Community Health Services and Social Care

Level 5 QQI Award - Community Health Services 5M4468

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Duration

This is a full- time one year course, which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.

Overview

This course is suitable for both mature students and school leavers, who would like to work in the area of health and social care. This QQI Award provides the opportunity to pursue a fulfilling and rewarding career providing care and support to vulnerable people in the community. Students will acquire knowledge of health and social care theories and best practice. Students will also acquire practical experience on work placement. This could include a variety of settings such as resource centres, hostels for homeless, addiction services and youth projects. This course is delivered by teachers including specialist nurses who bring a real depth of experience to their teaching. Students will use two fully equipped nursing suites for all of the practical work.

Entry Requirements

One of the following:

  • Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
  • A Full QQI Level 4 Award (or equivalent)
  • For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) - appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
  • For applicants who do not meet the above entry requirements, please contact DFEi.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English require level B1 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules

  • Care Provision and Practice
  • Family Studies
  • Social Studies
  • Community Addiction Studies
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Teamworking
  • Work Experience
  • Communications
Module Information

Module Information

Community and Social Care 

Level 5 QQI Award: Community and Health Services 5M4468

Course Content (Module Names and Codes)

 

 

Care Provision & Practice 5N2705

Learn and understand the concepts of a holistic approach to people in need of care in a community setting. Apply your knowledge in a learning environment that enables the learner to develop competence and confidence in applying relevant care skills safely and responding effectively to specific situations for people of all ages.

Assessment:  Assignment (60%), Skills Demonstration (40%).

 

Family Studies 5N4466

This module looks at the dynamics of family while incorporating the changes over many generations that bring us to modern Ireland today.  Topics include the types of family, parenting styles, individual and family life cycles, a wide variety of challenges faced in society and strategies available. These topics offer the opportunity for open discussion creating an interesting learning environment.  Completion of this module will benefit anyone interested in working socially with people or simply for personal gain.

Assessment:  Assignments (60%), Examination - Theory (40%).

 

Human Growth and Development 5N1279

Gain the knowledge and understanding of how humans develop physically, intellectually and psychologically over the entire life span. This module covers the stages of childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Material includes a variety of theorists and theories that have led the way in psychology today. This is an interesting and thought provoking module that offers an opportunity for many open discussions within the classroom environment.

Assessment:  Assignment (60%), Examination - Theory (40%).

 

Social Studies 5N1370

Societal values and changes impact all our lives. This module explores theories of how and why we behave in situations. Learners will study and research contemporary issues such as discrimination, social stratification and socialisation.  An important element of this module is research skills and how to conduct a short study on an issue effecting modern Irish society.

Assessments: Project (50%) Examination - Theory (50%)

 

Teamworking 5N1367

Gain an appreciation of teamworking within the student’s own vocational area. Engage in team tasks to demonstrate competencies that relate to core teamworking skills. These include leadership, problem solving, conflict management, time management and goal setting. Throughout the course students will evaluate their own abilities leading to greater self-awareness.  

Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (60%), Skills Demonstration (40%).

 

Work Experience 5N1356

You will prepare for work placement in a relevant vocational area through an evaluation of your skills set, the development of a CV, and an understanding of current work place legislation. An integral part of this component is developing the skills required for a successful job search; therefore is it your responsibility to secure your own placement. On completion of your Work Placement of at least 10 days (or 60 hours) you will reflect, review and consider your future career options.

Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (60%), Skills Demonstration (40%).

 

Community Addiction Studies 5N1834

This module introduces the student to understanding the process of addiction and the impact of drugs on users, families and communities. Investigation of services, the role media and intervention strategies at local and national levels will be explored. Personal values, attitudes and beliefs are also examined.

Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (60%). Assignment (40%).

 

Communications 5N0690

Gain the relevant knowledge, skill and competence to communicate verbally and nonverbally in standard everyday tasks and in work-related situations, operating independently and under general direction.

