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Partnership Drugs and Alcohol Programmes

Partnership Drug and Alcohol Programmes

The School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice has developed a number of partnership relationships with key community agencies to provide education and increase capacity in the field to respond to these at an individual, community and policy level.  The courses aim to develop a cadre of skilled professionals with a unique understanding of drug problems and how they manifest at a community level. UCD also has a particular interest in developing research capacity, establishing a progression route to degree level, and developing national and international links in the drugs field.

Certificate and Diplomas in Drug and Alcohol Work

In partnership with Urrus, Ballymun, UCD currently provides certificate and diploma level courses.  The overarching aim of these courses is to combine community based expertise with comprehensive and innovative knowledge and skills on effective responses and interventions to drug and alcohol issues.  The courses aim to engage both ‘non-traditional’ students and professionals who wish to deepen or extend their knowledge and expertise.

Diploma in Community Drugs and Alcohol Work in partnership with Urrús, Ballymun

This one year course provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the area of community drugs work.  It provides a progression routes for those who have completed Community Addiction Studies Course and focussed education for those already working in or interested in working in the area of drugs and alcohol, whether it be within community, voluntary or statutory sector. Classes for this course, delivered at level 7, are held in the UCD Belfield and Horizon Centre. Successful completion can allow students to pathway onto the UCD Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc). The course covers aspects of drug and alcohol use and interventions; groundings in social and drug and alcohol policy; professional practice groupwork; community and individual intervention skills. Completion of this course provides access onto the BSocSc progression route, please see information here .

For details on course content, admission and fees, please contact URRUS on 01 8467980 or email (opens in a new window)urrus@byap.ie

(opens in a new window)http://www.byap.ie/urrus/diploma-in-community-drugs-work

The curriculum has been specifically designed, in collaboration with the partners, to address the complex nature of community drug problems.  While this facilitates flexibility in terms of the overall package of materials delivered in any one course it also ensures a degree of consistency across the various programs.  The theories and practice for promoting change straddle a wide spectrum of concepts and perspectives.  This is reflected in modules which utilise variety not only in content but also in teaching methods and assessment procedures.

Central to the assessment process is the valuing of lifelong learning. Students on the courses described here come from a wide experience of drug problems – some have personal experience, some family experience, others voluntary work experience, yet others paid work experience.  The richness which results leads to exciting challenging of theoretical positions, and questioning of their usefulness in Irish society.

Central to the UCD Drug and Alcohol Work Education Programme, is the opportunity for successful graduates of the Diploma courses to pathway on to the Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc) with 60 credits. See Progression route to BSocSc.

Contact the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice

Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 8198 | E: sp-sw-sj@ucd.ie |