Healthcare Assistant & Support
This course provides a recognised qualification for healthcare workers, currently in employment and those seeking to work in this sector.
| Award Name | Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 5 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 5 NFQ |
Duration
This is a full-time one year course, which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full QQI Level 4 Award (or equivalent)
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) - appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• For applicants who do not meet the above entry requirements, please contact Dublin College Dun Laoghaire.
• Note: For all applicants, please note that English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Where English is not declared as the first language of an applicant, evidence will be required of proficiency (CEFR Level B1 or equivalent).
• In the event that an applicant does not have the evidence, the college can provide testing free of charge, which must be completed prior to commencement to the course.
Careers / Further progression
Progression Opportunities
Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. It is the students' responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie
Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed on our website.
Career Paths
Employers actively seek DFEi graduates for employment, as support workers, healthcare assistants in the public and private sectors, nursing homes, day care facilities, hospitals, private homecare sector, intellectual disability environment, agencies and community care.
Further information
Start Date: 14/09/2026.
To Apply Online go to "Application Weblink" above.
Overview
This course provides a recognised qualification for healthcare workers, currently in employment and those seeking to work in this sector. This Healthcare Support Award is one of the Department of Health and Children’s recommended qualifications for Healthcare Assistants working in the public and private sector. In addition, the newly published National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People require all newly recruited care staff and those in posts less than one year, to commence training to Level 5 QQI or equivalent within two years of taking up employment. This course is the passport to work in the healthcare sector. This course is delivered by teachers including specialist nurses who bring a real depth of experience to their teaching. Students will use two fully equipped Nursing suites for all of the practical work.
Work Experience
Students will be required to undertake a period work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year. Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher. The work placement for this course is 150 hours. Students may work in healthcare settings such as: nursing homes, health centres, day care or special needs centres. Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.
This programme requires students to undertake work experience that will bring them into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they assume positions of trust. As a result all students will undertake Garda Vetting prior to commencing their work experience.
Applicants should be aware that healthcare environments used in work experience may insist that students are fully vaccinated for Covid 19.
Certification
• Level 5 QQI Award - Healthcare Support (5M4339)
• First Aid Certificate
• Manual and People Handling Certificate
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - HSeLanD
• Infection, Prevention and Control - HSeLanD
Course Modules
• Activities of Living Patient Care
• Care Skills
• Care Support
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Safety and Health at Work
• Communications
• Work Experience
• Teamworking
Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:
• Student Record
• Collection of Work
• Assignments
• Examination (Written)
• Project
• Skills Demonstration
All assignments are submitted electronically. Therefore all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.
A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components. On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details.
5M4339 - Healthcare Support.
Tel: +353 1 2809676
Email: info@dfei.ie