About Social Care Work – BA 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.

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. 

Class Contact Hours

21 hours per week depending on year

Jobs Include

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

Entry Requirement

Leaving Certificate: A minimum of Five Passes in 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 interview and will be required to complete a brief piece of written work on the day.

CAO

Please visit www.cao.ie for further information on how to apply to this course.

IELTS score for entry to undergraduate courses a minimum score of 5.5