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2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Certificate
5. Trauma-Informed Care: Theory and Practice - Continuing Professional Development Certificate

Course Fact File

Code	CCPDTC
Duration	16 weeks
Teaching Mode	Part-Time
Qualifications	Cert
NFQ Level	Level 9
NFQ Award Title	Special Purpose Award
Fees	€1000 (Module 1 exam only students pay €500) See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	Round One: 26 June 2026
Next Intake	September 2026
Venue	Online
Start Date	September 2026

Course Outline

This Certificate in Continuing Development in Trauma-informed Care is designed to meet the educational and professional skills needs for front-line practitioners in the integration of trauma-informed practices into their role as a response to working with children, young people, adults and/or their families who have experienced trauma. The programme focuses on both developing practitioner’s understanding of the lived and living experience of trauma and effectively intervening with those that have experienced trauma across the life span. The programme is practice orientated and focuses on integrating trauma-informed practices through a practice framework that was developed by Dr Maria Lotty, entitled TARA (Trauma, Attachment, Resilience into Action) (Lotty, M. (2021). Making Sense of the Practice of Trauma-informed Care: A Response to the need to implement Trauma-informed Care into front-line practice. The Irish Social Worker, Winter, 160-171). The programme examines the theoretical base of the practice of trauma-informed care in an accessible and applicable way with attention to the trauma, stress response system, polyvagal, attachment, mentalising and resiliency theories. The programme introduces students to the applications of the approach in their practice role providing an introduction to the practice of trauma-informed care methods of intervention. The programme also explores students’ critical thinking on the current debates about the implementation of the practice of trauma-informed care and the impact of vicarious trauma.

Please see below an introductory video about the course. 

The Modules for the Certificate are as follows:

• SS6806 Understanding Trauma-informed Care: Principles and Theory
• SS6807 Application of Trauma-informed Care: Intervention and Practice

Course Practicalities

Assessment

• The programme is assessed through 2 X 3000-word assignments.
• These are set at the end of each module.

Why Choose This Course

This course is the only university based credit bearing CPD course in Ireland that offers practitioners the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the effects of trauma and introduce them to the application of the Trauma-informed Care approach into their practice. It introduces the theoretical framework that underpins the practice of Trauma-informed Care informed by Dr Maria Lotty’s research and extensive professional experience. The course aims to support the practitioners’ in developing an understanding of the theories and principles that underpin this approach and the methods of intervention. It supports practitioners to build a toolkit of resources to implement Trauma-informed Care in their specific role through extensive accompanying resource material. It also gives practitioners an opportunity to reflect on these concepts and how they impact on their professional and personal experience.

It is particularly relevant to those interested in and/or working with children, young people, adults and/or families in roles in health and social care such as social care leaders, childcare leaders, youth workers, social workers, community workers, family support workers, psychotherapists, residential care staff, and mental health professionals.

Interested parties with a qualification in teaching (Early Years, Primary and/or Secondary School) are advised to consider the CPD Certificate in Trauma-informed Practice in Education

Requirements

Programme Entry Requirement

Applicants must: 

• Hold an NFQ level 8 honours degree or equivalent qualification within a relevant field such as social work, psychology, social care, youth and community work, family support, psychotherapy, health care or family support.

English Language Requirement: 

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. See the UCC English language proficiency requirements. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

Applicants who do not hold an NFQ level 8 qualification may be eligible to apply through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). See information on RPL here. 

To be considered, applicants should have at least three years’ professional experience in a related field – examples include (but are not restricted to) family support, therapeutic practice and community engagement work.

• If you wish to apply via RPL, you must select “Yes” to the RPL question when completing your application in UCC Apply.
• As part of the application, you will be required to submit:
  • A Personal Statement outlining your motivation for applying and detailing relevant work or life experience.
  • Any other relevant supporting documentation evidencing your prior learning - please refer to the RPL Learner Guide for details on appropriate evidence.

Fees and Costs

The programme fee is €1000

• Applicants pay this fee on application.
• This fee is fully refundable if the programme does not run or you are not offered a place on the programme

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.

 

Sponsorship

If your fees are fully or partially covered by your organisation, this is called sponsorship. You will need to apply as a sponsored applicant. You can indicate that you are a sponsored applicant during your application on UCC Apply and there are additional application steps both you and your employer need to take.

Please read the sponsorship guides in full prior to making your application: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace/helphub/

How To Apply

Applications are accepted in two rounds.

Round 1 closes on 26 June and Round 2 closes on 28 August. Please note: if all places are filled by eligible applicants by the Round 1 deadline, the programme will not open for Round 2. For round 2, applications will remain open until the final deadline or until all places are filled, whichever occurs first. Early application is strongly advised.

Before you apply, check to ensure you have access to the following documents which you will need to upload:

• Proof of Identity (Birth Cert, Passport or Driver's Licence)
• Passport-style Photograph
• English Language Test Report (if applicable)
• Supporting documentation if required for RPL
• An up-to-date CV
• Transcripts

Start Your Application

Create an account or login to UCC Apply (click the 'Apply' button below).

1. Start a new application
   • WHEN ASKED FOR APPLICATION TYPE - YOU MUST CHOOSE: ADULT & CONTINUING EDUCATION
2. During the application on the tab titled Academic Level, under Level Selection, select the following options:
   • Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
   • Course Type: ACE Part-time Courses
   • Academic Programme: Continuing Professional Development in Trauma-informed Care: Theory & Practice - Cert - ONLINE

A step-by-step visual application guide for this specific programme is available – please email the Programme Coordinator. You can view a general application guide for all part-time programmes here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace/helphub/

Apply Now