Graduates in Masters in Hospice Leadership

Twelve leaders in hospice care have become the first to graduate with a Masters in Hospice Leadership.

Graduating from the Lancaster University Management School, the group of hospice professionals are the first to undertake the two year innovative post-graduate programme.

The programme, which was set up by the University in partnership with the International Observatory on End of Life Care and the charity Help the Hospices, is designed to address the development needs and challenges facing leaders in hospice and palliative care, now and in the future.

Towergate Charitable Foundation, which supports Help the Hospices, awarded £80,000 in grants to enable the hospice professionals to undertake the masters. Towergate continues to provide £5,000 individual grants to professionals wanting to undertake the programme.

Susan Varvel, director of nursing at Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, who has graduated with a Masters in Hospice Leadership, said:

“The programme is an example of hospice collaboration at its best. As a group of professionals we worked together – sharing and learning from the ideas and expertise that already exists within the sector.

“Thanks to the programme I have brought new ideas and working practices to my hospice and most importantly I now feel I have the right tools, expertise and confidence to lead the organisation into the next decade and manage the changes that will face us.”

David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices, the leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK, said:

“With an ageing population the demand for hospice care is set to increase. This, along with the biggest shake up of the hospice funding system for a generation, means the sector is facing challenging times. Therefore, we need managers who are experts in their field and can lead the hospice sector at the highest level.”

Sally Watson, programme director at Lancaster University Management School, added:

“Through this new programme we have worked with professionals, ranging from hospice chief executives to directors of nursing to enable them to integrate their leadership practice in the context of modern hospice care. We have also created a network of people engaged in learning about leadership who can share good practice across participating organisations and services.”

Peter Cullum, Chairman of Towergate said:

“I wish to congratulate the hospice leaders on successfully completing their studies. This is a brilliant achievement which will make a significant and positive difference to the lives of so many who need the support of their local hospice.”

For more information visit the Lancaster University Management School website