Certificate in Peer Support Practice

Applications are open for September 2024.

This programme provides students with an education for professional practice in peer support work. This includes disability / neurodiversity, addiction services, physical health (particularly in dementia care), and mental health / emotional distress.

Have you had a lived experience of emotional or physical distress? Have you had a family member who has suffered mental or physical health challenges? Have you reached a point in your ‘recovery’ that you feel in a position to use your lived experience to help others in their recovery journeys? If so, this course may be for you. The course offers you the skills to work as a professional peer support worker who can provide non-judgemental, peer-led support to people who are experiencing mental and physical health challenges. The programme meets the need to develop systematic education and preparation for professional peer-support practitioners in the statutory and non-statutory sectors and in a number of diverse practice domains.

Graduates from the Peer Support Certificate have multiple further award pathways. They may build on their 30 credits to complete full Degrees in a number of disciplines.

The proposed Special Purpose Award provides training and education for a very clearly defined cohort of professional practitioners in peer-support practice. Potential employers are the HSE, voluntary and community organisations. Peer-support work is becoming an important feature of health and social care service delivery nationally.

Qualified Peer Support Workers will be eligible to take up peer support roles in the HSE and the NGO sector. There will also be opportunities in recovery education with the HSE and other organisations. Graduates of the course will also be able to input into service improvement processes in organisations. Peer support workers will also be equipped to work in health and wellbeing settings across a range of community and other settings.

Potential employment roles include:

• Peer support workers
• Family peer workers
• Peer Educators
• Peer managers
• Area Leads for Engagement
• Peer Researchers
• Peer Advocates
• Community Connectors
• Professionals with Lived Experience

Students must have a peer practice setting upon commencement of the course where they apply their theory into practice. This is to ensure ongoing professional reflection and learning.

All students must be Garda vetted.

Course Delivery

The course can be accessed either online or on campus, giving learners greater flexibility. Each lecture is streamed live and also recorded. 

Entry Requirements: 

Level 7 award in a cognate discipline. If you don’t have such an award then your Recognised Prior Experience will be assessed. Students must have an integrated lived experience relevant to peer support practice.

ATU will assess individual applicants on a case-by-case basis, in line with the RPL Policy.  RPL application is via the www.myexperience.ie website.

The next intake for this programme is September 2024. 

Duration

One year over 2 semesters.

ATU will continue to adhere to Government guidelines to ensure the safety of students, staff and the wider community.

Fees

Contact learn.galwaymayo@atu.ie for latest fees

Mental Health Ireland may pay a Bursary (The Tony Leahy Bursary) of half the fees to a selection of students enrolled on the course

Click Bursary to apply

Contact Us

Dr Mark Garavan

Programme Chair

Email: mark.garavan@atu.ie