- Next commencement: March 6th, 2026 with an Online Orientation Session (on Zoom) from Noon until 1.00pm.
- Course includes 3 Online Workshops and one In-Person Workshop (location to be determined)
- Application deadline: February 27th, 2026
- Numbers dependent - Apply now, or express your interest now via the Online Application Centre
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This Level 7 course is a professional qualification targeted at the needs of people working as job coaches and employment facilitators. It will provide:
- A detailed understanding of the social and legislative context in which the employment of marginalised groups takes place
- A formal grounding in the principles, processes and best practices of Supported Employment
- The skills and tools required to work effectively as a jobs facilitator for the good of service users
This course is suitable for newly promoted and/or experienced job coaches and employment facilitators who are looking for an accredited qualification specifically devoted to Supported Employment.
Contents
This blended course is made up of two modules and two 2-day workshop/webinars of which one day will be an in-person event (location to be decided). The workshops will be 2-day events that will help you place what you have learnt in the context of your own practice. Discussion and the sharing of experiences are actively encouraged.
Unit 1: Supported Employment: An Overview
- Define employment
- The history of services for people with disability in Ireland
- Work and employment for people with disability
- The importance of being employed
- Working when you have a disability
- Previous work options for people with disability
- Sheltered workshops
- Factors that influence the emergence of supported employment
Unit 2: The Context of Supported Employment in Ireland
- Employment Legislation In Northern Ireland
- The Context of Supported Employment in the South of Ireland
- The Commission on the Status of People with Disability
- The NACTE Report: Challenges for The Millennium
Unit 3: Development of Supported Employment
- Supported Employment: The Beginning
- The Evolution of the Model of Supported Employment
- Individual Placement Models
- Supported Employment in the Present
- Trends for the Future Development of Supported Employment
Unit 4: Core Values & Underlying Principles of Supported Employment
- The ideological cornerstones of Supported Employment
- Underlying principles of Supported Employment
Unit 5: Essential Employment Facilitator Skills
- The role of the employment facilitator
- Skills for effective communication
- Person centred planning
- The role of person centred planning in Supported Employment
- Career planning
- Marketing
- Job analysis
- Analysis the work site culture & the environment
- Preparation for the first days at work
- Guidelines for facilitating decisions about support strategies
- Systematic Instruction
- Evaluating outcomes & supports
Assessment
You will write an essay demonstrating your understanding of key areas of Supported Employment and undertake a project to complete the course. It is expected that you are in a position to work with a person in finding or supporting them while on their job.
By doing this you will have the opportunity to perform your role in a highly supported environment where you have access to experts and fellow practitioners facing the exact same challenges/opportunities as you.
You will be supported in your assessment through the OTC's innovative, award winning learner support model. Read more about the model here.
Taking the Course
The course uses a blended approach which combines online learning, virtual tutorials and face to face workshop/webinars. Our online learning materials are designed to accommodate the pressures that come with trying to balance work, life and learning. They make it possible to build study time around your work schedule. These are accessible through our learning centre which provides a platform for you to study, collaborate and communicate with your fellow learners. Regular online tutorials will expand your knowledge of the topic and answer any questions you have as you study. Each workshop focuses on extending your understanding of the subject matter and helping you apply it in your working practice. The one-day session will be led by a subject matter expert who also has plenty of experience in providing coaching/training to people working in the human services and non-profit sector.
Duration
The course runs for 12 weeks.
Dates:
The next course will commence* online in March 6th, 2026 and run for 12 weeks.
There will be 3 online workshop/webinars and one in-person Workshop - please see details below (under Course Time) and on the course page on opentrainingcollege.com.
This course is numbers dependent, please apply now via the OTC's Online Application Centre
For more information, please contact Conor at cmurray@opentrainingcollege.com, or by mobile on: 086 0756580, or enquire via our website: opentrainingcollege.com
*Subject to numbers
