Addictions - Foundation Studies

This is a one-year full-time course suited to mature students returning to education. This is an access course for those who are new to the study of addictions. Students may use it as a first step towards a professional training as an Addiction Project Worker or Addiction Counsellor. Others may use this course as a foundation course before applying as a mature student to a non-addiction related course in Higher Education.

Course Open

Course Number

20

Duration

1 Year full-time

Certification

FETAC Level 5 Community and Health Services DCHSX

Entry

Students must be 23 years old or over on 1st January of the year of entry. Applicants should have relevant experience and demonstrate a clear interest in working with people, supported by appropriate references. The training offered is of value in a wide range of settings, for example An Garda Síochána, nursing, youth work, the prison service, social services, information services or the voluntary sector.

Number of places available

Twenty Two

Principal Areas of Study

• Care Provision and Practice
• Information Technology
• Personal Effectiveness in the Workplace
• Safety and Health at Work
• Community Addiction Studies
• Models of Addiction
• Work Experience
• Intercultural Studies
• Communications
• English Literature
• Team Working

Elective 
• Counselling Skills with Personal and Group Process
(Modules offered may be subject to change and will be based on resources and the new Common Awards System). 

Features of the course

• Studies in: drug and alcohol dependency,
problem addictive behaviours
• Introduction to common therapeutic interventions such as
Motivational Interviewing and Brief Solution-focused Therapy.
• Optional workshops incur additional costs.

Progression

Higher Education

Professional Training: e.g. Diploma in Addiction Studies (TCD)
Diploma in Drugs Counselling Theory and Intervention (Merchants Quay Ireland/UCD).
Mature students who wish to apply and compete for a place on the nCounselling Professional Studies course must:

• Successfully complete the elective module Counselling Skills with Personal and Group Process and demonstrate satisfactory engagement in individual and group process work.
• Achieve a minimum of four Distinctions and four Merits/Passes in the Community and Health Services Award.