About Social Care Work – BA (honours) in Limerick Institute of Technology

What is the programme about?

This programme emphasises the personal and professional development required to work in this challenging field. Social Care is the professional provision of care, protection, support, welfare and advocacy for vulnerable or dependent clients, individually or in groups. As a graduate, you will find employment opportunities with the HSE, statutory and voluntary organisations and with both residential and community-based agencies.

Typically, a social care worker is employed in areas such as working with people who have physical or learning difficulties/disabilities, young people at risk, children who have been neglected or abused and elderly people, in settings as diverse as residential care, day care, and community based services.

This course is now on offer from September 2015 in both Limerick and at LIT Thurles Campus.

Who is the programme suited to?

This programme aims to prepare skilled and professionally competent graduates to work in a variety of social care settings and to facilitate learners in acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills to engage in professional reflective practice. The qualities needed to become a good social care worker include energy, enthusiasm, empathy and a genuine interest in working with the most deprived and marginalized groups in society.

Placement Module

The learner will undertake practice placements in different work settings. This will enable the learner to engage in the practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired during the academic year. To ensure the protection of the public and justify public trust and confidence, LIT uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) service to assess the suitability of applicants. Depending upon the outcome of the vetting process, the Institute reserves the following rights: 1. to not register a learner; 2. to remove an existing registered learner; 3. to delay the learner’s practice placement modules on course.

In all circumstances it is the learner’s responsibility to proactively disclose any convictions or pending cases. 

Top 3 Reasons

1. LIT offers a most respected Social Care programme which has professional links with The Irish Association of Social Care Educators (IASCE) and Formation d’Educateurs Sociaux Européens / European Social Educator Training (FESET).

2. Work placements in different work settings enable you to engage in the practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired during the academic year.

3. Opportunities for post-graduate training and research leading to Masters and PhD qualifications are available.

Class Contact Hours

21 hours per week depending on year

Jobs Include

• Social Care Worker
• Community Project Worker
• Family Support Worker

Graduates Work For

• Brothers of Charity
• HSE
• Limerick Youth Service
• Enable Ireland
• Focus Ireland
• Novas Initiatives

​Graduate Profile

“LIT was an obvious choice for me as the college's strong links with professional and community sectors and its emphasis on integrating theory and practice throughout the four years, made studying here attractive.”
Lauren Doyle

Entry Requirement

Leaving Certificate: A minimum of 2 Honours and 4 Passes in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English/Irish. Foundation Level Mathematics at grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for this programme. See ‘Special Entry Requirements’ section. FETAC Applicants and Mature Applicants: Refer to section ‘Entry Requirements’ for further information. Note: Transfer applications by successful applicants from other relevant programmes will be considered on a case by case basis. Applicants may be called for interview. Non-standard applicants, such as mature applicants, will be called for a consultation day, rather than an interview.