Do you like working with people? Do you feel passionately about social justice and human rights? Would you like to work in a job where you could make a difference? Would you like to support people to achieve their full potential and live a life of their own choosing? If so, this programme may be for you.

Social care is a dynamic, challenging and ever-changing career, reflecting and responding to the needs of those who are most in danger of poverty and social exclusion, and/or who find themselves at the margins of society. Social care workers work with children, young people, adults, families, individuals with disabilities, asylum seekers, and/or with people experiencing challenges such as homeless, addiction, mental health difficulties to name just a few. During your study, you will learn about psychology, sociology, law, addiction, trauma, racism, culture and more, to understand and critically evaluate society and apply your knowledge to social care practice. Students will develop professional and personal skills, such as self-awareness, critical thinking, the ability to work as a team and effective communication skills.

Social care is a professionally regulated career under CORU, the multi-profession regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. Since 2020 the Applied Social Care course on the Tallaght campus is approved by CORU and upon successful completion of the level 7 or level 8 course graduates will be eligible to register as a Social Care Worker.

Structure

This programme is delivered over four years and students complete their block placements in year 2 and 3 of the programme. This is a full-time offering and students are required to be available for lectures Monday to Friday. Some modules carry a minimum attendance requirement of 75% and students must meet this attendance requirement in order to pass the module.

Work Placement:

Students will complete two 400 hours of supervised (unpaid) practice placement in a Social Care setting over the course of the programme. In preparation for placement, students work closely with the placement coordinator and the lecturing team to ensure that specific needs are planned for and accommodated where possible. Students must ensure that they are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to undertake placement and should notify the placement coordinator if they have any conditions that may need to be planned for before going on placement. Some conditions that need to be declared prior to placement include (but are not limited to); back problems and other physical ailments, pregnancy, emotional or mental health issues, disability.