Cork College of FET Morrison's Island Campus
a

MENU

Cork College of FET Morrison's Island Campus
a

MENU

Cork College of FET Morrison's Island Campus
a

MENU

Special Needs Support
(Intellectual Disability Practice)

Take the first step!

INTRODUCTION:

To be truly inclusive we need to consider the society we live in and strive for community based inclusion for all members. The study of empowerment of the individual in the context of community inclusion allows students on this course to increase awareness, understanding and learn the challenges and opportunities of working with individuals with specific needs. If you have an aptitude for and interest in working in the area of disability and support then this is the course for you.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Leaving Certificate, LCA or QQI Level 4.
  • Mature students are exempt from Leaving Certificate requirement.
  • CERFL proficiency at B2 for access to Level 5 courses for those whose first language is not English.
  • All applicants will undergo a processing stage during which further information will be gathered in relation to their application. An offer of a place on this course is contingent on the applicant meeting the entry requirements set out here and satisfactory completion of the processing stage.

DURATION:

September to May.

FEES:

€300 including QQI examination fees (Medical card holders exempt from €50). See fees & payment for details.

Fees status currently being updated for 2024/2025.

CERTIFICATION

  • QQI Level 5 Certificate in Intellectual Disability Practice (5M1761).
  • QQI Component Maths (5N1833) – available as an option in the evening for learners requiring Maths for progression.

COURSE CONTENT

Community Inclusion - 5N1740

The learner will be equipped with the knowledge, skill and competence required to support and build the capacity of individuals with an intellectual disability to develop socially valued roles and relationships within their local communities.

Empowering the Individual - 5N1749

The learner will be equipped with the knowledge, skill and competence to empower persons with intellectual disabilities in their daily lives and to facilitate them in making decisions about their own personal goals and support needs.

Facilitating Learning - 5N1753

The learner will be equipped with the knowledge, skill and competence to explore the ways in which people learn and to facilitate people with an intellectual disability to learn and develop new knowledge and skills.

Intellectual Disability Studies - 5N1652

Equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence in the causes, range and effects of intellectual disabilities to develop an awareness of the importance of a social model of support and the role of various professionals in responding to the needs of persons with an intellectual disability.

Personal Effectiveness - 5N1390

Reflect on your own personal role in a workplace including the skills needed for your job, personal strengths and weaknesses and the people issues and work practices which influence how you do your work.

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.

Challenging Behaviour - 5N1706

The learner will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and competence in supporting individuals with intellectual disability who present with challenging behaviour.

Understanding Special Needs - 5N1709

Develop an ideal of good practice when relating to individuals with special needs. Outline the range of special needs, conditions and impairments, cause, diagnosis, prognosis and epistemology. Describe the different learning and therapy programmes provided by professionals in the area of special needs. Discuss current policy in relation to special needs.

Boundary Management - 6N2207

ADDITIONAL TRAINING / WORKSHOPS

  • CPI Safety Intervention training( formerly known as MAPA) – Incorporates trauma-informed and person-centred approaches. The programme is the perfect solution for professionals working in health, social care and education who need to prevent and/or intervene in crisis situations. With a focus on prevention, it also teaches staff de-escalation skills as well as non-restrictive and restrictive interventions.
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) – Is a system that was developed to help those that had little or no verbal communication ability to communicate with others. It begins by teaching a student to exchange a picture of a desired item with a teacher, who immediately honours the request. There are a number of phases to PECS and while students advance they learn to sequence words and create sentences. This workshop will give the student an overview of PECS and will include a skills demonstration of the first level when using PECS.
  • Mindfulness (online).
  • Data Protection (online).
  • Introduction to First Aid (online).

FAQs

What hours are involved?

The course is full time and runs Monday to Thursday potentially from 9-5pm and on Fridays from 9-2pm. You may have a late morning or an early evening in the week and time off during the day for study/working on assignments. There will be day/s during the week given for your Work Placement.

How is the course assessed?

The course is assessed through a combination of coursework (projects, assignments, learner records and portfolios) which is done throughout the year and written exams held at the at the end of the year.

Work Placement

This course is suitable for individuals wishing to work with those over the age of 6 years – to adult. You will not be qualified to work in a creche environment or with the under sixes (the ELC courses are for this age group). It is more focussed at e.g. co-action, the rainbow club, being a PA, an SNA etc. Students are required to get to their own placement and undertake 150 hours of Work experience in a suitable environment.

WORK PLACEMENT / EXPERIENCE

Students will undertake a minimum of 150 hours Work Experience Placement in a suitable vocational setting, which they will source themselves. Learners must be Garda Vetted before going on Placement.

EDUCATION PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES

Special arrangements in place with MTU Cork (CCPS), MTU Kerry and SETU(Waterford & Carlow) for preferential entry for students of Morrisons Island locations. Go to our progressions database for exact requirements on progressions for this course.

Some of our popular progression opportunities include:

UCC

  • CK102 Social Science
  • CK114 Social Science – Youth & Community Work (must be over 21 and have experience).

SETU (Waterford)

  • SE900 Health Sciences
  • SE927 Applied Social Care.

TUS (Limerick)

  • US920 Social Care work.

MTU Cork

  • MT575 Community Development, MT571 Early Childhood, MT573 Social Care.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Care environments and communities, intellectual disability environments, private settings.

Skip to content