Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This one-year full time course has a dual-purpose award, designed whether you have an interest in working as a Health Care Assistant (HCA), or as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA). The course is structured to give students a strong knowledge base in the practices and procedures to work in both these fields.
Work experience is an integral part of this course and consists of a minimum three-week block placement during the academic year. In addition, this course provides students with a unique opportunity to participate in BCFE’s community Partnership Programme with a local primary school.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Work Experience (5N1356)
Communications (5N0690)
Care Skills (5N2770)
Care Support (5N0758)
Social Studies (5N1370)
Safety and Health at Work (5N1794)
Additional modules - Healthcare Assistants (Care of the Older Person):
Activities of Living Patient Care (5N3707)
Care of the Older Person (5N2706)
Additional modules - Special Needs Assistants:
Special Needs Assisting (5N1786)
Intellectual Disability Studies (5N1652)
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course results in a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a direct progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M4339 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Schools | hospitals | nursing homes | nursing agencies | community care | residential care settings.
