This QQI Level 5 Care Skills (5N2770) course is ideal for individuals who are currently working in, or wish to begin a career in, the healthcare sector. It is particularly suited to healthcare assistants, nursing aides, home care workers, personal care assistants and support staff providing direct care in residential, community or home care settings.

The course is also appropriate for those seeking to complete the Healthcare Support Major Award (5M4339), where Care Skills is a mandatory component. In addition, family caregivers, career changers, or anyone with a genuine interest in delivering safe, dignified and person-centred care will benefit from completing this programme.

To access programmes leading to the QQI Level 5 Care Skills (5N2770) award, learners should have reached the standards of knowledge, skill and competence associated with Level 4 of the National Framework of Qualifications. This may have been achieved through a formal qualification or through relevant life and work experience.

Ideally, applicants will hold a minimum of a Level 4 certificate (or equivalent) and demonstrate a strong interest in providing quality care within a healthcare setting. As this course is delivered through blended learning with live online sessions, learners must have good written and spoken English, basic computer literacy skills, and access to appropriate technology (computer or tablet, broadband, email, webcam and microphone).

Learners should also be prepared to engage in self-directed study and complete both practical skills demonstrations and written assignments.

Attendance at all scheduled live online training sessions is essential. The course is delivered through five 3-hour instructor-led sessions via Zoom, and active participation is required. Learners must have their camera and microphone working, as attendance is monitored throughout each session.
Participants should ensure they have access to a quiet, uninterrupted space for the duration of each session and remain fully engaged in the learning activities. Full attendance and participation are necessary to successfully complete the skills demonstrations and assessments associated with this module.

If, for any reason, learners are unable to attend part of the course, they must let us know as soon as possible. While missing sessions may affect their ability to complete certain elements, such as exams or assessments, we are committed to supporting learners. Our team will do their best to work with learners to find a suitable solution and help learners stay on track towards successfully completing their programme.

On successful completion of the QQI Level 5 Care Skills (5N2770) module, learners will be able to:

• Identify the needs of individuals requiring care, recognising the physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual needs of a range of client groups.
• Deliver safe and hygienic personal care, including assisting with hygiene, dressing, grooming, eating, drinking, toileting, continence care, mobility and the prevention of pressure sores.
• Promote safety and maintain care environments, applying correct procedures for infection prevention and control, safe disposal of soiled materials, equipment cleaning, and safe moving and handling practices.
• Support client dignity and independence, adapting levels of assistance to individual needs and encouraging participation in social, occupational and therapeutic activities.
• Use effective interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating empathy, respect and patience when interacting with clients and working as part of the healthcare team.
• Assist with care equipment and documentation, supporting clients in the safe use of mobility aids and other assistive devices, reporting changes in condition appropriately, and completing relevant client records.

This course is structured across 5 core units:

• Unit 1 – Understanding Client Care
• Unit 2 – Communication in the Care Setting
• Unit 3 – Using Equipment Safely and Correctly
• Unit 4 – Assisting Skills
• Unit 5 – Maintaining a Safe and Hygienic Environment

Assessment for the QQI Level 5 Care Skills (5N2770) module is designed to evaluate both practical competence and theoretical understanding. Learners are assessed through the following methods:

Skills Demonstration – 60%
Learners will complete practical skills demonstrations, where they will be assessed across a broad range of care skills. Candidates must complete a minimum of three practical tasks, with assessment focusing on:

• Preparation and implementation of care tasks
• Effective communication
• Health and safety provision

All skills demonstrations must be recorded by the learner and submitted for assessment. Clear video and audio quality are essential to ensure the assessor can accurately evaluate performance against QQI standards.

Assignments (2) – 40%
Learners will complete two written assignments designed by the internal assessor. Each assignment requires learners to demonstrate their understanding and application of key learning outcomes related to client care, drawing on work experience in a healthcare setting where appropriate.

Both components must be successfully completed to achieve the QQI minor award in Care Skills (5N2770).

Assignments and Skills Demonstration recordings must be submitted within 2 weeks of course completion to the CPL Institute using the submission link in your course confirmation email or by using the submission link on the CPL Institute website – www.cplinstitute.com

• If you have any issues, please email us at support@cplinstitute.com
• If learners do not request an extension in writing prior to the submission date of their assignment / project, it will be treated as a non-submission, and learners will receive zero marks.

Appeals

All participants have the right to appeal their result and all appeals will be dealt with in accordance with the the CPL Institute QQI appeals procedure. All participants who successfully complete the written and practical assignments will be awarded with a QQI level 5 Care Skills certificate and the appropriate credits under the national framework of qualifications will then be obtained by the learner. Participants will be given clear guidelines on how the assignment and skills demonstration should be completed.

All participants’ names, gender, DOB and PPS numbers must be supplied to the CPL Institute as part of QQI certification requirements.

• Learners must have access to a laptop/computer with a webcam and mic, along with a internet connection – broadband wired or wireless.
• Learners will also require Microsoft Word or similar software to complete a written assessment as part of the course programme.
• Learners must have access to a recording device (smartphone or tablet) with clear video and audio quality.

Technical Support

If learners have any academic or IT issues, they can contact at support@cplinstitute.com from 8.30am until 5pm Monday to Friday. Outside of hours contact info@cplinstitute.com and if their query is deemed urgent, we will reply as soon as we can.

On registering for the course, you will receive an email with the following attachments: 

• Assignment Brief – Learners will be required to read this important information so they can prepare for their final assignment following the course.
• Skills Demonstration Brief – Learners will be required to read this important information so they can prepare for their skills demonstration.
• Care Skills Learner Handbook – Learners will be required to read this as part of their self-directed study.
• CPL Learner Information Handbook – designed to provide you with essential information to support your academic journey, including our policies, resources, and services available to you.
• QQI Learner Information Sheet – Learners will be required to read this document and ensure they are aware of all QQI processes and procedures.
• QQI Award Specifications – This document includes full details of the Learning Outcomes, Assignment details and progression information of their QQI course.
• Calendar Appointments – These diary invites can be opened and saved to the learner online calendars

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the state agency responsible for promoting the quality, integrity and reputation of Ireland’s further and higher education system.  They ensure that learners achieve qualifications that are valued nationally and internationally, and they provide trusted information on the qualifications included on the National Framework of Qualifications.

For more information on Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and what they do, click on this link to access their website. 

QQI Certificate Timelines

Please note that depending on when their assignments have been submitted, corrected and internally verified it may be a few months before learners will receive their Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) certificate.

QQI only allow organisations to upload courses every two months – February, April, June, August, October and December. After we upload to QQI, it is then a number of weeks before we receive the certificates back from QQI.

Further Progression

Learners who achieve this award may transfer into programmes leading to the Healthcare Support Level 5 (5M4339) Major Award.

For more details on the full course specifications and credit values, click on the link below:

NFQ Level 5 – Care Skills 5N2770