Course Summary
Course Category: Employment Courses
This course is intended for people who will be working as advocates for patients wishing to make complaints about the service they or a family member has received from state-funded health or social services. Those participating in the course may be employees of the new independent Patient Safety and Complaints Advocacy Service or may be working as Patient Advocates within the HSE.
Students will learn about the complaints process within the HSE and the role of the advocates in supporting people wishing to make complaints. Students will also gain an in-depth knowledge of the Empowerment model of advocacy which will form the basis of the approach taken by the new service. The skills, principles and values needed to be an effective advocate will explored and opportunities for students to develop these skills will be provided.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Module 1: Values and Context of Complaints in the Irish Health Service
The focus of module 1 is the complaints process and the role of the PSCA in supporting people though the various stages of what can be a complex and challenging environment – and doing so in a way that empowers the person. The legislative and policy framework for complaints is discussed along with the obligations arising from international human rights treaties.
Module 2: The Patient Safety Complaints Advocacy Role
This module considers the concept of Advocacy in its various guises with a particular focus on Empowerment Advocacy as the model which will underpin the work of the PSCA advocate. It explores the values, principles and skills of the advocate.
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
Progression to CAO Courses
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
