious Illness	Feb 2027 – Mar 2027
GMS 5243	Cross-Cultural Psychosocial Leadership and Ethical Complexities in Serious Illness	May 2027 – Jun 2027
GMS 5244	Clinical Supervision, Mentorship and Team Management in Practice	Aug 2027 – Sep 2027

Dates are subject to changes.

Face-to-Face teaching sessions will take place at Duke-NUS Medical School or Assisi Hospice, Singapore (To Be Confirmed).

Capstone Project
All learners will complete a capstone project as part of the Graduate Certificate programme. More details will be announced closer to date.

Workgroup and Teaching Faculty
The Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness is led by internationally renowned experts and local veteran practitioners from psychology, social work, medicine & nursing to bring global perspective and insights.

Registration

Registration open for courses happening in AY 2026/27 Semester 1.

GMS 5241: Management of Clinical Complexities in Serious Illness

Course Dates: 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm

Click here to register via NUS Online Application Portal (OAP)
Kindly refer to the registration guide here for step-by-step instructions.

Registration will close in June 2026, or when maximum capacity has been attained, whichever is earlier. Successful registrants will be notified via email.

All applicants kindly get ready softcopies of the following documents required for application

NRIC (front and back) or Passport (for foreigners)
Highest Education Level Certificate and Transcript
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Statement of Purpose - a brief statement of objective/purpose for applying to this programme. This will be used as part of the review for your application to the LCPC Study Award (more details below)
Any other supporting documents

Note: All supporting documents must be in English or with English translation.

You may write in to lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg if you have any questions, or subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on LCPC's latest news, research insights and learning opportunities https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/lcpc/about-us/contact-lcpc.

Interested applicants who are NOT applying for the upcoming course in AY26/27 Semester 1 may indicate their interest here.

Tuition Fees
The Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness consists of 4 courses.
Graduate Certificate Full Programme Fees (4 Courses): S$ 21,600.00 before GST
Programme fees for each course: S$ 5,400.00 before GST

LCPC Study Award
*Competitive Special Study Awards available for a limited number of successful applicants for this inaugural run!
Fees payable for FULL graduate certificate after LCPC Study Award: S$ 5,400.00 before GST

Eligible participants can opt to enroll for individual course(s) instead of the full graduate certificate.
For applicants signing up for individual course(s), fees per course for the inaugural run in AY26/27: S$ 2,700.00 before GST

Kindly email lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg if you wish to apply for LCPC Study Award for training support.

Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA)
Eligible participants from the Community Care sector may tap on CCMDA for funding support to pursue the programme. Kindly contact ccmda@aic.sg if you require any assistance.

Participants interested to tap on CCMDA for funding support are required to submit their applications to AIC before the course start date. It is highly recommended that you submit the application latest by 15 April 2026.

(Note: This is a separate application from the course registration)

For more information on CCMDA, click here.

Student Services Fee
All enrolled candidates will be required to pay the Student Services Fee of S$ 25.70 (inclusive of prevailing GST) per semester.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Please be informed withdrawal from course must be made in writing for refund of fees.

Refund Policy
Date of withdrawal	%
1 month or more before course start date	100%
Less than 1 month before course start date	50%
On or after course start date	0%

Accreditation & Certification

This course is supported and accredited by the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW). Course participants will receive 1 CPE credit per hour (Structured Activities) for the face-to-face components, and will be awarded with an e-Certificate of completion at the end of the course*.

An e-Certificate of Completion will be awarded for successful completion of each course. Participants who complete the full programme (4 Courses) will receive the Graduate Certificate.

*The certificate will only be awarded to participants who complete all coursework (including assessments and evaluation) and achieve at least 80% attendance for classroom/synchronous teachings.

Target Audience

Healthcare Professional (Social Workers, Psychologists, Allied Health Professionals, Nurses, Doctors) with an interest in holistic care for persons with serious illness and their families.

Prerequisites (Admission Eligibility)

Proficiency in English
At least 5 years of direct client care practice experience, and currently have supervision responsibilities as part of your job scope.
Preferably with the completion of any of the following courses offered by LCPC:

- Professional Certificate in Palliative Care for Social Workers
- Palliative Care Course for Social Workers (Basic)
- Palliative Care Course for Social Workers (Advanced)

Kindly email lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg if you have any questions.

Workgroup and Teaching Faculty

This graduate certificate is led by internationally renowned experts and local veteran practitioners from psychology, social work, medicine and nursing to bring global perspective and insights.

A/Prof Alethea YEE
Senior Consultant, Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore; Director of Education, Lien Centre for Palliative Care

Mrs TAN Yee Pin
Clinical Psychologist and Medical Social Worker, Head, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore

Mr Andy SIM
Master Medical Social Worker, Medical Social Service, Singapore General Hospital

Ms Jacinta PHOON
Master Medical Social Worker, Head of Psychosocial Services, Assisi Hospice

Ms Terina TAN
Senior Principal Medical Social Worker, Head of Department of Medical Social Work, National University Hospital

Ms Candice TAN
Principal Medical Social Worker, Department of Care and Counselling, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Dr ONG Wah Ying
Senior Consultant, Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore

Prof Amy CHOW
Head and Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

Dr Benjamin WEINSTEIN
Clinical Psychologist, Psychological Services International

Dr Carolyn NG
Associate Director, Portland Institute for Loss and Transition in Portland

Dr Susan GERBINO
Clinical Professor Emerita, Founding Director, Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care; Silver School of Social Work, New York University

Dr Linda LAUSELL BRYANT
Director, Adaptive Leadership in Human Services Institute and Clinical Professor; Silver School of Social Work, New York University

Dr Irene TEO Eng Ai
Clinical Assistant Professor, Lien Centre for Palliative Care