Certificate in Empowerment and Advocacy

This accredited Level 6 course, Certificate in Empowerment and Advocacy, equips the student with the knowledge, skills and competencies to support people with disabilities in empowering themselves on a day-to-day basis, thus facilitating self-defined visions of a desirable future.

This includes guidance and skills in relation to effective facilitation through a number of empowering approaches and in particular, 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.

Who is this course for?

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

Facilitating advocacy/person centred plans with people using the service; and/or
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
Obtain academic recognition

What Will I Learn on the Empowerment and Advocacy course?

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 reflected 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.
Discuss the social care workers role in supporting service users to identify and access appropriate assistive technology supports to enhance wellbeing and empowerment.

Course Content

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 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.

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 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 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.

Unit 6 focuses on the value of assistive technology and on the range of assistance available in this regard. Influencing factors such as legislative developments and how this has impacted on the field of assistive technology, particularly in relation to empowerment is explored, along with its value and benefits.

How Will I Be Assessed?

Successful completion of the course is dependent on undertaking a series of assessments. These involve:

Completing a practical project (2,500 words) that ties together your learning and professional practice
Critically reflecting on how the course has change your perceptions of your role
Participating in an online discussion with a learning community made up of fellow practitioners and tutors

You will be supported in your assessment through the OTC's innovative, award winning learner support model. Read more about the model here.

The Tutor View - Ciara Maye

What changes do you see in people as the course progresses?

Initially people can be hesitant and doubt their own capacity to implement PCP for an individual they support but during the course you can clearly see people develop their capacity to deal with this. Developing competence helps confidence to grow too and at the end of the course you can see people are committed to a process that can lead to better lives for the people they support.

How do you think service users benefit?

Services users can expect a move away from a one size fits all approach, and a recognition of their own right to be fully involved in decisions about their life, toward a life that is more of their own choosing, with more of what is important to them as an individual in the same way that we all want to live our lives.

More generally, what motivated you to become a tutor in the first place?

I am passionate about the work that I do every day as a clinician. As a college tutor I can share my practical experience with others and hopefully inspire them in their work. It is exciting to be part of another person’s learning!

How will this Empowerment and Advocacy Course Support my Career?

This minor award is aimed at qualified practitioners who wish to ensure the people they support even those with complex needs have the best options based on the life they want to live.

The qualification enhances any CV where you may want to go into residential services, day services, community inclusion or empowerment.

Qualification

The course is certified by QQI as a Higher Education and Training (HET) Level 6 Award. Successful participants will obtain a component certificate in:

Focus on the Individual: Person Centred Planning (15 credits) (6N14541)

How Do I Apply?

Applications for this course are accepted through our Online Application Centre. To apply for the degree, you will need to:

Satisfy the entry requirements for the programme
Provide a range of documents to support your application
Submit a personal statement explaining why you want to apply

What are the Course Entry Requirements?

To apply you must:

Be either 23 years of age when you apply, or
Have successfully completed a Leaving Certificate/QQI/FETAC Level 5 Certificate.

All applicants must be employed or volunteering in a service for people with disabilities for at least 10 hours a week.
International Applicants must provide appropriate documentary evidence of proficiency in English (i.e. IELTS 6.0).

What Supporting Documents Will I Need?

You will need to provide us with a range of documents as part of your application. These are:

Proof of identity. Common examples included scanned copies of a driving license or passport (for international applicants).
Employment Validation: Formal confirmation that you are working for more than 10 hours a week in a qualifying service is required. Please use the employer validation form we have provided for download below.
Volunteer Form: You will need to complete a Volunteer Form if you are currently working as a volunteer. This is available for download below.
Personal Statement: 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 it below and download a simple document that will help you write it.
International Applicants: 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

Forms

PLEASE NOTE: We’ve also provided a checklist to help with your application. We generally recommend you gather together all the documents you will require to support your application before you begin but our online application system will allow you add documents as and when you have them once you’ve begun submitting your application. You can learn more by visiting the Online Application Centre.

At a Glance

AUDIENCE

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

SCHOOL

Continuing Professional Development, Social Care

FORMAT

Blended

AWARD