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OTC Cert: Empowerment and Advocacy

Next Commencement: Autumn 2025

Apply or make an enquiry via the Online Application Centre button (top right)

GENERAL INFORMATION

COURSE CODE

OTC-CPD-EA

LOCATION

Online

AWARD

Certificate in Empowerment and Advocacy

APPLY BY

Apply now

AWARD TYPE / LEVEL

OTC / CPD

START DATE

Autumn 2025

AUDIENCE

Care Workers, Health Care & Personal Assistants, Family or Home Support Workers, Community Care Workers

NEXT WORKSHOP DATE / TIME

Date TBD - 9.30am - 4.00pm

CREDITS

This OTC-accredited programme is equivalent to 10 ECTS credits of student effort (=250 hours).

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

Date TBD

FORMAT

Online Access over 8 weeks

FEE

€299

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE

This 8-week, professional development OTC accredited course in Empowerment and Advocacy equips the practitioner with the knowledge, skills and competencies to support people with disabilities in empowering themselves on a day-to-day basis, thus facilitating their own plan for their future.

This includes guidance and skills related to effective facilitation through a number of empowering approaches, particularly advocacy. Advocacy is one of the most predominant methods of empowerment that has emerged to facilitate people with disabilities.
If you are serious about supporting people to achieve what they want, then advocacy is key.

The course is aimed at staff in the disability sector whose role involves:

  • Facilitating advocacy/person centred plans with people using the service; and
  • Performing a supervisory role within an organisation that supports advocacy/PCP

It is ideal for a practitioner with a social studies/care/community development qualification who would like to:

  • Gain an in-depth knowledge of this area
  • Critically reflect upon their role as a practitioner.
Advocacy definition

WHAT YOU WILL YOU LEARN

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you should be able to:

  • Discuss the overall concept of empowerment, and its development from an international and national perspective.
  • Explain the qualities of empowerment as it applies to people with disabilities and reflect on the support worker’s own practice in relation to these.
  • Describe the many elements of advocacy as a means of empowerment, its history and legislative framework, particularly from a national perspective.
  • Illustrate facilitation skills to support empowerment of people with disabilities.
  • Analyse the work environment in terms of level of empowerment and how the support worker can have an impact on this.
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COURSE CONTENT

Programme Units

The course will be delivered in five units:
UNIT 1: Expand

In Unit 1 you will explore the overall concept of empowerment, its development on an international basis and from an Irish perspective. It is important that you are familiar with the overall concept of empowerment in your role as support worker and this unit will also focus on the meaning of empowerment as it applies to people with disabilities.

The legislative background to empowerment will also be discussed, along with its growth and influencing factors such as person-centred planning.

UNIT 2: Expand

Unit 2 focuses on the qualities of empowerment. Chamberlin (1997) puts forward a framework of 15 qualities that should exist for a person to be considered truly empowered, these qualities range from having power, having a voice, and being part of decision making.

Each of these qualities will be examined in relation to their meaning to people with disabilities and how each element can facilitate empowerment. The challenges this presents and the benefits associated with people becoming empowered and in determining their own lives will be explored.

UNIT 3: Expand

In Unit 3 we will discuss the concept of advocacy from a historical perspective, including its growth in Ireland and how this has led to greater empowerment for service users.

Definitions of advocacy will be explained in terms of people with disability. You will also be presented with some examples of advocacy in action, which can be applied to your own practice to support service users.

UNIT 4: Expand

Unit 4 explores the factors that facilitate empowerment along with examining how support is provided with some guidance in relation to its provision in a positive empowering manner.

Throughout this unit you will be provided with practical guidelines on how you can facilitate empowerment through advocacy and through everyday support.

UNIT 5: Expand

Unit 5 focuses on the work environment and asks the question: to what extent do you shape your work environment in terms of empowerment and to what extent does it shape you and your practices?

It is important that empowerment is promoted at many levels in an organisation.

