If you have a compassionate nature and would like to take on the roles and responsiblities associated with the profession of caring, then this is the course for you. Learn all of the required competencies and skills but also learn about the importance of issues such as dignity, respect, empathy and confidentiality. Being a care worker is such an important role and this course will prepare you in all of the best ways. Students will use a fully equipped nursing/HCA room for all the practical work.

View Frequently Asked Questions for this course.

  • Care of the Older Person 5N2706  – Explore how older people change and develop psychologically, physically and socially. Develop practical caring strategies for working with older people.
  • Care Skills 5N2770 – Understand the holistic care of a client over the full life span from birth to death, including areas such as disabilities, mental health, care of the older person and palliative care. Practical instruction in washing, feeding, mobilisation, toileting and grooming. End of life care is included as part of the holistic care.
  • Care Support 5N0758 – Explore roles, responsibilities and entitlements of a care worker. Demonstrate an ability to plan and provide enhanced quality of care.
  • Infection Prevention and Control 5N3734 – Learn how to prevent the spread of infection in the healthcare setting including hand hygiene and standard precautions. Practical instruction in all aspects of practice including cleaning following blood borne spillage and terminal cleaning
  • Palliative Care 5N3769 – Enable the learner to develop a holistic approach to caring for persons with a life-limiting illness and their families. Learn effective communication skills that promote a holistic environment. Understand the structure and organisation of palliative care services. Learn to meet the specific needs of a person with a life-limiting illness and respond sensitively to the practical and emotional needs of bereaved families.
  • Intellectual Disability Studies 5N1652 – Equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence in the causes, range and effects of intellectual disabilities to develop an awareness of the importance of a social model of support and the role of various professionals in responding to the needs of persons with an intellectual disability.
  • Word Processing 5N1358 – Learn to produce professional mailable document. Learn file management and a host of functions including clipart, headers, footers, watermarks, graphics, tabs etc.
  • Work Experience 5N1356 – Planning, preparation and reflection on work placement. Job finding strategies, CV and personal statement preparation, interview skills. Practise employability skills with a view to future planning
  • Communications 5N0690 – Acquire the writing skills needed for the workplace, learn to speak fluently and coherently in a professional setting, develop interpersonal skills and have an understanding of the impact of ICT on society.

Additional Training

  • People Moving and Handling Certification (requirement for work experience): Manual handling training is required under Regulation 13 of the 1993 (General Application Regulations) and 1993 Manual Handling Regulations. This training programme is aimed at providing all persons at work with proper techniques when lifting, carrying, loading, pushing and supporting. It provides employees with good work practices such as proper lift Manual Handling Techniques. The course includes being aware of the necessity for safe methods of manual handling to reduce the risk of injury and understanding the need to avoid manual handling by using mechanical aids where possible. Furthermore, assessing the task using the TILE criteria (task, individual, load, environment) and implementing the correct method of lifting ensuring minimal risk to self and co-workers will also be included.  Finally, knowing how to safely execute all relevant workplace manual handling tasks will be demonstrated. A certificate will be issued to learners who successfully complete the course.
  • HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk Certificate (requirement for work experience): Its primary focus is to inform learners on the guiding practice and procedures to keep vulnerable adults safe in the community and residential settings.  The content includes learners being informed of their safeguarding responsibilities, the different types of abuse and neglect and how to recognise them and how to report concerns in line with HSE guidelines.  All students receive a certificate on completion at the end of the course.
  • First Aid Workshop (online): This First Aid workshop will introduce the learner to the principles of First Aid. On successful completion of this workshop you will be a vital link in the chain of survival. The workshop includes identifying the role and responsibilities of the first Aider, understanding the principles of infection control.  In addition, learners will describe and demonstrate how to assess a casualty- by conducting an initial check, physical examination, by obtaining a SAMPLE history, assessing levels of Response (AVPU) and identifying problems that are an immediate threat to life.  Finally, learners will describe the requirements for a handover to other health care practitioners. A record of achievement from Morrison’s Island Campus is issued on successful completion.
  • Work Safely Induction (Health & Safety Authority): This Work Safely Induction has been developed by the Health and Safety Authority. The Work Safely Protocol is the key document your employer must follow for the safe operation of your workplace, particularly in relation to Covid-19. This course has been designed to help you to understand the measures outlined in the Work Safely Protocol. It is a requirement of the Protocol that workers must complete induction training.
  • AMRIC Hand Hygiene (HSELand): Effective hand Hygiene is the single most effective thing that you can do to protect the people you care for and yourself from healthcare acquired infections. HCAI’s. But knowing is not enough – it’s important to apply what you have learnt and believe that it can be done. By the end of this course, you should know: Why hand hygiene is important
    • When to practice hand hygiene.
    • How to perform hand hygiene in line with the WHO 5 Moments.
    • How to take care of your hands.
  • AMRIC Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (HSELand): This course on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will enable and empower you to make an assessment on the selection of PPE for a task and to put on and remove PPE correctly. By the end of the course, you will be able to: Identify why you need to wear PPE and where you need to wear it.
    • Recognise the appropriate PPE to wear to protect the body, face and eyes, and hands in different situations.
    • Put on and remove all PPE in acute and non-acute setting.
    • Dispose of used PPE safely.
    • Reflect on your own actions and behaviours in relation to PPE and infection prevention and control.
    • AMRIC Infection Prevention and Control (HSELand): Practical programme which includes specific measures for prevention of infection in all healthcare facilities, how to identify hazards and carry out a well-informed risk assessment.  How to control the sources and prevent onward transmission of infection.

