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Students on a course developed in collaboration with cancer charity Maggie’s will graduate at the end of November
The first group of students from an innovative Abertay University cancer support course will graduate at the end of the month.
Ten individuals have successfully completed the PGCert in Psychological Therapies in Oncology, which was developed in collaboration with Maggie’s - a well-known national cancer support charity with a centre at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Launched in September 2023 by Abertay’s Department of Health, Sport and Wellbeing, this course is specifically designed to acknowledge the unique role of Cancer Support Specialists (CSS), including oncology nurses and radiographers, while also equipping them with advanced skills.
The programme takes participants from Level 2 to IAPT Level 3 standards in cancer support, enhancing their existing expertise and building their confidence in providing psychological support to individuals affected by cancer.
Lesley Howells, Maggie’s Lead Clinical Psychologist, said:
Our programme acknowledges the invaluable expertise these professionals bring to their roles while deepening their theoretical understanding of psychological therapies. The course combines effective pluralistic counselling techniques with psychotherapy integration, equipping students with a diverse range of psychological interventions tailored for oncology care. This training empowers them to meet the complex needs of visitors to Maggie’s across the UK.
The course was delivered through a distance-learning format, enabling students to study from anywhere in the UK.
This unique structure allowed participants to engage collaboratively, learn as a team, and share insights from their diverse experiences, all while continuing to work full-time at their respective Maggie’s centres.
The Abertay students will gather to celebrate their achievements at the university’s winter graduation ceremony, scheduled for Friday 29 November at the Caird Hall in Dundee.
Jill Judson, a Cancer Support Specialist at Maggie’s Dundee and soon-to-be graduate of the course, said:
The new course content is amazing. It really does cement what we do already at Maggie’s but also deepens the theoretical content to underpin the work we do with centre visitors. The course has been tailored to us as Cancer Support Specialists at Maggie’s. We have also learnt lots about new models we had not been aware of, which allowed us to have a deeper understanding of why we do what we do. There has also been great engagement between us as a group. It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to complete the course, and to work and learn alongside fellow colleagues as we deepened our knowledge as Cancer Support Specialists.
Jacqui Binnie, who has been visiting Maggie’s Dundee for a few years following a breast cancer diagnosis, said:
Whilst I have been coming to Maggie’s, all of the staff have been fantastic. Jill in particular has been very welcoming, and she has led a lot of the classes here that I have been a part of. She is very knowledgeable in her role and is also willing to help or chat at any time. I have also gone to her for more personal, one-to-one chats and found her to be extremely supportive in that environment – she always responds to what your needs are at the time, which is fantastic.
Following the successful first year, Abertay plans to run the course every alternate year. Additionally, there has been interest from the broader NHS Trust in expanding the programme across the UK, highlighting the course's potential to enhance the expertise of healthcare providers in this key area.
As part of the curriculum, students were tasked with developing resources that could be utilised within their respective Maggie’s centres. Several of these resources are already in use, contributing to ongoing efforts to improve cancer support services.
Marcia Stoll, Lecturer in Abertay’s Department of Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said:
The course has played a pivotal role in enhancing patient care by equipping these healthcare providers with a pluralistic framework encompassing the essential skills and knowledge needed to address the challenges faced by individuals affected by cancer. Feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive; they have found the course validating and empowering as it has boosted their confidence as Cancer Support Specialists and equipped them with practical skills for addressing more complex issues. Through our collaborative efforts and the innovative resources developed by students, we are making meaningful strides in delivering more compassionate and effective support to patients and their families.
