Applied Social CareCleachtas Cúraim Shóisialta

Leaving Certificate Requirements

QQI/FET Requirements

In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi

Mature Applicants

Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature

Additional Requirements

Garda Vetting: Garda Vetting required through TU Dublin see www.tudublin.ie/gardavetting

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6.0 overall (or equivalent).

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 course 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.

This course is delivered over four years and students complete their block placements in Year 2 and 3 of the course. 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.

CORU

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.

Work Placement

Students will complete two 400 hours of supervised (unpaid) practice placement in a Social Care setting over the course of the course. 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.

Graduate Job Titles

• Social Care Worker
• Development Worker
• Special Needs Assistant
• Project Worker
• Case Manager
• Home Care Assistant
• Care Facilitator
• Activities Coordinator
• Senior Youth Worker
• Higher Executive Officer

Graduate Employers

• TUSLA
• St John of Gods
• Stewarts Care
• WALK
• St Michael's House
• Misty Croft
• Peter McVerry Trust

Please note, there is no advanced entry to this course.

All of the lecturers have a wealth of knowledge and experience which they impart to us in lectures on a daily basis. It means the learning we do is based on the real-life experiences of our lecturers and the people they have worked with & for. The Lecturers challenge their students to think outside the box & to be open minded when it comes to looking at case studies in classes and when it comes to future college work placements.

Carol Kavanagh - Year 1, Applied Social Care

While in college I have had the opportunity to complete two placements. In my first placement I felt anxious that I would not know how to deal with situations that would occur but with guidance from academic tutors I overcame my fears. While on placement I was working with people with a variety of intellectual disabilities at a day service. I really enjoyed it and I was subsequently offered the position as a social care worker. This meant I got my dream job at the age of just twenty.

Bronwyn Pugh - Year 3, Applied Social Care

Graduates of this Level 8 course may be eligible to progress to Masters Degrees (Level 9) in a wide range of disciplines across the Social Sciences and Education e.g. Education MA in Child, Family and Community Studies; Masters in Social Work; MA in Criminology, H. Dip in Adult and Community Education.