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Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 4 and 5 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the learning and progression experiences of current and former FET students.
A Donegal woman who swapped her desk job to be a community carer says there are massive rewards in helping others.
Katherine McIntyre from Mountcharles, now in her 60s, once worked in offices but now enjoys great flexibility working as a healthcare assistant.
Katherine splits her time between community calls with the Irish Wheelchair Association and day services at a local hub for people with intellectual disabilities.
This career change was sparked by a Health Service Skills course which Katherine completed in 2022 with Donegal Education and Training Board’s (ETB’s) Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
After 26 years at Hospira (which closed in Donegal in 2006), followed by other office roles, Katherine felt a pull towards something more meaningful.
“I just felt I wanted to do something different, something that was more meaningful, something that was on the move rather than sitting at a desk typing all day,” she said.
“I saw the Health Service Skills course and thought, ‘That’s something I want to get into because I feel in helping people, in giving, you receive.’”
The two-year part-time programme, which Katherine did in Donegal Town, combines classroom studying with work experience to give students a QQI Level 5 certificate in modules such as Care of the Older Person, Anatomy and Physiology, Nursing Theory and Practice, Care Skills and Care Support.
The demand for carers is high, as Katherine and her classmates quickly discovered.
“They are crying out for people,” she says. “You are never going to be out of work in this job. I could work seven days a week if I wanted to.”
During their first year, the class received visits from the HSE, the Irish Wheelchair Association, and agencies like Home Instead, all eager to recruit.
Katherine joined the Irish Wheelchair Association part-time while still in her second year of studies. “I thought to myself, ‘Now that I have the practical experience, I want to keep my skills up. I didn’t want to wait another year to begin working.’”
Katherine was already equipped with a good level of work experience before entering employment. The Health Service Skills course requires 60 hours of practical work, which Katherine completed at Harbour Lights Nursing Home in Killybegs.
“I learned an awful lot there,” she recalls. “The management, staff nurses, and HCAs were all very good. It was great to learn the theory and then put it into practice. It totally makes sense why you do what you do.”
Skills such as hand hygiene and infection prevention and supporting the staff nurses all come into the daily shifts while caring for the older person.
Katherine says she was keen to learn as much as possible.
I always said to the staff nurse, ‘If you are doing anything different, let me know. I’d love to learn from it.’ I like to learn, and you never know when something might come up and you need it,” she says.
On completion of the Health Service Skills course, Katherine was delighted to achieve distinctions in all modules but one.
She praises her tutors, Elspeth Vaughan and Edel Kehoe Campbell, for their support.
“It had been a few years since I was studying and writing up assignments, but they always gave good direction, so you are improving every time,” she says.
“There was great support through the guidance, and if you had any issues, you could have counselling. There was language support for those who did not have English as their first language.”
Since completing the course in May 2024, Katherine has found great variety and flexibility in her community care role.
“I have about 10 clients in the community that I visit in the mornings and evenings,” she explains. “One day you could be going from 7 am to 9 pm, but I find the day flies in. I love the flexibility; I can suit my schedule to myself and just give notice if I am not available one day.”
Katherine still meets up with her classmates who have gone on to work in other settings or have opted to continue training.
“Of course, some people realised the programme wasn’t for them and that’s part of it. With any course, sometimes you do the theory, and then you have to put it into practice before you see it’s not something you want to do. Like nursing, it’s not for everyone.”
For those who are interested in healthcare, Katherine recommends the programme as an ideal starting point.
“It was a really interesting course,” she says. “If you like caring for and helping people, you’d really enjoy it. The work is interesting and varied, with built-in flexibility.
“This sector works for people in all walks of life. Quite a few of my colleagues have young children, and they can work around their schedules.
“And if you find the healthcare assistant role is not your thing, there are other streams to go into like special needs assistant or nursing.
“If I weren’t my age, I might have gone into nursing. The options are there, but I figured by the time I finished nursing school, I’d be ready to retire!”
Katherine’s course is just one of the many full and part-time courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2025 FET Fair on 04 and 05 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:
- Tuesday 04 March, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service.
A panel discussion on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begins at 7.00pm.
- Wednesday 05 March, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.
Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service – call 074 91 78088, email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
Déanann Conallach mná a post deisce a mhalartú ar mhaithe le solúbthacht agus sásamh sa chúram sláinte
Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall an 4 agus an 5 Márta in Óstán an Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, tá aird á tarraingt againn ar thaithí foghlama agus dul chun cinn na mac léinn reatha agus na n-iar-mhac léinn de chuid FET.
Deir Conallach mná a rinne a post mar chúramóir pobail a mhalartú le bheith ina cúramóir pobail go bhfuil luach saothair ollmhór ag baint le cuidiú le daoine eile.
D’oibrigh Katherine McIntyre ó Thamhnach an tSalainn, atá anois ina cuid 60í, in oifigí tráth dá raibh, ach tá solúbthacht iontach aici anois ag obair mar chúntóir cúram sláinte.
Roinn Katherine a cuid ama idir glaonna pobail le Cumann Cathaoireacha Rothaí na hÉireann agus seirbhísí lae ag mol áitiúil do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas intleachta.
Ba é cúrsa Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte a chuir Katherine i gcrích in 2022 le Seirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB) a spreag an t-athrú gairme seo.
I ndiaidh 26 bliain ag Hospira (a druideadh i nDún na nGall in 2006), agus róil oifige eile ina dhiaidh sin, mhothaigh Katherine rud inteacht níos fiúntaí ag tarraingt uirthi.
“Mhotaigh mé go raibh mé ag iarraidh rud inteacht difriúil a dhéanamh, rud a bhí ní b’fhiúntaí, rud a raibh gluaiseacht ag baint leis seachas a bheith i mo shuí ag deasc i mbun clóscríofa an lá ar fad,” a deir sí.
“Chonaic mé an cúrsa Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte agus shíl mé, ‘Is rud é sin ar mhaith liom dul isteach ann siocair go mothaím go bhfaigheann tú luach do shaothair as cuidiú a thabhairt do dhaoine.’”
Leis an chlár páirtaimseartha dhá bhliain, a rinne Katherine i mBaile Dhún na nGall, comhcheanglaítear staidéar sa seomra ranga agus taithí oibre chun teastas QQI Leibhéal 5 a thabhairt do mhic léinn i modúil ar nós Cúram do Dhaoine Scothaosta, Anatamaíocht agus Fiseolaíocht, Teoiric agus Cleachtas Altranais, Scileanna Cúraim agus Tacaíocht Chúraim.
Tá an t-éileamh ar chúramóirí ard, mar a thuig Katherine agus a comhghleacaithe gan mhoill.
“Tá géarghá acu le daoine,” a deir sí. “Ní bheidh tú as obair go deo sa phost seo. D’fhéadfainn a bheith ag obair seacht lá na seachtaine dá mba mhian liom.”
Le linn a gcéad bhliana, fuair an rang cuairteanna ó FSS, ó Chumann Cathaoireacha Rothaí na hÉireann, agus ó ghníomhaireachtaí cosúil le Home Instead, agus fonn orthu uilig daoine a earcú.
Chuaigh Katherine isteach i gCumann Cathaoireacha Rothaí na hÉireann go páirtaimseartha agus í fós ina dara bliain staidéir. “Shíl mé liom féin, ‘Anois agus an taithí phraiticiúil agam, ba mhaith liom coinneáil orm ag úsáid mo chuid scileanna. Ní raibh mé ag iarraidh fanacht bliain eile chun toiseacht ag obair.”
Bhí taithí mhaith oibre ag Katherine cheana féin sula ndeachaigh sí ag obair. Éilíonn an cúrsa Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte 60 uair an chloig d’obair phraiticiúil, a chuir Katherine i gcrích ag Teach Altranais Harbour Lights sna Cealla Beaga.
“D’fhoghlaim mé an t-uafás ann,” a mheabhraíonn sí. “Bhí an bhainistíocht, na haltraí foirne agus na HCAnna uilig ar dóigh. B’iontach an teoiric a fhoghlaim agus ansin í a chur i bhfeidhm. Bíonn ciall iomlán leis an fháth go ndéanann tú an rud a dhéanann tú.”
Bíonn scileanna cosúil le sláinteachas láimhe agus cosc ionfhabhtaithe agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do na haltraí foirne go léir i gceist sna sealanna laethúla agus aire á tabhairt agat don duine scothaosta.
Dúirt Katherine go raibh fonn uirthi an oiread agus is féidir a fhoghlaim.
