EDUCATIONAL STANDARD

EDUCATIONAL STANDARD

Public Organisation “Death Doula”

(Standard for Professional Education, Qualification and Admission to Practice)

Approved by decision of the Council of the Death Doula Organisation

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Purpose and Objectives of the Standard

This Educational Standard establishes uniform requirements for the content and quality of professional education for non-medical support specialists (Death Doulas) within the Public Organisation “Death Doula”, as well as the principles for confirming qualifications and obtaining Active Specialist Status (Admission to Practice). It is a mandatory normative document of the Organisation’s Unified Professional Regulation System and applies in accordance with the International Charter of the Death Doula Profession.

1.2. Key Definitions

Education Certificate: a document confirming successful completion of the relevant stage of the Organisation’s educational programme and acquisition of the corresponding qualification. It has no expiry date. An Education Certificate does not, by itself, confirm a current right to practise under the auspices of the Organisation and is not suspended or revoked as a disciplinary measure. The Organisation does not issue a separate professional certificate that simultaneously confirms education and the right to practise.

Active Specialist Status (Admission to Practice): the current right of a specialist to practise under the auspices of the Organisation in accordance with their qualification level, to be included in the Register of Active Specialists and to use the Organisation’s professional support resources. It is granted for one year and renewed annually subject to compliance with the Organisation’s current requirements for professional development, supervision and admission to practice.

Supervision: regular mandatory professional consultation with an experienced supervisor, intended to support the quality of practice, review complex cases, and prevent professional burnout and secondary traumatisation of the specialist. It is organised and funded by the Organisation.

1.3. Qualification Levels

The Standard provides for three sequential qualification levels defining the range of professional competencies and the scope of cases with which a specialist may work, provided that they hold current Active Specialist Status:

• Level 1: qualification for practice with simple and typical cases.
• Level 2: qualification for practice with typical and low-complexity cases.
• Level 3: qualification for practice with all types of cases falling within the professional competence of a Death Doula, including the most complex and traumatic losses.

2. STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

2.1. General Structure

Professional education is delivered through three sequential stages corresponding to the qualification levels. The full programme comprises at least 180 learning hours (academic hours of 45 minutes each). Each stage concludes with an assessment.

2.2. Content of Educational Stages and Scope of Professional Practice

STAGE 1 — FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES. Qualification: DEATH DOULA (LEVEL 1)

Purpose: to establish a professional foundation for work with simple and typical support cases.

Scope of professional practice subject to holding current Active Specialist Status:

May practise independently only with simple and typical cases (for example, an anticipated loss in stable family circumstances).

The specialist must:

1. Work under mandatory regular supervision.

1. Promptly identify signs of a complex case within the limits of their competence and involve a Level 3 Death Doula.

Core content: ethics, role within a team, basic models of grief, safe communication, confidentiality and recognition of professional boundaries.

STAGE 2 — ADVANCED APPROACHES. Qualification: DEATH DOULA (LEVEL 2)

Purpose: to provide tools for work with typical and low-complexity cases.

Scope of professional practice subject to holding current Active Specialist Status:

May practise independently with typical and low-complexity cases.

The specialist must:

1. Identify signs of a complex or traumatic case within the limits of their competence (including bereavement following suicide, sudden violent death and similar circumstances) and transfer the case to, or involve, a Level 3 Death Doula.

1. Participate in supervision.

Core content: psychophysiology of grief, foundations of thanatology and palliative care, communication in conflict, cultural sensitivity, childhood grief and criteria for complex cases.

STAGE 3 — COMPLEX CASES AND SELF-PRESERVATION. Qualification: DEATH DOULA (LEVEL 3)

Purpose: to prepare specialists to work with traumatic and complex losses and to develop advanced self-regulation skills.

Scope of professional practice subject to holding current Active Specialist Status:

May practise independently with all types of cases falling within the professional competence of a Death Doula, including the most complex and traumatic losses. Situations involving active suicide risk are governed by the Charter and do not form part of ordinary professional Death Doula support.

May act as a supervisor in accordance with section 4.2 of this Standard and participate in the Organisation’s educational activities.

Core content: the specific features of traumatic loss, work with guilt and shame, prevention of secondary traumatisation, advanced supervision, and legal and ethical aspects of complex cases.

3. REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

3.1. Requirements for Applicants to Stage 1 (Level 1)

• Adult age (18+).
• Completed secondary education.
• Successful completion of an admission task established by the Organisation demonstrating a basic understanding of the subject matter and personal motivation.
• No convictions for serious offences against life, health or sexual freedom.

