Healthcare Assistant – Maternity Paediatric and Older Person Care

Certification

QQI Level 5

Reference

5M4339

Places

Fees

€50

This general Health Care Assistant (HCA) course prepares students to work as a member of the care team, assisting nurses in a wide variety of roles. This programme provides the HCA with the effective skills and knowledge to contribute to this important role in our health services.
Course groups are divided into specialist areas of study e.g. Maternity / Caring for Children.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF STUDY

Human Growth and Development
Anatomy & Physiology
Care Support
Care Skills
Safety and Health at Work
Nursing Theory & Practice

Maternity Care Support
Caring for Children in Hospital
Care of the Older Person
Communications
Work Experience (organised by college)

(Modules offered may be subject to change).

“My time training to be a health care assistant in Liberties College was a wonderful foundation to my career in healthcare. I am now a 4th year medical student in the Royal College of Surgeons and will qualify as a doctor next year. Before coming to the Liberties I had no connections to medicine and so struggled to get any work or hospital experience but knew I had an interest in the field. My time on placement in Our Ladies’ Children’s Hospital in Crumlin gave me incredible exposure to the multidisciplinary teams who work in hospitals and understand the roles of nurses, doctors and other health care professionals which allowed me to make a more informed decision that medicine was the course I wanted to pursue. My time as a HCA gave me insight into the work of hospital teams which will be invaluable to me for the remainder of my medical career.”

Evelyn Flynn

FEATURES OF THE COURSE

This course meets an increasing need for trained support staff across the growing health service sector.
Structured work experience organised by college in hospitals and healthcare facilities two days per week (November to May) and in block placement.
Where the College provides work placements, students will be interviewed for the places and course attendance will be considered as part of the selection process.
Course work is active and experiential, including manual handling, first aid and the practical competencies of a Healthcare Assistant in the different areas covered.
Garda vetting for work experience

NOTES: Students taking up work experience placements in healthcare facilities must provide evidence of vaccination against or immunity to specified conditions. Students will be required to satisfy this requirement prior to placement (further information from the College Office)

This is Full Time course work experience shifts are 12 hour duration 7am –7pm minimum 1 day per week. You may not get your placement of choice even if you are successful in the interview process. If your specific interest is Care of Children in Hospital or Recovery in Mental Health you must be over 18 to undertake placement.

PROGRESSION

Progression opportunities are available through the Higher Educaton links scheme, for example:

DC215 L8 General Nursing – Dublin City University
DN450 L8 General Nursing – University College Dublin
DC209 L8 Health and Society – Dublin City University

EMPLOYMENT

Healthcare Assistant in General Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Healthcare Assistant in community based care settings
Family and Community Services

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

General College Requirements
Evidence of CERFL proficiency at B2 is required for those whose first language is not English

All our classes are delivered in English. If English is not your first language you may be able to avail of supports in advance of starting a full-time course. We work in partnership with our colleagues in Adult Education Service who run an ESOL and preparation for college course(s) which you may be able to attend in advance of your full-time studies. If you have any questions, about these supports please email [email protected] 