Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As per HSE eligibility criteria, the educational requirement for a Health Care Assistant is the relevant Health Skills Level 5 (QQI) qualification. The purpose of the Level 5 Major Health Service Skills Award (HSSA) is to enable the learner to acquire the knowledge, skills and competence to work under supervision in a variety of healthcare settings to enhance their role in service provision to service users or to progress to further and or higher education and training.

The Office of Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) within its scope of governance designs, develops and delivers continuous professional development and clinical leadership, with programmes of education ranging from level 5 to level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Training is provided to Health Care Assistants who support the nursing and midwifery function through the ONMSD Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education with the achievement of Ireland QQI Level 5 Major award in Health Service Skills.

The total credit value required for this certificate is 120. The programme comprises of 8 modules – each module has a credit value of 15 European Credit Transfers’ (ECT’s). The Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education have the capacity to deliver the diversity of the Module that constitutes the HSSA. The versatility of the HSSA supports workforce planning and skills transfer across care services, meeting the future needs of services. HSE does not intend currently to specify a requirement for Level 6 HealthCare Assistant training.