Universities in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, and Sligo are to partner with Leading Healthcare Providers (LHPs) Skillnet in 2024 to deliver a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing, it has been announced by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler and Minister for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins.
Up to 205 registered nurses working in the private nursing home sector will be able to apply for the postgraduate courses, at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery (RCSI), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Cork (UCC).
Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Minister Butler, said, “Enhancing the qualifications and expertise of staff working in nursing homes is central to improving the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents, and I’m confident this collaboration will help to better facilitate the requirements of the nursing home sector.
“This funding initiative was developed as a response to recommendations from the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, and I welcome the collaboration of ATU, RCSI, TCD, UCC, and LHP Skillnet to deliver on this important initiative.
“I’m delighted my Department will be working in partnership with Skillnet Ireland and LHP Skillnet to deliver on this partnership, and would encourage all nursing homes to avail of this significant opportunity.”
The €3.2 million in funding, announced last February, to support registered nurses to avail of the Postgraduate Diploma will be provided over two years and will fund places during the academic years of 2024/2025 and 2025/2026.
All private nursing homes will be invited to apply for one Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 9 Gerontological Nursing Qualification placement over this period.
Funding for similar training was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2022 which allowed one nurse in each HSE and voluntary nursing home to obtain the qualification.
Carmel Kelly, Managing Director of LHP Skillnet, said, “We are delighted to partner with ATU, RCSI, TCD and UCC to deliver on this initiative. We are confident that it will enhance the expertise, capabilities, and self-assurance of our already dedicated nurses. This is a significant and welcomed support for the sector as it strives to deliver the highest standard of care to our older citizens. We have had over 200 expressions of interest since our launch and formal applications are open now.”
- Full details of all participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will be published and circulated to all eligible nursing homes with full details of each course.
- Candidates will be invited to complete an application form through LHP Skillnet.
- For all enquiries email helen@lhpskillnet.ie or call (01) 218 7698.
Leading Healthcare Providers (LHP) Skillnet
- Leading Healthcare Providers (LHP) Skillnet is a not-for-profit organisation co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and its member companies that provides funding and training to private nursing homes.
- Established in January 2008, LHP Skillnet is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee which is co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and member companies. Member companies are from the private healthcare sector and include nursing homes, home care providers, hospitals, and primary care businesses.
Skillnet Ireland
- Skillnet Ireland is the national talent development agency of the Government of Ireland, responsible for advancing the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses through enterprise-led talent development. Skillnet Ireland partners with 57 industry bodies, supporting over 24,700 businesses and more than 92,400 trainees annually, through its 70 Skillnet Business Networks across most sectors and all regions in Ireland.
- Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Nursing Homes Ireland has welcomed and acknowledged Government funding for the new partnership initiative to deliver a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing in the private nursing home sector.
- .Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), said the announcement of the partnership was an extremely important step to further support the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents across Ireland.
- “NHI continually champions education and supports for all nursing homes to engage in the vital training necessary to provide care to the highest standards. Seeing the partnership between LHP Skillnet and the four universities in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Sligo, is much welcomed to further support the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents.
- “As a member of the LHP Skillnet steering group, NHI has actively supported this initiative from the outset so I would like to thank the Ministers and their officials, who have engaged constructively with NHI on this programme, for their committed work in this respect.
