Eight weeks for mid-experience healthcare and social-care workers stepping into formal coordination roles. Builds Care Planning, MDT coordination, caseload management, family communication, and the safeguarding accountability that comes with coordination scope. Three real applications across HSE community, residential, and disability services by Week 8.
What Care Coordinators actually do across HSE community, residential, disability, and mental health settings — and where you fit.
Build, review, and update a Care Plan to HIQA standard using the Single Assessment Tool framework.
Coordinate MDT meetings, run effective case conferences, and navigate the inter-professional dynamics that derail many.
Manage a real caseload — triage new referrals, prioritise active cases, escalate appropriately, recognise your own capacity ceiling.
Run family meetings, handle the difficult conversations specific to coordination, and recognise when to escalate.
Apply safeguarding at coordinator level (which is different from HCA level — coordinators are often the safeguarding lead), handle data lawfully across MDT, and recognise personal accountability.
Coordination-grade CV, completed HSE PAS application, three live applications across community / residential / disability settings, and a 90-day plan.
By Week 8 you'll have a Care-Coordinator-grade CV, completed HSE PAS application form, submitted three real applications across HSE community, residential, and disability/MH coordination, and a polished Care Plan from Module 2 in your portfolio. Your 90-day onboarding plan covers your first three months in role.
Care Coordinator is the bridge from frontline care to operational leadership. Year one is about consolidating coordination skills, building the supervisory mindset, and positioning for either Senior Coordinator or PIC-track progression.
Map your unit's care plans, dependencies, and bottlenecks. Document your first three coordination challenges and how you resolved them. Begin formal supervision relationship with your manager. Refresh Manual Handling and HSeLanD core modules.
Run a real QI project end-to-end using the Model for Improvement (PDSA cycles). Aim for a documented 10-15% improvement in one measurable outcome (handover quality, falls reduction, complaint volume, etc.). Submit it for HIQA inspection-readiness review.
Mentor one HCA through their first 6 weeks. Take on one cross-team coordination role: bed management, discharge planning, or family liaison. Attend one Irish Society of Healthcare Managers (ISHM) event. Begin scoping the Person in Charge (PIC) qualification if residential management interests you.
Decide: stay Senior Coordinator (deeper coordination expertise), pursue PIC qualification (residential management track), pursue social care management (BA Social Care + ILM), or convert to nursing. Update your HSE PAS profile for Grade V/VI roles.
Care Coordinator is a senior progression role — the cert stack here is heavier than entry HCA roles, and reflects the leadership and quality-improvement responsibilities you'll carry. Costs and funding terms shift; verify before committing.
| Certification | Duration | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| QQI Level 6 Advanced Healthcare Support | QQI Level 6 award | ~€1,200–1,800 | Standard credential for senior HCA / Coordinator roles |
| Manual Handling Instructor (refresh) | Half-day | ~€80 | Annual refresh; you may now train juniors yourself |
| HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults | HSeLanD module | Free | Required at coordinator level |
| Children First (where relevant) | Self-paced | Free | Required if children/young people in scope |
| Garda eVetting (refresh) | Via employer | Free | Re-verify on transition to coordination role |
| Certification | Duration | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management | 1-year part-time | ~€1,500–2,500 | Strong baseline for management progression |
| HSE Leadership Academy Foundation | Modular online | Free (HSE staff) | Internal-promotion path; required for Grade VI/VII |
| Person in Charge (PIC) qualification | QQI Level 6 specific | ~€1,500–2,500 | For residential management track (HIQA-regulated) |
| Mental Health First Aid Ireland | 2-day | ~€220 | Useful for coordinator roles where MH presents |
| Quality Improvement / Six Sigma Yellow Belt | Online | ~€300–500 | Demonstrates QI competence to inspectors and panels |
| Workplace Investigation training | 1–2 day | ~€200–400 | If your role includes WRC-related investigations |
| Funding route | Indicative savings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Springboard+ | Free or 90% subsidised | Some QQI Level 6 healthcare and management courses listed; eligibility-dependent. |
| Skillnet Ireland | Subsidised | NHI Skillnet for residential coordination; multiple admin/management networks. |
| HSE Workforce Development | Internal (employed only) | Significant CPD budgets exist for management track if HSE-employed. |
| ETB / FETCH | Free or low-cost | QQI Level 6 Advanced Healthcare Support widely available regionally. |
| Employer reimbursement | Negotiable | Many residential and private operators reimburse PIC and ILM courses on completion. |
| ICTU bursaries | Selective | Some unions support member education in coordination/management roles. |