Courses
Admissions & Support
Community and Addiction Studies – Higher Certificate
-
Location: Moylish, Limerick City
-
years: 2
Course Overview
The Community and Addiction Studies course offers participants the skills and competencies to work in the voluntary sector, as well as with State or NGO providers of community and social inclusion services. Graduates of this course pursue careers in community initiatives with a focus on inclusive practice, empowerment and collaboration.
Graduate employment opportunities are wide ranging, to include national, regional or local projects which are addressing addiction, homelessness, unemployment, cultural development and community sports initiatives.
The course is grounded in the principles of empowerment, human rights, inclusion and social justice. Graduates of this course will be furnished with the requisite knowledge and skills to work in and meaningfully engage communities affected by addiction, to support voluntary activity and to progress community projects.
There is a very substantial practical and applied component to this course, so students will develop the real skills and competencies required for the workplace. A practical placement in years two and three are a key element of the course, which will allow students apply their learning in a real-life environment.
Potential Applicants please note: All applicants accepting a place on this course will be required to undertake Garda Vetting
Contact Details
Department of Applied Social Sciences
Email: DASS@tus.ie
What are the entry requirements?
Leaving Certificate
A minimum of 5 O6/H7 grades in Leaving Certificate subjects, including English or Irish. Mathematics is not a subject requirement for this programme.
QQI FET/FETAC
TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. Please refer to our Admissions information for details.
Mature Applicants
Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.
International Applicants
International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.
Course Modules
-
Safeguarding In Communities
Credits: 5
- Demonstrate a range of practices central to working with vulnerable people
- Describe the theories and research relevant to this field of practice, supporting those with diverse needs and abilities in a range of contexts
- Apply an understanding of the social, emotional and behavioural development of vulnerable people
-
Foundations in Addiction Theory
Credits: 5
- Identify the historical and contemporary theory informing the primary causes, characteristics and processes of addictive behaviour.
- Understand the fundamentals of Family Systems Theory
- Develop an awareness of the impact of substance use on the family
-
Introduction To Community Development
Credits: 5
- Describe the nature and definitions of community, community development and community work
- Describe the origins and structure of community work in Ireland.
- Outline the main principles and values associated with community work and community development.
- Discuss key theoretical underpinnings of community work and community developmen in Ireland and internationally.
-
Introduction to Sociology
Credits: 5
- Introduce the Sociology and Social Policy Stream; define Sociology as a discipline and explain the three approaches to thinking sociologically (The Three Lenses: Symbolic Interactionism, Structural Functionalism and The Conflict Perspective).
- Outline at an introductory level – sociological thinking associated with: Auguste Comte, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx.
- Identify and illustrate the significance of sociological thinking in relation to socialisation and identity-forming processes.
- Examine how our dynamic identity formation, is influenced by interactions (that shape emerging beliefs, norms and values) within: family, society and culture, social class and mass media (including social media).
- Be able to apply Sociological thinking (using the three lenses framework) as a means of understanding, explaining and analysing contemporary life issues
-
Introduction To Youth Work
Credits: 5
- Define and describe the role of youth work in relation to the context ofcommunity development.
- Outline the historical development of youth work in Ireland
- Understand the values and skillsthat underpin youth work practice.
- Identify and describethe different types of youth work provision in Ireland
-
Personal Development – The Self and Identity
Credits: 5
- Identify the main theories which underpin the knowledge of reflection, and the reflectiveprocess.
- Explain the relevance of reflection as a process for professional development.
- Describe the role of reflection as a conduit between the personal and developing professional identity.
- Demonstrate an understanding of reflection, and the impact of this understanding through engagement inexperiential group work,and weekly reflective journal entires.
- Illustrate an understanding of the ongoing necessity of engaging in self-awareness; to see reflection as complementary to personal and professional development.
-
Models Of Community Work
Credits: 5
- Describe the primary frameworks and approaches to community development.
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of models of practice
- Understand the current community developmentlandscape in Ireland
- Examine the application of models and frameworks in practice
-
Substance Use And Mental Health
Credits: 5
- Know and apply theoretical models of mental health into their understanding of substance useand howthese modelsinformin their professional practice.
- Understand and be able to apply principles of psychology and psychiatryin treatment settingsand/or community work
- Critically examine how the integration of mental health modelsto social and community work can enhance the understandingand treatment of co-occuring disorders.
- Develop an awareness of national and international mental health policiers.
- Apply skills in evidence informed research and practice, including an understanding of competing theories, concepts and frameworks underpinning mental healthpractice and/or community work and demonstrate an ability to apply advocacy-based approaches which promote the interests of service users through system-level change.
-
Applied Social Policy
Credits: 5
- Discuss the impact of social policy on the provision on Community Development
- Explain the role of social policy in meeting the needs of a range ofsocial groups
- Assess the contribution of social policy as a response to inequality and disadvantage
-
Information Management
Credits: 5
- Outline a range of information management skills related to the addiction and community development field.
