Social Care Diploma

Course details

This is a full-time course. Each week students must attend the College for four days of tuition in first year and three days in second year. On the remaining days students must fulfill extensive work placement requirements. Placements are normally organised by the student, with the support of the Course Director.

Course Content

Year 1

• Communicating in Health & Social Care
• Principles of Practice
• Personal and Professional Development Part One
• Working in Partnership
• Social Policy
• Psychology in Health & Care
• Social Context of Health & Social Care
• Understanding Specific Needs
• Research Part One

Year 2

• Health & Safety
• Research Part Two
• Community Development
• Health Promotion for Individuals
• Supporting Significant Life Events
• Developing Counselling Skills
• Contemporary Issues in Health and Care
• Personal & Professional Development Part Two
• Understanding the Learning Process

Course content may be revised for educational or organisational reasons

Progression and Career Prospects

Graduates of the BTEC Higher National Diploma in Health and Social Care have gone on to a range of Higher Education courses. These include degree courses in Social Work (NQSW; DIPSW), Psychology, Sociology, Social Care, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Applied Social Studies.

The Institutes of Technology have offered 1 or 2 year exemptions to applicants to the BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care at I.T. Tallaght Waterford I.T. and the BA in Applied Social Studies at Sligo I.T. NUI Maynooth also reserves 5 places on the Bachelor in Social Science for BTEC graduates.

The University of Sunderland is currently offering graduates of the HND the possibility of entry into the final year of their BA (Hons) Health and Social Care.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates have secured employment in:

• An Garda Siochana
• Cerebral Palsy Ireland
• Cheeverstown House
• Residential Childcare
• Barnardos
• Menni Services
• Los Angeles Society
• Mountjoy Prison
• The Salvation Army