Margaret FingletonLecturer & Placement Coordinator

Dept of HumanitiesIT Tallaght, Dublin

Diversity and Mentoring approaches to support active aging and

integration

Irish Context

• Changing needs and desires of older people and those with additional support needs

• Improved Health and Life expectancy

• Individualized funding of services

• Greater support to assist in the search and retention of employment for those with extra needs

• Demand from society, service users and professionals

• Transition from Medical Model to Social Care Model

• CORU: Irish National Standards for Allied Health Services

• Social Care is a profession where people work in partnership with those who experience marginalization or disadvantage or who have extra support needs

• Client groups: children, adolescents, people with intellectual and physical disability, people who are homeless, drug and alcohol dependency, families in crisis, older people, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors

Social Care

Sample of modules:Psychology, sociology, professional practice, communications, advocacy, community studies, management

Learning Outcomes– Knowledge based skills–Interpersonal Skills–Self Awareness / Reflective Practice–Professional and Work Skills

Social Care Practice Level 8

• Pilot Program: Workshop on Mentoring in a Diverse sensitive society

• 30 students in Social Care Practice attended over two days

• Strong demand to have it included on Level 8 Degree Program as a module

ITTallaght

Conclusion

Mentoring and Diversity to be incorporated

into the learning modules in Social Care Practice Level 8