- Explain the relevance of effective information management systems in the addiction and community development field.
- Describe a range of information management skills relevant to the addiction and community development field.
- Demonstrate A range of information management skills related to the addiction and community development field.
-
Introduction To Groupwork And Facilitation Skills
Credits: 5
- Understand the principles of facilitation in a community development context.
- Organise and facilitate groups in a variety of contexts and situations.
- Demonstrate the competencies required by a facilitator working in this sector.
- Reflect on their own competencies and design appropriate strategies for their development.
-
Personal Development – Groups In Action: Shaping The Self
Credits: 5
- Know and apply theoretical models of diversity and difference into their understanding of the world and identify these models in operation in their professional practice.
- Understand and be able to apply principles of group development how group development impacts their behaviour.
- Apply skills in evidence informed research and practice, including an understanding of competing theories, concepts and frameworks underpinning group behaviour and practices in teams andcommunity work.
- Reflect on the impact of personal valuesand individual experience on professional conduct and manage this impact by applying theoretical frameworks to the understanding and management of group development, teams, organisations in thecommunity in order to promote best practice in working towards social inclusion
-
Applied Community Intervention
Credits: 5
- To Understand Evidence Based Community Interventions for substance misuse
- To Describe a range of Community Based Interventions
- Tocritique brief interventions and assertive outreach in the addiction and community development field..
- To Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Evidence based approach
- To Develop an awareness of the application of evidence based models in the community including CRA, SFP, MI and The5 StepModel.
-
Case Management
Credits: 5
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Case management approach
- Understand andevaluate current practice and research in the area of Case management approach
- Evaluate the effectiveness of Case Management approachesamong addiction services locally, nationally and Internationally
- Discuss and Understandthe theories undermining Case Management approachand relevance to effective treatment (integrated care, four tier model, person centred, Continuum of care, protocols)
- Apply core skills in Case Management Approachin role and real play scenarios
- Critically discuss Case management’sComprehensive assessment approach and value to the field of addiction and community development.
-
Contemp. Issues In Addiction
Credits: 5
- Understand the signs and symptoms of use and misuse
- Recognise the ethical issues arising in treatment, to include stereotyping and bias in relation to addiction
- Describe the physical, emotional and mental health implications of use
- Outline current screening and assessment criteria in the diagnosis of addiction
- Explain the effects of addiction on communities in different settings
- Understand the changing response to addiction and addicts by health and social professionals over the past 50 years
-
Physiological Processes Of Addiction
Credits: 5
- Define and discuss the relationship between physical and psychological dependence.
- Identify the physiological manifestations of disorders associated with alcohol and other drug use.
- Describe the physiological effects of alcohol and other drugs.
- Understand the effects of withdrawal from a range of substances.
- Identify a range of interventions to support people with drug dependence.
- UnderstandDrug and alcohol effectsand their relationship with mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and psychosis.
-
Advanced Participation Skills
Credits: 5
- Identify and explain key theories from social psychology relevant to group work
- Assess the relevance of group process models such as: Tuckman and Jensen’s group stage theory and Belbin’s team role models in group work contexts.
- Demonstrate key facilitation skills of active listening, conflict management,positive communication, negotiation skills and; giving and receiving constructive feedback in group contexts
- Apply the principles of successful summary report writing in group-project contexts
-
Personal Development: Advancing The Identity Of The Practitioner.
Credits: 5
- Identify the key theoretical frameworks underpinning professional resilience.
- Demonstrate an awareness of basic approaches and challenges for multidisciplinary community substance misuse teams in developing and maintaining healthy professional resilience through a critical understanding of the variety of prevention and support measures for those affected by maladaptive professional resilience.
- Be able to express professional, informed and considered options to a multidisciplinary team in the arena of substance misuse in the community, within the boundaries of confidentiality.
- Compare and contrast intervention skills and challenges for a multidisciplinary team and be able to identify and communicate interventions that support healthy professional resilience within that team.
- Be familiar with the provisions of the current Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland, and understand its role in managing self-care and professional resilience
-
Programme Work Placement
Credits: 30
What can you do after this programme?
There are significant opportunities for professional and career progression within the community, State and voluntary sectors. Graduates will be eligible to work in a wide variety of roles including: Community Development Worker/Coordinator, Community Youth Worker, Policy Worker, Social Researcher/Research Assistant, Group Worker/Facilitator. Typically graduates may work for Family Resource Centres, LEADER companies, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, TUSLA, section 38 public agencies, as well as section 39 voluntary agencies (as per the Health Act 2004).
Successful graduates of this programme are eligible for to progress to year 3 of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community and Addiction Studies at TUS.