Trainee:

– understands the nature of the support service and its ethical basis;

– develops the client’s social skills;

– Supports the client’s capacity to function so that it is maintained and developed;

– guides the client in daily activities;

– supports the client in contributing to society in a way that is appropriate to his or her abilities, including the organisation of affairs and networking;

– supports a child in need, a person/family in difficulty, an abused person and a person with an addictive disorder;

– provide first aid where necessary.

Target group:

Persons with at least secondary education who wish to work as a support person or to improve their knowledge in the field of support work.

Conditions for entry:

– have completed at least secondary education

– not have any restrictions on employment under § 20 of the Child Protection Act and § 25(2)(1) of the Social Welfare Act.

Objective of the training programme:

– As a result of the training, the student will acquire the knowledge and skills to work as a support worker with different target groups (children, adults, persons with special needs).

Curriculum volume:

– 240 credit hours (160 hours of classroom work, 80 hours of practical training). There is no independent work.

Cost: EUR 2400

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Content of the lesson:

Fundamentals of the work of a support worker. General knowledge of social welfare. Legislation.

– Legislation. Rights and obligations and limits of the work of a support worker.

– Definition of the role of the support worker, tasks and responsibilities.

– Stages of service provision.

– Difference between the services of a personal assistant and a support worker.

– Roles of the service provider in working with clients.

– Targeting activities.

– Protection of personal data.

The importance of self-awareness in the work of a support worker.

– The role of the support worker’s personality in his/her work.

– Personality traits, values, motivation, intelligence, interests, skills.

– Self-image and self-esteem.

– Needs and abilities. Conflicts of needs and values.

– Stress – causes and ways of coping. Stress management.

– Coping with carer stress.

– Reflection on the work of a support worker.

Basics of psychology and special needs education.

– Childhood and adolescence.

– The adult person.

– Old age. D. Bromley’s three-stage theory of the ageing cycle.

– D. Physical and mental development in old age.

– Common psychological problems in different periods of human life.

Prevalent target groups in the work of a support worker.

– Nature, impact and prevention of addictive diseases. Working with a person with an addictive disorder.

– Clients with special needs. Communication with clients with special needs in emergency situations.

– Physical disabilities.

– Clients with mental disorders.

– Domestic violence – psychological, physical, sexual.

– Abuse between relatives.

– Violence and types of aggressive behaviour and ways of preventing violence.

– Responding to behavioural problems

– Causes, consequences and predictors of problem behaviour.

Communication and practical skills of a support worker. Basics of communication processes.

– Clear and unclear communication

– Establishing contact, interviewing, active listening as a helping skill, giving feedback.

– Motivating the listener to cooperate

– Avoiding communication barriers

– Individual work, teamwork, networking

– Framing skills

– Coping with resistance

– Conflict situations

– Working with a manipulative or resistant client

First aid

– Resuscitation
– External bleeding
– Nature and signs of shock
– Wounds, trauma and fractures
– Poisoning
– Burns, burns, cold injuries
– First aid techniques and tools

Practical training: 80 hours

Teaching methods.

Conditions for completing the training and documents to be issued:

Lectures, seminars, demonstrations, talks, lectures, etc.
Completion of the course requires attendance of at least 70% of the contact hours and passing the final examination with a result of at least 60%, practical training.

In order to obtain a first aid certificate, at least 80% of the contact hours must be attended.

Assessment method and assessment criterion:

Test. A minimum of 60% correct answers is required to pass the test.