Assessments Collection of Work (50%) Skills Demonstration (50%)

 

Mathematics 5N1833

Acquire mathematical skills in problem solving and mathematical investigations in the following areas: Modelling using Mathematics, Statistics and Probability, Functions and Graphs, Differential and Integral Calculus, Complex Numbers and Trigonometry.

Assessment: Assignments (60%), Examination - Theory (40%)

Certification

  • Level 5 QQI Award - Community and Health Services (5M4468)
  • First Aid Certificate (Optional)
  • Manual and People Handling Certificate (Optional)
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - HSeLanD

Special Features

All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, outlook and OneDrive.

Work Experience

Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year.  Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

This programme requires students to undertake work experience that will bring them into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they assume positions of trust. As a result all students will undertake Garda Vetting prior to commencing their work experience.

Applicants should be aware that healthcare environments used in work experience may insist that students are fully vaccinated for Covid 19.

Additional Information

Emerging Health Occupations

Due to unprecedented demand, Ireland's health system is currently recruiting qualified staff who can treat and support dementia, disabilities, mental health and social issues. This course is an ideal stepping stone for either employment or educational progression in these specialist areas.

Assessment

Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

  • Student Record
  • Collection of Work
  • Assignments
  • Examination (Written)
  • Project
  • Skills Demonstration

All assignments are submitted electronically.  Therefore all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details

Progression Opportunities

Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students' responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie

Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.

Progression Examples

BA Arts (MH101)

BA Psychology (MH106)

Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)

Bachelor of Social Science (Community and Youth Work) (MH116)

Maynooth University - www.nuimaynooth.ie

BA Arts (DN520)

BA Humanities (DN530)

BSc Social Sciences (DN700)

BSocSc Social Policy and Sociology (DN750)

BSc Psychology (DN720)

BSc Criminology with Psychology (DN620)

University College Dublin - www.ucd.ie

Bachelor Law (TR004)

Bachelor of Deaf Studies (TR016)

Trinity College Dublin - www.tcd.ie

BSc Applied Psychology (DL825)

IADT, Dún Laoghaire - www.iadt.ie

BA Arts (CK101)

BSocSc Social Science (CK102)

BSocSc Social Science (Youth and Community Work) (CK114)

University College Cork - www.ucc.ie

BA Social Care (TU996)

BA Social Care Practice (TU997)

BA Applied Social Studies in Social Care (TU991)

BA Community and Youth Development (TU792)

BA Early Childhood Education (TU995)

Technological University Dublin - www.tud.ie

BSc Health and Society (DC209)

Dublin City University - www.dcu.ie

BA Community Youth Work (DK767)

Dundalk Institute of Technology - www.dkit.ie

BA Social Science (WD187)

BA Social Care Practice (WD192)

Waterford Institute of Technology - www.wit.ie

BA Social Care Practice (AL860)

Athlone Institute of Technology - www.ait.ie

BA Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care (CW068)

Institute of Technology Carlow - www.itcarlow

BSc Psychology (GY104)

Galway University - www.nuigalway.ie

Career Paths

Graduates may find employment working with individual clients, clients in residential care or in the community e.g. resource centres, intellectual disability environments, family support, addiction services, youth projects or as a special needs assistant.

Thank You

we will be in touch shortly

Sarah Maguire

2018 Graduate, Currently studying Community Drug and Alcohol Work in UCD (Diploma).

I returned to DFEi as a mature student so it was a difficult move. The teachers in DFEi went out of their way to help you out and make sure you are not…

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Sarah Maguire

2018 Graduate, Currently studying Community Drug and Alcohol Work in UCD (Diploma).

I returned to DFEi as a mature student so it was a difficult move. The teachers in DFEi went out of their way to help you out and make sure you are not struggling. I found the Addiction Studies module really interesting and this is what drove me on to study the diploma course in UCD. I thoroughly enjoyed the year in DFEi and returning to education.

Department Head

Janet Kelly

Janet Kelly

Thank You

we will be in touch shortly