Careers in Applied Social Studies in Social Care Courses
Applied Social Studies in Social Care Courses
Courses in Applied Social Studies prepare students for
a profession of care, protection, welfare and advocacy for
the most deprived and vulnerable members of society. For
current employees of the Social Care industry, ITB offers
a work based programme designed to enable continuous learning and development
throughout their careers.
Social Care involves working with children, adolescents, families and the elderly who
may need professional help in order to function at the optimum level emotionally,
intellectually and socially. A Social Care qualification is distinct from a qualification in
Social Work in that Social Carers are the professionals who essentially provide care to
the client whereas social workers may be more adversarial or representative of clients’
needs and concerns.
Social Care is carried out in residential centres, day centres, and in the community. The
qualified carer has identified clients’ needs and learned to use relevant knowledge,
skills and techniques that allow for a more effective and expanded understanding of the
relationship between the client, the family, society and the Social Care worker.
Graduates will find career opportunities as:
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Social Care Workers
Social Care Leaders
Adoption Managers
Child Care Workers
Child Care Leaders
…And will work with:
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Children
Adolescents
People with learning or physical disabilities
People who are homeless
People with alcohol or drug dependency
Families
The Aged
Asylum Seekers
Refugees
Graduates have also the opportunity to continue their education through to master’s degree
level and to date Social Care graduates have crossed disciplines into such areas as:
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Primary teaching (via post graduate access programmes
Social work (via master’s degree programmes in social work)
Child protection and addiction studies (via post graduate programmes in these
disciplines)
Careers in Applied Social Studies in Social Care Courses
Areas of Work in Social Care also include:
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Adoption and Fostering
Domestic Violence
HIV/Aids
Mental Health
Physical and Sensory Impairment
Substance and Drug Misuse
Youth Justice
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care:
‘I came to one of the open days and I knew it was for me (…). Some of the modules are
difficult, but when you love something you don’t mind getting over the hard parts (…).
I love the practical bits and the placements. In second year I did my work placement with
youth in Foroige in Blanchardstown and afterwards they asked me would I speak at
a national conference (…)’
Our Graduates – Holders of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care – are
currently employed as:
 Home Care & Tutor
 Residential Care Worker
 Social Care Worker
And they work in:
 HSE
 St. Michael’s House
 Cross Fields House
 Westwood Leisure Centre
One of our Graduates is currently completing a Masters in Social Work at UCD.
Please be aware that social care and social work are totally different areas so it is impossible
to transfer from social care to social work and vice versa. A student who graduated in social
care wishes to be a social worker would literally have to start all over again and get a new
primary degree in the area of social studies/social work and then take a postgraduate degree
after that in social work.