Psychological readiness: study and future professional activity relating to death, loss and grief require significant emotional resilience. The Organisation recommends postponing admission for persons who, at the time of application, are experiencing an acute reaction to a serious personal loss (active grieving) or active psychological trauma (for example, PTSD) that may be intensified by the programme content. This recommendation is intended to prevent secondary traumatisation of the applicant and to support the quality of their future professional practice. The Organisation reserves the right to recommend postponement based on its review of the admission task and additional information.

3.2. Requirements for Applicants to Stage 2 (Level 2)

• A Level 1 Education Certificate issued by the Public Organisation “Death Doula”.

3.3. Requirements for Applicants to Stage 3 (Level 3)

• A Level 2 Education Certificate issued by the Public Organisation “Death Doula”.
• Successful completion of a mandatory admission interview. The interview is intended to assess professional reflection, readiness to work with complex and traumatic cases, psychological resilience and the applicant’s motivation.

3.4. Assessment and Award of the Education Certificate

Each stage concludes with an assessment (written examination, practical assignment, work). Upon successful completion of the assessment, the graduate is awarded an Education Certificate of the relevant level with no expiry date.

3.5. Obtaining and Renewing Active Specialist Status (Admission to Practice)

To obtain the right to practise under the auspices of the Organisation, a specialist who holds an Education Certificate of the relevant level must:

• Submit an application and enter into the Declaration of Accession and Professional Agreement.
• Confirm that they have read and accepted the current mandatory versions of the Charter, the Ethical Code of the Death Doula and other applicable UPRS documents.
• Agree a schedule for participation in free supervision provided by the Organisation.
• Provide a valid certificate confirming completion of a first-aid course (for Levels 2 and 3).
• Confirm current professional liability insurance in accordance with the requirements of the Charter.

Active Specialist Status is granted for 1 (one) year.

Conditions for annual renewal of the Status:

• Regular participation in supervision sessions according to the Organisation’s schedule.
• No current disciplinary sanctions.
• Current validity of the documents required for the relevant qualification level and practice (including insurance and, for Levels 2 and 3, evidence of completion of a first-aid course).
• Timely notification of changes to contact details.
• Acceptance of the current mandatory versions of UPRS documents in accordance with the procedure established by the Organisation.

Maintaining Active Specialist Status throughout its term requires the Declaration of Accession and Professional Agreement to remain in force, compliance with the mandatory requirements of the UPRS, and acceptance of new mandatory versions of normative documents in accordance with the procedure established by the Organisation.

The Organisation does not charge a separate fee for supervision. The costs are covered from its budget.

A specialist may restore Active Specialist Status after its termination or expiry by again satisfying the current requirements of this section.

4. EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION SYSTEM

4.1. Format of Education

The Stage 1 (Level 1) and Stage 2 (Level 2) educational programmes are delivered remotely (online) through structured learning modules, materials and assignments without real-time instructor participation.

The Stage 3 (Level 3) educational programme includes a final module with live online or in-person meetings, group discussions and practical sessions for working through complex issues.

4.2. Requirements for Supervisors

Supervisor for Level 1 specialists:

• A Level 2 Education Certificate.
• At least 1 year of practical experience after completion of Level 2.
• Current Active Specialist Status.

Supervisor for Level 2 specialists:

• A Level 3 Education Certificate.
• Current Active Specialist Status.

Supervisor for Level 3 specialists (advanced supervision):

• A Level 3 Education Certificate.
• At least 1 year of supervisory practice or completion of a specialised professional-development course in supervision methods approved by the Organisation.
• Current Active Specialist Status.

5. FINAL PROVISIONS

5.1.

The Standard enters into force on the date of its approval by the Council of the Death Doula Organisation.

5.2.

Amendments to the Standard are adopted by decision of the Council of the Death Doula Organisation in accordance with the Statute, the Charter and the procedure established by the Organisation for adopting and amending normative documents.

5.3.

Official interpretation of this Standard, as well as resolution of internal disputes concerning its application in the educational process, is carried out by the Council of the Death Doula Organisation.

5.4.

Compliance with this Standard in specialists’ professional practice, as well as the review of possible breaches relating to qualifications or education, falls within the competence of the Ethics Committee in accordance with the Regulations on the Ethics Committee and other applicable internal regulations of the Organisation.