Case Study: Emmanuel’s Journey from HCA to Postgraduate Certificate

Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet (LHP Skillnet) is a is a not-for-profit learning network co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and our member companies. We are the only Network dedicated exclusively to supporting the private healthcare sector. We do this through the provision of high-quality, sector-led, subsidized training and education, research, and programme development.

Healthcare is an area that is in constant demand for skilled workers and with Healthcare Assistants being one of the larger groups within the Residential and the Home Sector, it is a role that can offer continuous employment. Although Healthcare Assistants do not have a professional body, the QQI Level 5 Major Award in Healthcare Support is recognised by employers and the Health, Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as the qualification that can support those new to the sector or those upskilling to provide quality care to those who need it.

In 2020, Emmanuel found himself unemployed during the pandemic. He had previously studied humanities and cultural studies and decided to upskill to become a Healthcare Assistant.

Our Skills Connect Certificate in Healthcare Support Programme provides the opportunity for jobseekers to develop a QQI Level 5 qualification providing the full qualification required for the role of the Healthcare Assistant in Nursing Homes, Home Care and Hospitals. As a validated QQI provider, we are committed to providing quality within our programmes. All our tutors for this programme are nurses with teaching experience.

Emmanuel completed the 6.5-month programme achieving certification in 2021 with LHP Skillnet. He worked in a nursing home as part of the programme and then went onto work in home care.

Although English is not Emmanuel’s first language, he was determined to complete the course and had further aspirations to continue his educational development. He described the support on the programme as “very, very helpful, I got amazing support from both the tutors and the administration staff.”

He found the Level 5 programme to be a good steppingstone for him to progress into further education and successfully completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation from Trinity College Dublin in 2023.

“The programme really connected everything together for me and without it, I would never have progressed to do the Healthcare Innovation postgrad.”

“I am so grateful for the opportunity this has given me.”

What is next for Emmanuel?

Emmanuel is working as a Healthcare Assistant and remains committed to the Health & Social Care Profession and aspires to achieve a degree in Social Care in the coming years.

Emmanuel’s story is just one of over a thousand that have been trained through our Skills Connect programme. Although some will transition onto third-level courses and continue to contribute to the healthcare sector through other disciplines such as social care and nursing, the impact of those who have completed the programme on those they care for every single day is significant. So far in 2023, we have trained 160 jobseekers through Skills Connect and ran 10 programmes.

Our Skills Connect Certificate in Healthcare Support is an invaluable programme that supports the Private Healthcare Sector with increasing demands for skilled Healthcare Assistants.