Overview
Whether your interest is in progressing towards a career in the field of social care or in working with those in a care setting, with mental or physical disability, the homeless, or those dealing with substance abuse issues, the BA in Applied Social Care is the degree for you.
The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care provides teaching of theoretical concepts applied to social care practice, along with intensive training by experienced professionals in the practical skills required to work in the caring professions (e.g. in first aid, manual handling, hygiene/Infection control, child protection training and therapeutic crisis intervention). It was developed in response to the needs of the social care sector in the context of the professionalization of social care work and includes both theoretical and practice components. The hallmark of the programme is to provide the intellectual rigour of the disciplines and to emphasise the practical aspects of working in a social care environment.
From social skills and social policy, learners will be challenged to think in a rigorous and scientific way about social processes, institutions, policies. From the first to the final year of the programme there is a consistent emphasis on theory and practical skills that puts the client at the centre of all practice. All learners will complete supervised practice placements in years 2 and 3.
Aims & Objectives
The aims of the BA in Applied Social Care are:
-
To provide a programme which combines academic depth with appropriately rigorous skills training in the area of social care practice.
-
To facilitate learner knowledge of professional social care practice and the management roles in the social care profession.
-
Provide graduates with the underpinning academic knowledge to enhance their educational and employment opportunities and provide social care management skills that will be of lasting value to them.
Please note that all learners will be required to submit to vetting by An Garda Siochana. A criminal conviction in Ireland or abroad may impact on securing of a placement and on the ability to secure employment in the social care profession. Vetting will need to be undertaken for each placement setting.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 make it mandatory for people working unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults to be vetted by the Garda Siochana National Vetting Bureau. Under the Acts, anyone whose work or activity involves unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults must be vetted. Workers include staff, volunteers and those on student placements working for a relevant organisation where they have access to children and/or vulnerable adults.
DBS offers a number of educational programmes that require students to undertake placements with external agencies, which will bring them into contact with the public and in which they will assume positions of trust. It is for this reason that students on these type of programmes are required to undergo vetting prior to commencing placements (or visits).
New entrants on to these programmes will receive the relevant form and information in their orientation packs and will need to complete the process before their final registration on the course can be completed. At the time of application, students will be required to declare as to any previous convictions. Students can start on the course before their Garda clearance is completed but may be withdrawn if the vetting does not produce a satisfactory finding.
Where a vetting process identifies a previous conviction the case will be referred to an internal College Vetting Committee. This committee will consider all relevant information in relation to a disclosure from the vetting process and make a determination on the case on behalf of the College.
If a student has started on the course and is withdrawn because of a conviction that was not declared at the time of application, any fees paid will not be refunded.
DBS will charge a fee of €25 to each student for the administration and costs of obtaining Garda clearance. This fee is payable at the commencement of the programme and is non refundable.