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OTC Cert: Supporting and Working with Families

  • Next commencement:  Autumn 2025
  • Application Deadline: Apply now, or express your interest via the Online Application Centre

GENERAL INFORMATION

COURSE CODE

OTC-CPD-WWF

LOCATION

Online

AWARD

Certificate in Supporting and Working with Families

APPLY BY

Apply now

AWARD TYPE / LEVEL

OTC / CPD

START DATE

Autumn 2025 - Date TBD

AUDIENCE

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

WORKSHOP DATES / TIME

Date TBD

CREDITS

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

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

Date TBD

FORMAT

Online

FEE

€299

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE

This OTC certified course, Certificate in Supporting and Working with Families, equips the student with a thorough understanding of family-centred ways of working so that the person being supported can achieve the universal good things of life.

Families are often the only constant in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities; regardless of the quality of the relationship between support staff and the person with disability, staff inevitably move on.

Everyone involved in the support of any person needs to recognise and appreciate the hugely important place held by families in the lives of people with ID, whether this is perceived as positive or negative these familial relationships need to be supported and nourished.

This is a programme for those working in the disability sector or with families of people with disabilities. The course is aimed at staff in the disability sector whose role involves:

  • Interacting with or supporting the families of the people you support
  • 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 and how best they could cultivate an enduring relationship with families.
Family,With,Fresh,Homemade,Cucakes

WHAT YOU WILL YOU LEARN

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you should be able to:

    • Critically discuss the nature and complexities of modern families and how cultural differences and legislation might influence attitudes towards people with disabilities.
    • Examine the experiences, challenges and opportunities of families of people with disabilities.
    • Critically examine the support roles expected and required of staff, services and families in supporting people with disabilities.
    • Elaborate on the skills required to work in a professional manner with families to effectively support people with a disability.
Reliable,Social,Worker.,Cheerful,Reliable,Social,Worker,Kindly,Smiling,And

COURSE CONTENT

Programme Units

This course will be delivered in four units:

UNIT 1: Expand

The first unit explores the place of the family in Irish society and its legislative position in relation to both children and adults. The change in the role and status of the family as the person moves for childhood to adulthood is discussed and what this means for how families can best be supported to support their family member with ID throughout their life.

UNIT 2: Expand

Unit 2 explores the experiences of families of people with disabilities and the impact of these experiences on them. The need for particular support for families around times of transition is discussed and the need for such support to be tailored to the strengths, needs and wishes of the family and the person with disability.

UNIT 3: Expand

Unit 3 examines the range of support issues expected and required by families and by the person with a disability, and the support roles that staff members and services can play in meeting some of these needs. The importance of actively listening to and empathetic communication with families is considered.

UNIT 4: Expand

In this unit, we discuss the skills and competencies Social Care workers need to effectively support people and their families in a person-centred way. Helping ensure that the person and their family can develop a positive vision for and with the person demands that support staff are respectful and honest communication with families and that the real fears and issues of the family are addressed.

Hands,Holding,Paper,Cutout,Of,Different,Family,Members,Being,Together.

Assessment

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

  • Critically reflecting on how the course has changed your perceptions of your role and completing an exercise supporting you to implement your learning.
  • You will be supported in your assessment through the OTC's innovative, award winning learner support model. Read more about the model here.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

The Tutor View - Cathy Vaughan

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

Initially people can be hesitant and doubt their own capacity to  support individuals and families 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? Expand

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.

Read about OTC students' views via the link below:
Alumni Testimonials

HOW THE COURSE WILL IMPACT YOUR CAREER

This OTC cert 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 and community inclusion.

Qualification

The course is certified by the Open Training College. Successful participants will obtain an OTC-accredited:

  • Certificate of Completion in Supporting and Working with Families .
Cert in Supporting and working with families

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.

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 a range of documents to support your application
  • Submit a personal statement explaining why you want to apply

Supporting Documents and Forms to Download

You will need to provide us with a range of 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 (if applicable): 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 Proficiency Form
iStock-913688550

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 Supporting and Working with Families 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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