Care Support Fetac Level 5

irishlady29

Hi


I'm currently doing some research and am interested in changing my career, I always wanted to venture down the Social Care/Worker route, possibly working with the elderly - but not sure.


My preference would be do a part time degree starting Sept 16 so I thought for the next 12 months I would try get some part time courses and maybe some work experience.


I'm considering doing Care Support Fetac Level 5


Whats peoples thoughts on this course? Any one familiar with it?


Thanks in advance

pearbelle

Hi irishlady29

dont know if this is any help but..........I am currently doing this care support module as part of the healthcare support major award...it is fairly ok and not very difficult to complete...there are two assignments to be completed.....it might be of benefit to you to complete the major award (9 modules) in healthcare support as this would help you in all areas of social work/care as there is a care of the older person module and an intellectual disability module, as well as the health and safety in the workplace module that you will probably have to complete anyway in order to work in the area

Pie and Mash

You also need to complete Patient Manual Handling course. I have just started Fetac level 5 major award , it looks fairly straight forward , I'll keep you posted

pearbelle

Pie and Mash wrote: »

You also need to complete Patient Manual Handling course.

Patient Manual handling wouldn't be a compulsory module of the healthcare support award but would be no harm to have done if you intended working in the area....

irishlady29

Thanks all for your feedback and comments.


I've registered so am due to start the course in a couple of weeks.


Bit nervous and excited as it is a long time since I did any courses etc


Is there anything anybody would recommend I do to prepare my self (wake up sleepy brain) any reading material I could get etc.....

pearbelle

I'm sure you will get plenty of notes and reading material & handouts from the tutor over the weeks as the course goes on....
just make sure and read them all ...
all the information you require to complete the assignments is usually in these notes and further reading is not usually required

hairycakes

Hi irishlady29,

I'm in the same boat. I've worked in Admin for years but always felt a career in healthcare was where I should be. I already have a degree so going back for another one just wouldn't be feasible for me (I have a 6 year old daughter too!). So I found a course in Carlow IT which is essentially 1 year part time conversion course in Applied Social Care for graduates of other disciplines. But the work experience part requires 800 hours placement! So I thought the best option for me would be to do a Healthcare Assistant Course and hopefully get employment in the area and my work hours would count towards the placement. I enrolled with the Open College in Feb of this year (as I have to keep working). It's good but tough going. I also have work placement to complete which I do on a Saturday morning. I don't know what college you are looking at but there is certainly plenty of reading to keep you occupied with the Open College. The theory part is pretty common sense but I find the assignments can be tough. Do you have any idea of what area of social care you want to get into? Some good advice I got was to choose your work placement carefully and with future work in mind. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and good luck!