• Leading Healthcare Providers (LHP) Skillnet supports the entire Private Healthcare Sector in Ireland.

by LHP Skillnet

Published On: February 20th, 2026Categories: NewsTags:

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  • Leading Healthcare Providers (LHP) Skillnet supports the entire Private Healthcare Sector in Ireland.

by LHP Skillnet

Published On: February 20th, 2026Categories: NewsTags:
Share

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
THIS LHP SKILLNET PROGRAMME IS CO-FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND NETWORK COMPANIES www.eufunds.ie

The Irish Government's coat of arms next to the flag of the European Union.

Following on from our previous post on the qualification requirements for the Person in Charge (PIC), we are pleased to announce the commencement of the Postgraduate Certificate in Residential Care Management.

This programme has been specifically designed to support staff working in residential care facilities and will assist providers in meeting the enhanced educational requirements for Persons in Charge appointed after 31 March 2025, including the requirement for a Level 8 or above healthcare management qualification.

Relevant Article

Regulatory changes introduced in 2025 mean that QQI Level 6 Leadership no longer meets the formal education requirements for new PICs in designated centres.

Read our blog post to learn more about what this means for providers.

Background

LHP Skillnet commissioned the development of this programme based on recommendations from our research report on the Learning and Development Supports for Directors of Nursing/PICs in the LTC sector. This programme is delivered by RCSI through a suite of flexible micro-credentials, offering an accessible and practical pathway for professionals currently working in the sector.

Each micro-credential is worth 5 ECTS
for a total of 30 ECTS.
Modules may be taken as stand-alone qualifications or stacked toward the full award.

Learners who successfully complete 30 ECTS, including a final capstone module, will be awarded the QQI Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate in Residential Care Facility Management.

Access the Report

This 2024 independent study commissioned by LHP Skillnet examined the challenges faced by Directors of Nursing (DONs) in Long-Term Care. Six key recommendations for action were identified.

Read our blog post to access the full report.

Programme Outline

We would recommend the following micro-credentials are carried out as a pathway to achieving the Postgraduate Certificate in RCF Management award:

  • 1
    Governance for Residential Care Facility Managers
  • 2
    Leadership & Management for Residential Care Facility Managers
  • 3
    Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults including a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) for Residential Care Facility Managers
  • 4
    Resource Management and Allocation for Residential Care Facility Managers (including Financial & Human Resources)
  • 5
    Quality Improvement and Effective Auditing
  • 6
    Leadership in Residential Care Facilities (Capstone)

There will be an additional three micro-credentials available to do as stand-alones or as an add on to the certificate. These are:

  • Governance and Management of Infection Prevention & Control (IPC), Including Outbreaks
  • Managing Clinical Risk & Report Writing
  • Governance of Health & Safety Regulations, Including Fire Safety Under the Health Act 2007

All micro-credentials are delivered fully online through a combination of live interactive sessions and Moodle e-learning content. Micro-credentials may be taken in any order, with the exception that the Capstone module must be completed last.

Each MC runs over 4 weeks with a 2-week study period at the end to finish the assessments. Learners may complete the full programme within a two-year period, providing increased flexibility for those already working in demanding roles across the sector.

Schedule

Please rest assured that if the dates for any module below don’t suit, you will be able to complete them at a later stage in 2026/27. We will continue to keep those who have expressed an interest in the programme updated as the schedule evolves.

Schedule for 2026 (further dates will be added in coming weeks):

  • Governance for Residential Care Facility Managers – 16 March 2026
  • Leadership & Management for Residential Care Facility Managers – 27 April 2026
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (HRBA Approach) – 8 June 2026
  • Resource Management and Allocation (Financial & HR) – 20 July 2026
  • Quality Improvement and Effective Auditing – 31 August 2026
  • Leadership in Residential Care Facilities (Capstone) – 12 October 2026

Learner Profile

Delivered online by RCSI, this suite of micro-credentials is ideal for:

  • Persons in Charge and aspiring PICs
  • Residential Care Managers and Supervisors
  • Staff in governance, compliance, or quality roles
  • Professionals in leadership positions such as HR, Operations, and General Management

Eligible learners must meet the following requirements:

  • Must hold an NFQ Level 8 qualification; however, we base our decisions on our own assessment of each applicant’s qualifications, knowledge, and previous work experience. Where an applicant does not meet the formal entry requirements, these may be waived based on the individual’s prior learning and our judgement of their academic potential, and we may invite them to join our pathway programme.
  • If working in a nursing capacity, learners must have an active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (or equivalent registration if international).
  • Must be working in Residential Care Facility Management for the duration of the programme.
  • Please see the applicable English language requirements for this programme, published here on the RCSI website.

Express Your Interest

To express your interest in the programme, please submit the form linked below. If you have any questions regarding this programme, please contact our team via email at esfplus@lhpskillnet.ie.

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