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Foundation Programme For Residential Services

An OTC short course covering the core knowledge, values and practical skills needed by staff entering residential services for the first time.

Course Information

Award Type

OTC Certificate

Delivery

Online

Duration

2 weeks

Next Start

Starting soon

CPD

Qualification Level

Online

Learning Mode

Non-credit

ECTS Credits

Part-time

Study Mode

Course Details

Overview

This short course provides the essential knowledge, values and practical skills required for staff working in residential services within the intellectual disability sector.

Delivered fully online, the programme allows learners to complete training flexibly while balancing work and personal commitments.

It is designed to support both new and existing staff in developing safe, person-centred practice in residential care settings.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for individuals working in, or preparing to work in, residential services within the intellectual disability sector.

It is suitable for:

Support workers and care assistants
Social care workers
Nurses and healthcare assistants
Team leaders and service managers
Staff being inducted or redeployed into residential services

The programme also supports organisations seeking to develop staff skills and maintain high standards of care.

Programme Content / Modules

This programme is designed to equip staff with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to deliver high-quality residential services in the intellectual disability sector.

Key areas covered include:

Person-centred care and rights
Safeguarding and duty of care
Infection prevention and control
Communication and teamwork
Health, safety and wellbeing

The course is delivered through 12 online modules, providing approximately 17 hours of learning. Content includes interactive activities, videos, and practical resources tailored to residential services.

Programme Modules

Person Centredness and Rights
Getting Residential Ready
Infection Prevention and Control
Introduction to Positive Behaviour Support
Introduction to Fire Prevention
Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons
Back Care and Safer Manual Handling
Intimate and Personal Care
Introduction to Health and Safety
Food Hygiene
Recording and Report Writing
Staff Wellbeing and Self Care

Entry Requirements

Access to a functional online device

This programme is suitable for staff working in, or preparing to work in, residential services within the intellectual disability sector.

If you are unsure whether this course is appropriate for you or your organisation, please contact us and we will be happy to advise.

Assessment & Certification

This course includes built-in learning checks throughout each module to support understanding and progress.

There are no formal examinations. Participants complete short assessments within the online modules.

Upon successful completion, learners will receive a certificate of completion from Open Training College, suitable for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) records.

Qualification awarded:
OTC Certificate in Foundation Programme for Residential Services

Fees & Funding

Individual Applicants
€120 per person
Includes 17 hours of online learning across 12 modules.

Organisations / Group Bookings
Discounted rates are available for group enrolments:

1–20 staff: €120 per person + 2 free places
21–50 staff: €110 per person + 3 free places
51–100 staff: €90 per person + 4 free places
100+ staff: €70 per person + 5 free places

What’s Included

High-quality online learning materials developed by experienced practitioners
Access on any device
Content tailored to intellectual disability services
Built-in assessments and learning checks
Up-to-date guidance aligned with HSE and Public Health recommendations
Certification for CPD and training records
Progress tracking for organisations
Dedicated eLearning support

Need more information?
If you would like to discuss group bookings or training requirements, please contact our team and we will be happy to assist.”

How to Apply

We offer flexible application options for both individuals and organisations.

Individual Applicants
If you would like to enrol on this course, please contact us to receive:

Application and payment details
Access information for the course platform

Once your application fee is received, we will provide your login details and instructions to get started.

Organisations / Group Bookings
If you are a manager enrolling staff members, we can support group enrolment and progress tracking.

To apply:

Send a list of participants (first name, last name, and email address) in Excel format
We will contact each participant directly with login details and course access information

We can also provide tracking and certification to support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

Key Dates

Starting soon

Applications open

Have Questions?

Our admissions team is here to help with any questions about this course.

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