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UCC Adult courses

Responding to Problem Gambling - Continuing Professional Development Certificate - Cert

Course Fact File
CodeCCPDPG
Duration12 weeks
Teaching ModePart-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
QualificationsCert
NFQ LevelLevel 8
NFQ Award TitleSpecial Purpose Award
Fees€640 (320 for eligible HCI funded applicants) See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing DateApplications open early 2025. Register your interest at the link above to receive info.
Next Intake2025
Venue

Online

Start Date2025

Course Outline

The Certificate in Continuing Professional Development in Responding to Problem Gambling is specifically designed to equip a wide range of addiction counsellor/psychotherapists, drug and alcohol treatment professionals, mental health and social care professionals and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to help and support those affected by problem gambling in Ireland. The programme as designed will engage students in a sustained process of learning that describes the various types of gambling markets and specific land-based and online activities that have the potential to be problematic for individuals and society.

Students will understand the role of gambling policy, legislation and social norms that can shape an individuals’ gambling behaviour. While current understandings of problem gambling tend to locate the problem within the individual, this programme will also focus on the wider societal, cultural, economic, ethnic, gambling products and gambling industry influences that add to the complexity and multi-dimensional processes at the core of the problem gambling phenomenon.

The course will be delivered wholly online including online interactive webinars and interactive online workshops. The course also incorporates a range of digital learning technologies and will create opportunities for interaction with other professionals and volunteers dealing with problem gambling presentations. Please see below a short introductory video about the course.

The modules for the Certificate are as follows:

  • SS5808: Understanding Problem Gambling, Harmful Gambling and Gambling Disorders
  • SS5809: Assessing and Responding to Problem Gambling

Course Queries

For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator Orna Hayes at orna.hayes@ucc.ie or Dr Robert O Driscoll at robert.odriscoll@ucc.ie. 

For Online Application Support please click here. 

Additional Teaching Mode Information

The course will be delivered over a 12-week period online during one academic semester, with commencing in September. It comprises an online interactive webinar series with workshop components (in a virtual learning environment). The course will also include a continuous assessment process including low-stakes testing and performances of understanding using digital technologies to engage students in a sustained process of learning.

This course design is based on the given realities of COVID-19 and as a sustainable model, which facilitates the open access of the course to as many of the addiction counsellors/psychotherapists treatment professionals, mental health and social care professionals around the island of Ireland and internationally.

This Course is delivered Online on Wednesday Evenings with two Saturday Workshops

Course Practicalities

This course provides an exciting prospect for addiction counsellors / psychotherapists to undertake a Certificate in Continuing Professional Development. This course has been designed to upskill addiction counsellors in the treatment of gambling addiction. The Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) and the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (IACP) have also pre-approved this programme for its members as meeting the annual requirement for Continuing Professional Development with 30 CPD points allocated. As such, this course offers CPD accreditation requirements plus the funding for student places.

For one evening per week for 12 weeks (plus two Saturday morning workshops), students will be expected to attend 42 hours of online interactive lectures and workshops. They will be provided 12-20 supporting tutorial hours that will include low-stakes testing and performances of understanding as part of continuing assessment; 12 hours of engagement in online activities including discussion forums and whiteboard activities in small groups, plus approximately 60 hours of self-directed learning. Students will also complete two assignments.

Why Choose This Course

The Certificate in Continuing Professional Development in Responding to Problem Gambling programme will provide professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary for specialist problem gambling interventions. It will be accessible to addiction counsellors/psychotherapists, addiction treatment professionals, mental health and social care professionals and volunteers.

This programme will meet the annual continuing professional development requirements of the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) and the Irish Association of Counsellors and psychotherapists with 30 CPD points allocated.

Skills and Careers Information

This programme will meet the annual continuing professional development requirements of the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) and the Irish Association of Counsellors and psychotherapists with 30 CPD points allocated.

Requirements

Candidates should be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application and:

  • Have a minimum Level 7 qualification in addiction counselling/psychotherapy
  • Hold appropriate Accreditation by the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) or equivalent Accrediting Bodies.

In  certain cases  applicants  not  meeting  the  above  criteria  will  be  considered  for  entry  based  on  successfully  demonstrating  that  they  hold  an  equivalent professional qualification in a health and social care setting or practice experience relevant to the course aims and objectives. Such applicants may be interviewed.

Fees and Costs

General Applicants

€640 for non-HCI applicants.

 

HCI Funded Applicants

The HCI Microcredential Learner Subsidy offers students up to 50% funding towards a range of 5-10 credit microcredentials. Eligible applicants may apply for this funding which will cover 50% of the course fees. You can see eligibility criteria here. The funding is provided by the HEA, a governement organisation which is delivering this initiative to support the demands of learners and the need for new skills in an ever changing world.

Students who are eligible for and offered this funding will only need to pay 50% of the course fees, €320

Please note funding for this programme is limited and early application is advised. 

 

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here

 

How To Apply

UCC identifies the following technical requirements checklist for students:

1.    You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer running a modern supported operating system with all software updates.

2.    Some of UCC’s services (e.g. the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment) also have mobile apps for iOS and Android Devices that you may wish to use as part of your studies.  However, we recommend using your desktop web browser for submission of assessments and exams.

3.    You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. In general, we recommend the Chrome Web browser (Important Note: Internet Explorer will not work with Canvas).

4.    We recommend a reliable broadband connection with at least 2Mbps or more.

5.    You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and a PDF reader. You should always use the latest version of this software.  All UCC students have access to Office 365. By going to https://portal.office.com/account/. you can download and install the latest version of Microsoft Office,  which includes software such as Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc.

Applicants will additionally require basic computing proficiency skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams

To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:

When you log into the Application Portal:

Click Apply Online

Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application 

On the 2nd tab Academic Level 
 
Select the following options:
 
Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
Course Type:  ACE Part-time Courses
Academic Programme: The course title you are applying for.

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

Candidates will be asked to supply an application form to ACE via the CRM system prior to the closing date that will request them to present a 200 word statement indicating their reasons for applying for the course. Applicants may be invited for an interview.

HCI Funding:

  • Please note there are two options to choose from when applying. If you choose the HCI funding option you will be asked to confirm your eligibility. Please note this does not guarantee that you will be awarded this funding. You will still need to pay the 50% fee up front and our finance team can provide invoices should this be paid by your company. 

Non-HCI Funding:

  • Please note there are two options to choose from when applying. If you choose the non-HCI funding option you will be able to a.) pay your fees b.) fill out the company sponsorhip form which will go to your company for payment. 

 

 

 

Contact Details For This Course

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