Introduction
The Certificate Course in Elder Care focuses on the development of helping skills in elder care. Elder care assistants and elder care workers who are working with the elderly and other special needs in various employment categories at national and international levels. Caring and helping skills are significant in multi-diverse elderly care needs that are extended by paraprofessionals who are going to work under supervision. It helps them to create a collaborative work environment with the service users to perform their jobs better. It also brings great satisfaction to the person knowing that a difference can be made in people’s lives through effective helping. Producing such skilled elderly care workers in every human service, would contribute to promote active ageing and holistic wellbeing of elderly persons who seek services.
This particular course is designed in keeping with Sri Lanka qualification framework of updated December, 2015 advocated by the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council of UGC in Sri Lanka. This Certificate Course in Elder care is of SLQF Level 1 with a credit value of 10 which is equvelant to NVQ L evel 2 and Certificate Course in Elder care is of SLQF Level 1 with a minimum credit value of 10 which is equvelant to NVQ Level 2.
Career opporunities
Those who obtain SLQF1 Qualification after following the skills training Certificate course in Eldercare shall be employable as Eldercare assistants at the National and international levels
1. Hospital-based patient care
2. Home -based
3. Nursing home
4. Care homes
5. Community-based day courses
Aim of the program
To develop basic helping skills in Eldercare workers engaged in various job categories in the Social care sector.
Objectives of the course
1. To provide basic knowledge on theoretical and practical aspects of Eldercare
2. To build up the basic skills needed to develop a helping relationship with service users
3. To develop self-awareness and culturally sensitive awareness
4. To create awareness of basic ethical principles to be used in helping relationship service users and professional team
5. To develop awareness on managing personal and professional boundaries in a helping relationship
Certificate Course Programme Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Certificate Course in Counselling the participants will be able to
1. Demonstrate basic helping skills, including active listening, empathetic skills, reflecting, and problem-solving in day-to-day caring duty
2. Use the basic Theoretical and practical knowledge to assess the situations and problems of elderly people and patients to live independently to respond appropriately
3. Adapt helping strategies to the individual characteristics of the elderly person and patient using self-awareness and cultural competence
4. Assist the professional team in explaining the situation effectively
5. Adhear the personal and professional boundaries and basic ethical guidelines of Dos and Donts
6. Organize the basic psycho-social support for enhancing the mental health of elderly persons/ Patients and their family
7. Make necessary referrals to relevant professionals or service providers
Medium - Sinhala/ Tamil/ English
Admission Requirements
(a) part-time Completion of junior secondary level, which is Grade 9 or an equivalent, or Completion of primary education and certified work experience equivalent to a minimum period of two years in a particular field may also be considered as an equivalent qualification for admission to SLQF level 1 provided that the applicant is at least 16 years of age. (SLQF2015)
Or
(b) (i) has successfully completed the G.C.E. (O/L) Examination /NVQL 1
Or
(ii) has other equivalent educational qualifications acceptable to the Institute.
Or
(c) is a permanent State/nonstate/Private Officer in services to vulnerable populations given below with a minimum of 2 years service: a community volunteer/ community mobilizer /care worker
Note :- Special consideration may be given to those candidates without educational qualifications and/or experience in the Eldercare or Social Welfare fields. The participants shall be selected by the NISD Academic Affairs Board.
Course Structure
The Certificate course in Eldercare consists of the following components:
- Four Course Modules
- One Field Practicum
Certificate Course in Eldercare
Subject code | Subject | No. of Credits | No. of direct contract hours | No. of Self Learning hours | Total Notional learning hours |
Cert.EC 101 | Basics of Eldercare | 2 | 30 | 70 | 100 |
Cert.EC 102 | Aging process and Health issues | 2 | 30 | 70 | 100 |
Cert.EC 103 | Basic Counselling Skills for Emotional support | 2 | 30 | 70 | 100 |
Cert.EC 104 | Nursing Care and Occupational Safety | 2 | 30 | 70 | 100 |
Cert.EC 105 | Field Practice (Concurrent /Block Placement) | 2 | - | 200 | 200 |
Total credits & hours | 10 | 120 | 480 | 600 |
All course units are compulsory
How to Apply
The advertisements on calling for applications are published in this website. The eligible applicants can apply online.
For more information contact course coordinator/s:
Please contact only from office hours : (8.00 am to 4.00pm)
Sinhala : Mr. Ironne Jayasekara - 076 217 2489
Tamil : Mrs. V. Vasudevan - 076 216 9139
English : Mrs. Deepthi Niroshika - 071 445 2803