Click on the link below to view or download the upcoming provisional Course Schedule:

Empowerment and Advocacy Online Course Schedule: April -June 2025

Assessment

To achieve this OTC Certificate of Completion you must participate in the online workshop and contribute to the online posting board with your fellow participants. You will also need to provide a short case study of empowering an individual.

 

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

A Note from the Course Tutor - Niamh Delany

Advocacy and empowerment are terms used throughout best practice and policy documents relating to providing a service to people with disabilities in Ireland today, but what do they really mean, and how can we be sure that the service or support we provide maximises the potential in these concepts? This course delves into the theoretical background of Advocacy and Empowerment. We investigate our own beliefs about these terms and challenge ourselves to understand them fully. Only then can the words written in policies such as New Directions become real. We will explore the stories of influential people who have fought for and brought forward human rights for people with disabilities and explore the personal and organisational practices and policies that may enhance or present a barrier to empowerment and advocacy.

In my experience delivering this course many supporters have begun to expand decision making with the people they work with and are eager to share their experiences. This course brings together many supporters from different service types and regions. Family members are also drawn to the course. Whether you are a seasoned facilitator/activist or are embarking on a new career, this course offers the opportunity to virtually meet with and exchange ideas and resources with others. A chance to evaluate what is going well and be exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking. When ideas are shared and relationships are built, the potential for strengthening communities grows. This networking is one of the aspects of the course that is considered by past students to be very useful.

Photo of Niamh Delaney - OTC Associate Tutor
Niamh Delany, Course Tutor
Read Niamh's bio on our Staff and Academic Associate Tutor page here

HOW THE COURSE WILL IMPACT YOUR CAREER

This course offers an excellent professional development and networking opportunity to critically explore Empowerment with practitioners, reflect upon, and identify how to remain effective as an advocate.

Qualification

Participants will achieve an OTC-accredited Certificate of Completion in Empowerment and Advocacy

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COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have experience working with or volunteering with individuals with disabilities. This CPD opportunity would be beneficial for professionals such as social care workers, care workers, healthcare and personal assistants, family or home support workers, or community care workers. We also encourage applications from family members of disabled individuals.

Applicants must possess the necessary IT skills to participate as required.

International Applicants must provide appropriate documentary evidence of proficiency in English (i.e. IELTS 6.0).

HOW TO APPLY

 

Applications for this course are accepted through our Online Application Centre.

To apply, you will need to:

  • Satisfy the entry requirements for the programme
  • Provide some documents to support your application
  • Submit provide a short personal one-page statement explaining why you want to apply
Sticky,Note,With,The,Text,Apply,Now

Supporting Documents and Forms to Download

You will need to provide us with some documents as part of your application. These are:
Proof of Identity Expand

Common examples included scanned copies of a driving license or passport (for international applicants).

Employment Validation (if applicable): Expand
  • Formal confirmation that you are working for more than 10 hours a week in a qualifying service is required, if applicable. Please use the employer validation form we have provided for download below.
Employment Validation Form
Personal Statement Expand
  • This document essentially explains why you want to take the course and how you see it helping you achieve your professional and personal goals. You can learn more about  What is a Personal Statement and Why is it Important and download a simple document that will help you write it.
 Personal Statement
Volunteer Form Expand
  • You will need to complete a Volunteer Form if you are currently working as a volunteer.
 Volunteer Form
International Applicants Expand
  • International applicants are required to provide documentary evidence of proficiency in English and eligibility to study in Ireland before beginning an accredited course. A document explaining why it is necessary and what documents are required for a successful application can be found below.
 English Proficency Form
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Start Making your Application

Follow these steps to start your application. Please have your PPS number and supporting documents ready before you commence your online application as there is a 15-minute time limit when making your application.
  1. Click on this LINK to access the application form.
  2. Click on the Apply Online black button
  3. Choose the CPD Short courses area, and then
  4. choose the Empowerment & Advocacy course from the drop down menus.
Apply Online Here

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Contact us if you want to know more about the course.

Call:  (+353) 86 0756580 (Hours 9am-5pm please)
Mail: Please use the contact form below.

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