QQI HET: BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Disability Service Management) – Level 8

The programme aims to provide learners with specialised knowledge and understanding that enables them to manage and lead effectively in the context of ongoing and future developments in the services and supports offered to people with disabilities in Ireland.

Students will be empowered to become more knowledgeable, skilled and autonomous managers who can critically evaluate and reflect on current practice and are committed to active and supportive team leadership and management to achieve positive outcomes for all stakeholders. The programme aims to nurture students’ personal, social and professional development to produce a highly competent professional innovator who strives towards achieving person-centred, human rights-based practice within the disability sector.

The objective of the B.A. (Hons.) Applied Social Studies (Disability Service Management) programme is to facilitate the student in acquiring understanding and knowledge of management and leadership theories and skills and their associated application in the area of disability service management. A key feature of the overall programme will be to facilitate the student to consider their role as manager within ethical and safeguarding contexts and within the overall systems of their organisation. The student will also consider the current challenges of service provision impacting upon their team including the constraints of budgets, the demands of legislation and regulation and protecting the rights of service users.

The student will study three key demographic groups within disability services to deliver the standards designed and developed for people availing of these services. Apart from contributing to people's quality of life, the learning experienced through study will assist students in managing projects to design programmes that aim to provide services that are built on human rights and moving towards individualisation. This knowledge will also contribute to the effective management of a team operating within a regulatory environment with a view to total quality management. The student will also learn of the importance of participation, collaboration and contributing effectively within a disability service.

As well as developing key management competencies, the student will also be facilitated to develop key academic skills and approaches. The student will implement a small research study in the area and through the process identify the key skills and competencies required to develop research within the area. Such learning will assist the student in considering ways in which to progress the work undertaken within their area of responsibility and to consider future associated developments as well as enhancing their own academic skills.

Throughout the key learning experienced over the course of the overall programme the student will be presented with novel and acknowledged best practice approaches that will further support individual team members and teams to perform to their best abilities. Such approaches will include team building strategies, conflict management, risk assessment, budget management and auditing skills. The overall learning experience will be underscored by the student further developing the capacity for independent, self-managed learning while recognising their current limitations in respect to their knowledge, skills and competence.

Delivered over a single year, after completing the course you will be able to:

• Examine the theories, concepts and methods pertaining to the field of social studies as they relate to managing and leading teams and other key stakeholders in delivering health and social care services, with a focus on people with a disability.
• Manage, analyse and determine priorities for service provision in partnership with service users and other relevant stakeholders.
• Effectively perform those aspects of their role relating to the management and delivery of a quality user centred service, emphasising skills for effective self and people management.
• Undertake continuous professional and personal development whereby students review, identify and plan to address their CPD needs as managers and leaders in this sector.
• Manage work and projects effectively in a self-directed manner within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Apply specialist strategies in conflict management, change management and enacting policy change in human services.
• Design a research project and organise the data collection based on an appropriate methodology effectively and ethically.
• Think critically, analyse, and solve problems in developing and managing individualised social care services for people with disabilities.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in the selection, planning and design of strategies required to deliver a quality individualized service in a range of human service contexts in relation to human rights, risk and quality assurance.
• Lead multiple, complex and heterogeneous groups (including families, service users, community groups and associations) in the provision of quality services in innovative and creative ways