Bhí mé ag rá leis an altra foirne i dtólamh, ‘Má tá aon rud difriúil á dhéanamh agat, cuir ar an eolas mé faoi. Ba bhreá liom foghlaim uaidh.’ Is maith liom an fhoghlaim, agus ní bhíonn a fhios agat riamh cá huair a bhféadfadh rud inteacht teacht chun cinn agus é a bheith de dhíth ort,” a deir sí.
Tar éis di an cúrsa Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte a chuir i gcrích, bhí lúcháir ar Katherine gradaim a bhaint amach in achan modúl seachas ceann amháin.
Molann sí a teagascóirí, Elspeth Vaughan agus Edel Kehoe Campbell, as a dtacaíocht.
“Bhí cúpla bliain ann ó bhí mé ag staidéar agus ag scríobh tascanna, ach thug siad treoir mhaith i dtólamh, mar sin bíonn tú ag feabhsú i rith an ama,” a deir sí.
“Bhí tacaíocht mhór ann tríd an treoir, agus dá mbeadh aon fhadhb agat, d’fhéadfá comhairleoireacht a fháil. Bhí tacaíocht teanga ann dóibh siúd nach raibh an Béarla mar chéad teanga acu.”
Ó chuir sí an cúrsa i gcrích i mí na Bealtaine 2024, tá éagsúlacht agus solúbthacht mhór faighte ag Katherine ina ról cúraim pobail.
“Tá thart ar 10 gcliant agam sa phobal a dtugaim cuairt orthu ar maidin agus um thráthnóna,” a mhíníonn sí. “Lá amháin d’fhéadfá a bheith ag dul ó 7 am go 9 pm, ach téann an lá isteach go gasta domh. Is breá liom an tsolúbthacht; Is féidir liom mo sceideal a chur in oiriúint domh féin agus gan ach fógra a thabhairt mura bhfuil mé ar fáil lá amháin.”
Bíonn Katherine fós ag bualadh lena comhghleacaithe ranga a chuaigh ar aghaidh ag obair i suíomhanna eile nó a roghnaigh leanstan ar aghaidh leis an oiliúint.
“Ar ndóigh, thuig roinnt daoine nár oir an clár dóibh agus baineann sé le hachan rud. I gcás cúrsa ar bith, ó am go chéile déanann tú an teoiric, agus ansin caithfidh tú í a chur i bhfeidhm sula bhfeiceann tú nach bhfuil tú ag iarraidh tabhairt faoi. Cosúil leis an altranas, ní d’achan duine é.”
Dóibh siúd a bhfuil suim acu i gcúram sláinte, molann Katherine an clár mar thúsphointe den scoth.
“Cúrsa iontach suimiúil a bhí ann,” a deir sí. “Más maith leat aire a thabhairt do dhaoine agus cuidiú leo, bhainfeá taitneamh millteanach as. Tá an obair suimiúil agus éagsúil, le solúbthacht ionsuite.
“Oireann an earnáil seo do dhaoine in achan ghné den saol. Tá leanaí óga ag roinnt mhaith de mo chomhghleacaithe, agus is féidir leo oibriú timpeall ar a sceidil.
“Agus má aimsíonn tú nach n-oireann an ról mar chúntóir cúraim sláinte duit, tá sruthanna eile ann ar féidir dul isteach iontu amhail cúntóir riachtanas speisialta nó altranas.
“Mura mbeadh an aois seo agam, seans go dtéinn leis an altranas. Tá na roghanna ann, ach shíl mé go mbeinn réidh le dul ar scor faoin am go mbeadh an scoil altranais curtha i gcrích agam!”
Níl i gcúrsa Katherine ach ceann amháin den iliomad cúrsaí tacaíochta cúraim sláinte lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a thairgtear trí Sheirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – gheobhaidh tú an raon cúrsaí iomlán atá acu ar fud an chontae ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2025 ar an 4 agus an 5 Márta san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:
- Dé Máirt, an 4 Márta, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Leas-Phríomhoidí scoile freastal chun cluinstin faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uasoiliúint cluinstin faoi na deiseanna uasoiliúna a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET.
Cuirfear tús le plé painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna tríú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.
- Dé Céadaoin 5 Márta, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas a fháil faoin raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an fhoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.
Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost adultguidance@donegaletb.ie, nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
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