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 4.0, 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.

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	Next intake happening in Jan 2028!
GMS 5242	Advanced Practice in Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Serious Illness	Jan 2027 – Apr 2027 *Refer to course dates below
GMS 5243	Cross-Cultural Psychosocial Leadership and Ethical Complexities in Serious Illness	Aug 2027 – Dec 2027
GMS 5244	Clinical Supervision, Mentorship and Team Management in Practice	Aug 2027 – Dec 2027

Dates are subject to changes.

Face-to-Face teaching sessions will take place at Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, subject to changes.

Capstone Project
All learners will complete a capstone project as part of the Graduate Certificate programme. More details will be announced in GMS 5244 (Course 4).

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 for GMS 5242 (Course 2) will open in December 2026!
Interested applicants may indicate your interest here, or email us at lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg.

Course Dates for GMS 5242 (Course 2)

22 Jan 2027 (Fri), 8.30am-5.30pm, in-person
29 Jan 2027 (Fri), 9am-5pm, in-person
17 Feb 2027 (Wed), 1pm-5pm, online
26 Feb 2027 (Fri), 8.30am-12.30pm, online
12 Mar 2027 (Fri), 9am-5pm, in-person/online (to be confirmed)
2 Apr 2027 (Fri), 9am-5pm, in-person

Tuition Fees
Graduate Certificate Full Programme Fees (4 Courses): S$ 21,600.00 before GST
*The Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Leadership and Practice in Serious Illness consists of 4 courses.
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 programme after study award: S$ 5,400.00 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.
(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	%
2 weeks or more before course start date	100%
Less than 2 weeks before course start date	50%
On or after course start date	0%

Accreditation & Certification

Accreditation
This course is pending accreditation by the Singapore Association of Social Workers (SASW). Course participants will receive 1 CPE credit per hour of face-to-face teaching time, and will be awarded with an e-Certificate at the end of the course*.

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

Clinical Associate Alethea YEE
Executive Director, Lien Centre for Palliative Care; Senior Consultant, Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore; Chair, Residency Advisor Committee (Palliative Care), Ministry of Health

Mrs. TAN Yee Pin
Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist; Senior Master Medical Social Worker, Department of Psychosocial Oncology; Deputy Director, Allied Health & Pharmacy, 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, Deputy Director, Department of Care and Counselling, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

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

Clinical Assistant Professor Irene TEO
Principal Clinical Psychologist, National Cancer Centre Singapore

Professor Amy CHOW
Honorary 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

Contact Us

For more information, please contact 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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