Certificate in Intellectual Disability Practice – QQI Level 5 (FET Major Award)

The College is currently conducting a pilot of this new course for the disability sector.

Please read on for more details about this exciting online course. If you are interested please fill out the form at the end of the page and we will add you to the enquiry list, and contact you when the next roll out is scheduled closer to Autumn 2024.

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This programme is designed to address the needs of front-line staff (Care Worker, Healthcare Assistant, Family Support Worker, Home Support Worker, Personal Assistant and Community Care Worker) working in services for people with Intellectual Disability in Ireland.

This course is aimed at people working in disability services. It was created by people with extensive first-line experience who fully understand the area and the problems that come with attempting to balance work, life and learning when you work in the sector.

Having a relevant QQI Level 5 qualification is a  basic requirement to access work as a Care Assistant, SNA, Key Worker, Personal Assistant or Community Support Worker in a large number of organisations.

If you are already working in a service that is HIQA regulated, a Level 5 qualification is increasingly becoming a requirement.

The certificate will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills required to apply for a healthcare assistant job and deliver person centred services to people with intellectual disability. During it you will study:

• What a person centred approach is
• Where it comes from
• How to use it
• Its impact on practitioners and service provision
• The opportunities and benefits it offers services users

Course Aim

This one year programme aims to provide participants with the tools to take a person-centred approach to supporting individuals with an intellectual disability. This will enhance their quality of life and allow them to achieve their full potential.

Course Objectives

• This programme will provide the learner with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to support them in delivering a person-centred service.
• The course will introduce the learner to key service delivery areas such as empowerment, advocacy, community inclusion, person-centredness, teaching, and learning.
• Learners will be provided opportunities to develop crucial personal and professional skills and knowledge relevant to their job role to enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to reach their potential and live the lives of their choice.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the certificate you will:

• Understand what ‘intellectual disability’ is
• Appreciate the tasks that need to be performed if you want to empower persons with an intellectual disability to make positive life and lifestyle choices
• Understand the issues practitioners face when facilitating a person to live an independent life in the community
• Have the knowledge and skills to actively support persons with an intellectual disability in the different phases of their lives
• Be able to meaningfully contribute to developing strategies that will them develop a range of functional skills that can be used in their daily life
• Possess the knowledge and skills to enable persons with an intellectual disability cultivate socially valued roles and relationships
• Understand how you can make a difference to people lives by improving service quality

Course Modules:

The certificate is made up of ‘core’ and ‘elective’ modules.

The six core modules are mandatory and have to be completed by everyone:

1. Intellectual Disability Studies (5N1652 – 15 Credits)
2. Facilitating Learning (5N1753 – 15 Credits)
3. Empowering the Individual (5N1749 – 15 Credits)
4. Community Inclusion (5N1740 – 15 Credits)
5. Personal Effectiveness (5N1390 – 15 Credits0
6. Work Practice (5N1433 – 15 Credits)

The electives modules are designed to allow people ‘customise’ the course to meet their specific personal, professional or career needs. Choose two that most closely match your precise needs:

• Person-Centred Focus to Disability (5N1728 – 15 Credits)
• Challenging Behaviour (5N1706 – 15 Credits)
• Sexuality and Intellectual Disability (5N1707 – 15 Credits)
• Supported Employment (5N1704 – 15 Credits)
• Using Lámh in a Total Communication Approach (5N713 and 5N1731 – 30 Credits combined)

Assessment

This course will be assessed through various methods, including:

• written assignments,
• learner records (reflection on your practice and identifying learning),
• skills demonstrations (for example, teaching a skill and delivering a presentation),
• portfolios, and
• one exam.

An OTC Tutor and a designated person within the organisation will support participants.