Led by the All Ireland Institution of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) in partnership with the HSE National Office for Palliative Care, Access and Integration and the National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care, this initiative aims to ensure the framework remain responsive to evolving workforce, education and service delivery needs across palliative care.
Since its original publication, the framework has provided an important foundation for education, professional development and quality palliative care practice across health and social care disciplines.
Work is progressing on the review and update of the National Palliative Care Competence Framework (2014), a key action under the National Adult Palliative Care Policy. The current review is informed by a comprehensive scoping review of national and international literature, analysis of existing competence frameworks and a survey of Higher Education Institutions exploring how the framework is currently used in education and training.
An interdisciplinary Steering Group has been established to guide the review process. The Steering Group is chaired by Dr Michael Connolly, Joint Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing at UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services. Membership reflects a strong cross-sectoral partnership including representation from AIIHPC, HSE National Clinical Programme Palliative Care, HSE National Office for Palliative Care Access and Integration, Irish College of General Practitioners, Nursing Homes Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, Royal College of Physicians Ireland, Irish Association of Palliative Care, Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Directorate, CORU, National Health and Social Care Professions Office and the Irish Institute of Pharmacy.
A dedicated Complementary Therapy and Creative Arts Therapies Working Group has been established to develop competencies required to support the inclusion of these disciplines within the updated framework. The work aims to ensure that the contribution of these professions to holistic, person-centred palliative care is appropriately reflected.
In the coming months, the project will enter an extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation phase, involving healthcare professionals, educators, professional bodies, service providers, policy stakeholders and people with lived experience of palliative care. This engagement will help ensure the revised framework reflects contemporary practice, emerging roles and future workforce requirements across palliative care services.
The updated framework will support high quality, evidence informed, person-centred care, strengthen career development pathways and provide a contemporary competency resource for practitioners across disciplines and care settings. Subject to completion of the consultation and development process, the revised National Palliative Care Competence Framework is expected to be published in Quarter 4 of 2026. The project team would like to thanks all members of the Steering Group, working group and stakeholders who continue to contribute their expertise and experience to this important initiative.
Dr Michael Connolly, Joint Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing at UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services and Chair of National Palliative Care Competence Framework Review Steering Group
