In-person

This exciting part-time diploma course invites students to engage with one of the most important contemporary issues of societal concern.  The course will provide students with an introduction to the knowledge, skills and values required to equip health and social care professionals and volunteers to loosen the grip that substance misuse and addiction has on the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities and the health, social care and criminal justice resources of the state. Students will be provided with an understanding of how history, culture, addiction theory and policy inform and shape societal discourse, service provision and practice. They will receive grounding in the theoretical knowledge, models of addiction treatment, and the practical helping skills and values that underpin ethical practice in the field. Teaching on the Diploma will draw on contributions from a variety of academic and practice disciplines from both UCC and the HSE in the areas of social science, law, public health and epidemiology, to counselling, nursing, psychology and medicine.

Year 1 modules (30 Credits)

• SS1834 Understanding drugs in a social context (5 Credits)
• SS1835 The role of drug and alcohol policy (5 Credits) 
• SS1836 Theories of addiction and practical models of intervention (5 Credits)
• SS1837 Diverse client presentations (5 Credits)
• SS1838 Basic intervention skills (5 Credits)
• SS1839 Substance misuse prevention with young people and families (5 Credits)

Year 2 modules (30 Credits)

• SS2828 Facilitating change in one-to-one and group settings (5 Credits)
• SS2829 Introduction to motivational interviewing (5 Credits)
• SS2830 An introduction to working with dual diagnosis (5 Credits)
• SS2831 Relapse management (5 Credits)
• SS2832 Practice placement – initial assessment of client need, comprehensive assessment of client need, care-planning and working with other professionals and settings (10 Credits)

The Diploma in Substance Misuse and Addiction Studies will equip students with the baseline knowledge, skills and values necessary to work or volunteer in an area that can be very rewarding but challenging at the same time. The course will provide an introduction to the knowledge, skills and values required to equip health and social care professionals and volunteers to loosen the grip that substance misuse and addiction has on the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities and the health, social care and criminal justice resources of the state. Students on this programme will gain hands-on experience through agency visits as well as completing a placement in a recognised treatment, rehabilitation or harm reduction setting in Year 2.

• Be at least 23 years of age by 1 January of the year of application
• Submit a detailed application form prior to the closing date which will request applicants to present a supplemental statement indicating their reasons for applying for the course, who will support them, and the expected benefits to them personally and to their work or volunteering role
• Applicants will be asked to include any employment or volunteering activities that may be relevant to this course as well as details of any other academic or professional training that they may have undertaken
• Applicants will also be asked to provide the names and details of two persons who are willing to act as Referees. 
• Applicants must satisfy Garda Vetting requirements 

Applicants who are successfully shortlisted will be invited for Interview.

At interview, each applicant will be invited to: 1) discuss their application form; 2) outline their experience in the area of addiction; 3) demonstrate a level of interest in working or volunteering with those affected by substance misuse; 4) identify the potential application of the learning from the programme; 5) demonstrate their ability to cope with the academic demands of the programme; 6) demonstrate a level of self-awareness, maturity and stability, an ability to cope with emotional demands of the programme and an ability to be open and to reflect on oneself and one’s life experiences and communicate that to the interviewers.

Applicants that disclose a personal recovery process are required to be 2-years post-treatment before applying for the programme. English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS Level 6.5 with no minimum individual sections 5.5 or the equivalent TOEFL score.

See website for further course details https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace-dsmas/

The programme is jointly co-ordinated and delivered by UCC and the Health Service Executive (HSE) Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Addiction Services.