If you have a compassionate nature and would like to take on the roles and responsiblities associated with the profession of caring, then this is the course for you. Learn all of the required competencies and skills but also learn about the importance of issues such as dignity, respect, empathy and confidentiality. Being a care worker is such an important role and this course will prepare you in all of the best ways. Students will use a fully equipped nursing/HCA room for all the practical work.

  • Care of the Older Person 5N2706  – Explore how older people change and develop psychologically, physically and socially. Develop practical caring strategies for working with older people.
  • Care Skills 5N2770 – Understand the holistic care of a client over the full life span from birth to death, including areas such as disabilities, mental health, care of the older person and palliative care. Practical instruction in washing, feeding, mobilisation, toileting and grooming. End of life care is included as part of the holistic care.
  • Care Support 5N0758 – Explore roles, responsibilities and entitlements of a care worker. Demonstrate an ability to plan and provide enhanced quality of care.
  • Infection Prevention and Control 5N3734 – Learn how to prevent the spread of infection in the healthcare setting including hand hygiene and standard precautions. Practical instruction in all aspects of practice including cleaning following blood borne spillage and terminal cleaning
  • Palliative Care 5N3769 – Enable the learner to develop a holistic approach to caring for persons with a life-limiting illness and their families. Learn effective communication skills that promote a holistic environment. Understand the structure and organisation of palliative care services. Learn to meet the specific needs of a person with a life-limiting illness and respond sensitively to the practical and emotional needs of bereaved families.
  • Intellectual Disability Studies 5N1652
  • Safety and Health at work 5N1794 – Equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to promote and maintain safety and health in a work environment.
  • Work Experience 5N1356 – Planning, preparation and reflection on work placement. Job finding strategies, CV and personal statement preparation, interview skills. Practise employability skills with a view to future planning
  • Communications 5N0690 – Acquire the writing skills needed for the workplace, learn to speak fluently and coherently in a professional setting, develop interpersonal skills and have an understanding of the impact of ICT on society.

Additional Training

  • CCOC Manual handling and people moving training and certification (requirement for work experience)
  • HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk Certificate
  • Certificate in Adult CPR (Irish Heart Foundation)
  • The Early Identification of Memory Problems in Older Persons (HSElanD)
  • First Aid Workshop

Leaving Certificate, LCA or QQI Level 4. Mature students are exempt from Leaving Certificate requirement. All applicants are interviewed. An offer of a place on this course is contingent on the applicant meeting the entry requirements set out here and satisfactory presentation at interview.

Note: Prospective students should also be aware that some aspects of this course are physically demanding and should satisfy themselves that they are physically fit enough to undertake it.

Excellent progression opportunities including:

  • CCOC: Advanced Healthcare (6M2263)
  • CIT: Social Care (CR031)
  • WIT: Applied Healthcare (WD188)
  • UCC : Social Science (CK102)

Excellent progression opportunities to UCC and other Higher Education colleges. Special arrangements in place with CIT (CCPS), Tralee IT and Waterford IT for preferential entry for College of Commerce students. Up to 390 CAO points for any Institute of Technology can be attained by successful completion of this course. See Progressions for details.

Nursing homes, hospitals, agency work, day care facilities, private homecare sector, intellectual disability environments.

All students can access the Jobs Advice Hub. Graduates can subscribe to CCOC college jobs register and CCOC LinkedIn alumni for up to date vacancies and networking.

  • Duration: September to May
  • Fees: €500 including QQI examination fees, plus €100 appox. for vaccines. Additional costs for a uniform (if required). Medical card holders exempt from €250. See Payment for details.
  • Certification:
    • QQI Level 5 Health Service Skills 5M3782.
    • QQI Component Maths 5N1833 and Statistics 5N2066  (available as option in evening for learners requiring Maths or Statistics for progression).
  • Work Experience: Students will undertake a block work placement of four weeks in a hospital or care home setting. Garda vetting is an integral part of the application procedure for this course. Hepatitis B vaccination is required for work experience in a healthcare setting.
  • Click to view, print or download prospectus page.

Email: healthcarelevel5@ccoc.ie          Tel: (021) 4223822

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When I reflect on my course in Cork College of Commerce I conclude that the experience not only made me a better care giver but also prepared me in unpredictable ways for my career. Before going to Cork College of Commerce to do the Healthcare Assistant course I had done many other courses but unfortunately none of them was fruitful.

Some of the modules were very difficult but with incredibly supportive classmates, and teachers who were nothing short of champions, I was challenged to discover the talent for caring for people who need help with the activities of daily living which I didn’t know I had. That talent has played a central role in my work, as a carer. It is vital to thinking, to planning, to imagination, to communication, and to engagement.

Having been shaped in part by the collegial and creative, yet rigorous, environment at CCOC I found myself able to communicate, innovate, and collaborate in ways that enabled me to build a successful career and eventually to find a rewarding career in a warm nursing home since March immediately after my work experience. In my current role as Healthcare Assistant, I work with the elderly people who need help with ADL and people living with dementia.

I am strengthened every day by the knowledge I developed during my time at CCOC, which will forever continue to develop. It was a wonderful time in my life, and the best educational experience I’ve had. I will definitely recommend this course for people with a passion for caring for people who need help with ADL.

Emilian Molong, Healthcare Assistant

St. Finbarr’s Hospital has hosted student’s from Cork College of Commerce for work placement for almost 10 years. During their time in St. Finbarr’s, the student’s grow in confidence, develop their skills and become key members of the team on the wards. It is great to see Cork College of Commerce students who have completed a placement in our hospital coming back to work as members of staff following their graduation

Catherine White, Director of Nursing, St. Finbarr’s of Hospital.

Our past experience with students has been very positive with many engaging in internships and then employment by Cobh Community Hospital. Many of our past students continue to volunteer here or have moved onto employment elsewhere with the confidence they have built during their time spent at our facility.

Claire Dwyer, Education Supervisor Cobh Community Hospital

The mercy hospital facilitates students voluntary work placement, as part of their Nursing Studies programme. This takes place in 4 blocks per term, for a period of four weeks. This is a great opportunity for pre-nursing staff to experience life in this working environment. We are delighted to invite these students to become a part of our hospital and we wish them well in their future nursing careers,

Cleo Davies, PA to Director of Nursing, Mercy Hospital Cork