Leaving Certificate, LCA or QQI Level 4. Mature students are exempt from Leaving Certificate requirement. CERFL proficiency at B2 for access to Level 5 courses for those whose first language is not English. All applicants will undergo a processing stage during which further information will be gathered in relation to their application.  An offer of a place on this course is contingent on the applicant meeting the entry requirements set out here and satisfactory completion of the processing stage.

Note: Prospective students should also be aware that some aspects of this course are physically demanding and should satisfy themselves that they are physically fit enough to undertake it.

Excellent progression opportunities including:

Excellent progression opportunities to UCC and other Higher Education colleges. Special arrangements in place with MTU Cork (CCPS), MTU Kerry and SETU(Waterford & Carlow) for preferential entry for students of Morrisons Island locations. See Progressions for details.

Nursing homes, hospitals, agency work, day care facilities, private homecare sector, intellectual disability environments.

  • Duration: September to May
  • Fees: €300 including QQI examination fees, plus €200 appox. for vaccines. Additional costs for a uniform (if required). Medical card holders exempt from €50. See Payment for details.
  • Certification:
    • QQI Level 5 Health Service Skills 5M3782.
    • QQI Component Maths 5N1833 and Statistics 5N2066 (available as option in evening for learners requiring Maths or Statistics for progression).
  • Work Experience: Students will undertake a block work placement of four weeks (min. 150 hours) in a hospital or care home setting. Garda vetting is an integral part of the application procedure for this course. Hepatitis B and flu vaccinations (others may be required in individual settings) are required for work experience in a healthcare setting. Applicants should be aware that healthcare environments used in work experience may insist that students are fully vaccinated for Covid 19. 

Email: HCAdaycourse@morrisonsislandcampus.ie        Tel: (021) 4223822

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    I am Kennedy a student of Cork College of Commerce 2018/2019 studied Healthcare Assistant. Reflecting on my course in Cork College of Commerce I could gladly said the that the experience not only made me a better person to my community but also a good care giver and prepared me in unpredictable ways for my career. I thank all the lecturer for their patience, support, kindness and understanding, they are always there to see you through the difficult moment, I was very happy with the way the modules was schedule and lecture and the courses co-ordinator Madam Fiona is a brilliant, kind and understandable person and may God bless her for making the year enjoyable for us all. As an African going true college here in Cork College of Commerce, one can imagine has challenging these could be, but with the support of all the workers I came out as a better person having a good qualifying certificate to follow my dreams.
    Before going to Cork College of Commerce to do healthcare assistant course I had done many other courses but this help me to understand what I was missing and do what I really want, caring is a calling for me which I discovered in Cork College of Commerce
    It was a wonderful time in my life, and the best educational experience for me and I thanks everyone for their time and help. I definitely will recommend this course for people who has a passion for caring because for me is a calling not just a job.

    Kennedy Osubor

    When I reflect on my course in Cork College of Commerce I conclude that the experience not only made me a better care giver but also prepared me in unpredictable ways for my career. Before going to Cork College of Commerce to do the Healthcare Assistant course I had done many other courses but unfortunately none of them was fruitful.

    Some of the modules were very difficult but with incredibly supportive classmates, and teachers who were nothing short of champions, I was challenged to discover the talent for caring for people who need help with the activities of daily living which I didn’t know I had. That talent has played a central role in my work, as a carer. It is vital to thinking, to planning, to imagination, to communication, and to engagement.

    Having been shaped in part by the collegial and creative, yet rigorous, environment at CCOC I found myself able to communicate, innovate, and collaborate in ways that enabled me to build a successful career and eventually to find a rewarding career in a warm nursing home since March immediately after my work experience. In my current role as Healthcare Assistant, I work with the elderly people who need help with ADL and people living with dementia.

    I am strengthened every day by the knowledge I developed during my time at CCOC, which will forever continue to develop. It was a wonderful time in my life, and the best educational experience I’ve had. I will definitely recommend this course for people with a passion for caring for people who need help with ADL.

    Emilian Molong, Healthcare Assistant

    St. Finbarr’s Hospital has hosted student’s from Cork College of Commerce for work placement for almost 10 years. During their time in St. Finbarr’s, the student’s grow in confidence, develop their skills and become key members of the team on the wards. It is great to see Cork College of Commerce students who have completed a placement in our hospital coming back to work as members of staff following their graduation

    Catherine White, Director of Nursing, St. Finbarr’s of Hospital.

    Our past experience with students has been very positive with many engaging in internships and then employment by Cobh Community Hospital. Many of our past students continue to volunteer here or have moved onto employment elsewhere with the confidence they have built during their time spent at our facility.

    Claire Dwyer, Education Supervisor Cobh Community Hospital

    The mercy hospital facilitates students voluntary work placement, as part of their Nursing Studies programme. This takes place in 4 blocks per term, for a period of four weeks. This is a great opportunity for pre-nursing staff to experience life in this working environment. We are delighted to invite these students to become a part of our hospital and we wish them well in their future nursing careers,

    Cleo Davies, PA to Director of Nursing, Mercy Hospital Cork