Featured


Courses

SETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.

Courses Landing page

Study at SETU Waterford

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

Study at SETU Waterford landing Page

Students

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

Students Landing Page

Schools

SETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.

Schools Landing Page

International

The Office for International Relations co-ordinates the admission, administration and support for international students throughout the course of their studies at SETU Waterford.

International Landing Page

Research

SETU Waterfordis recognised as the leading research performer in the institute of technology sector with research activities that are internationally benchmarked, strategic, and economically relevant. Find out about the amazing multi disciplinary research under way

Research Landing Page

About

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

About Landing Page

News

Uncover the research discoveries, student and staff achievements, human stories, community spirit, global links and external engagement news at SETU Waterford

News Landing Page

Events

From virtual events to conferences, talks, public lectures and happenings in on-campus venues SETU Waterford is a hub of activity. Stay up to date with our calendar of upcoming events.

Events Landing Page
Delivery
Level
6
Campus
College Street
Duration
2 years
Credits
120 ECTS
arrow-down

Since September 2007, all Recruit Prison Officers (RPO) must complete an accredited two-year Higher Certificate in Arts in Custodial Care (HCCC) programme. Since 2017, the HCCC has been co-delivered by the Irish Prison Service and Waterford Institute of Technology as an NFQ Level 6 learning programme.

The aim of the Higher Certificate in Arts in Custodial Care is to develop the character and competence of Prison Officers so that they can act responsibly and ethically in order to effectively contribute to the safe, secure and humane custody of the people in their care, in accordance with the IPS mission, vision, values and strategic objectives. It is intended that the programme will:

  • Inculcate in prison officers a values-based approach in their interactions with prisoners;
  • Provide prison officers with the skills to operate ethically and effectively in their role;
  • Develop an understanding of the importance of the role of the prison officer in the care and rehabilitation of prisoners.

The programme aims to form prison officers who are capable of and understand the importance of engaging in systematic reflection and evaluation of their practice as prison officers and who will proactively participate in a reflective community of practice in the prison environment. 

Year 1

Semester 1 Semester 2
Crisis and Conflict Management Custodial Care Policy and Practice
Foundations of Practice Equality, Diversity and Cultural & Social Awareness
Learning to Learn Workplace Reflective Practice 1

Year 2

Semester 1 Semester 2
Ethical Dimensions to Custodial Care Human Rights
Contemporary Healthcare Issues in Ireland Criminal Justice, Criminology and Penology
Introduction to Social Psychology Workplace Reflective Practice Project II

Admission to the HCCC is restricted to approved employees of the Irish Prison Service.  All employees who enter the HCCC will have met the minimum requirements for entry into the Prison Service, and specifically will have achieved a pass at the Leaving Certificate or equivalent. The English Language requirements of employees of the IPS are sufficient to satisfy the English language requirements for this programme. Learners who are not IPS employees cannot transfer into the HCCC.

Learners must pass 3 month probation evaluation and all modules in Semester 1 to proceed to Phase 2.  A Passing-Out ceremony takes place when an RPO has passed the 3-month probation evaluation and is deemed to possess the skills and knowledge necessary to work under supervision in a Prison environment.  RPOs must pass a 5, 7 and 9 month probation evaluation to proceed from Phase 2 to Phase 3. Following successful completion of probation, all modules of the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care and 3 years of service, RPOs will progress to the grade of Prison Officer

Elements of the programme are delivered exclusively by the IPS, with most other elements delivered by SETU Waterford with IPS staff in partnership. The professional requirements of the IPS in developing its prison officers are paramount in the content and delivery of the programme; some modules, for instance, comprise entirely of prison-based skills training as necessary for officers to discharge their duties. 

The programme combines face-to-face workshops (in the Irish Prison Service College in the first instance), largely directed towards prison “craft”; face-to-face workshops (with SETU Waterford staff predominantly) that allow for the exploration of theory and practice relating to criminal justice and other areas and a variety of different online learning activities.

A key pedagogical approach underpinning the HCCC involves helping and supporting recruits to relate the theoretical concepts that they encounter in their modules to practice and to use these as tools to reflect on and in practice; the programme’ contributes to the holistic formation of the prison officer, ensuring prison officers are reflective professionals with key critical and analytical as well as practical skills. The prison as a workplace is in this way an integral learning environment for prison officer recruits and learning in the prison environment is supported in a number of ways.

Contact

Course Leader
Cathal Ryan
Dr. Cathal Ryan
Lecturer in Social Psychology
[email protected]

Ask a Question