The Facilities Management course leads to the ILM Level 3 Certificate in Facilities Management. The course aims to give learners who have limited experience in Facilities Management or learners seeking a career change to Facilities Management the foundation for their formal development in a Facilities Management role. The qualification does this by developing broad leadership and management skills and specific facilities management skills.

Achievement of the BIFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management reflects the ability of the ability of the Facilities Manager to identify and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address complex problems.  This course aims to deliver to the learner an understanding of difficult perspectives, diverse approaches and an independent school of thought when proposing a course of action in the Facilities Management context.  Live case studies delivered by senior industry practitioners give a real insight into the varied  world of Facilities Management.

This Train the Trainer Distance Learning course is designed for existing trainers to readjust their current skill set and approach to training ensuring that high quality standards are at the forefront of all training programs. It also is aimed toward students who wish to gain a qualification in the area of Training Development and Planning. In the current economic climate many are returning to education with an increased demand for trainers both with inhouse companies and also for external business.

The Pre Nursing course is designed as a programme of preparatory study to enter a degree course in Nursing Studies. Students undertaking this course can also apply for training positions in General Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Intellectual Disability Nursing and Children's Nursing.

This Health Service Skills Certificate with an emphasis on Physiotherapy Assistant provides training for care assistants and physiotherapy assistants and equips them with the skills and knowledge to care for clients in a safe and hygienic environment. Students study human anatomy and physiology with an emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, they become familiar with common medical conditions and the main clinical features of these conditions.

This Health Service Skills Certificate with an emphasis on Speech and Language Therapy provides training for Care Assistants and Speech Therapy assistants and equips them with the skills and knowledge to care for clients in a safe and hygienic environment. You will gain a knowledge of varying roles of the speech and language therapy assistant in clinical practice and an awareness of ways to assist the speech & language therapist in the preparation and implementation of therapeutic programmes.

The Health Care Services certificate with an emphasis on Occupational Therapy assistant provides training for Care Assistants and Occupational Therapy assistants and equips them with the skills and knowledge to care for clients in a safe and hygienic environment. Students gain a knowledge of the theory and principles of occupational therapy practice, and of the role of the occupational therapy assistant in the implementation of therapeutic programmes. Students learn about human occupation, growth and development and become familiar with the elements of activities of living. They develop the skills and techniques to assist a patient/client in the activities of living in order to enhance their quality of life. The Occupational Therapy Assistant also learns the basic principles of infection control and are taught to apply standard precautions in relation to infection control.

The Healthcare Support Distance Learning course is designed to prepare students to work competently, safely and effectively as a Healthcare Assistant in a variety of settings such as nursing homes, hospitals and home help support. The Healthcare Support course is structured to provide Graduates with a high standard of training and assessment leading to a recognised qualification for those pursuing a career in the Health Care Sector.

The Health Service Skills Distance Learning course is ideal for those employed, or seeking employment in the healthcare sector, and also provides an ideal stepping stone for those wishing to progress to further education in the health services. As outlined by HIQA* all newly recruited care staff and those in a role less than one year must commence training to FETAC Level 5 or equivalent within two years of taking up employment.

Successful completion of the Montessori Teaching Stage 1 distance learning course qualifies learners as Montessori Teachers for the 3-6 year range who may seek employment for this role within the pre-school sector. By the end of Montessori Teaching Stage 1, learners will be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of both the local and national frameworks which guide the education and care provision of Early Years settings, specialising in Montessori Pedagogy and Curriculum for the 3-6 year old. Over one hundred years ago, Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, devised a very different method of educating children, based on her observations of how they naturally learn. Today, Montessori education is more in line with what developmentalists now know about how children learn and develop.

The Special Needs Assistant Certificate is a part time evening course suited to anyone who has an interest in Special Needs Education, whether to pursue it as a career or use the knowledge for personal or family reasons.

The Certificate in Montessori in the Home distance learning course will give the learner an introduction to the Montessori philosophy of education and how it applies to the young child in a home environment. It will give a background to Maria Montessori's wonderful life and the legacy that she left behind of a full curriculum for the early education of the child. It will also give the learner useful tips to nurture and develop their own child in the home.

Often individuals are interested in the area of Special Needs but don’t have the time to commit to practical work experience or a large set of exams. The Certificate in Special Needs Distance Learning course is geared towards those who would like to gain a broad understanding of Special Needs Education without having to complete any practical work experience.

Understanding a child’s social, emotional and physical development is paramount if one is to provide a caring and nurturing environment for children to develop in. The Child Development distance learning course covers the individual variation in stages of child development, the factors that can affect it and the role you can play in promoting child development.

The Autism Awareness distance learning course will provide the student with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with a child with autism in a school, home or social environment. The area of autism has become one of the most highlighted areas of disability in relation to mainstream education in recent years. The aim of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the issues involved in the area of autistic spectrum disorders.

The inability to effectively communicate has been found to affect numerous daily life tasks. Researchers have found that individuals with disabilities experience less success than able-bodied individuals with respect to employment, education, independent living and relationships. It is essential therefore to offer augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to non-verbal children and have the knowledge to help the child to effectively use their particular system.

The Intellectual Disability Studies distance learning course has been specifically designed by Portobello Institute so that students are equipped to provide the optimal levels of support required for people with intellectual disabilities and their famlies in a variety of settings. Suitable for anyone with an interest in intellectual disabilities this course is highly recommended as an opportunity for further development for people who have studied Special Needs Education at Level 5 and Level 6.

Coping with Challenging Behaviours distance learning course provides the student with an understanding of challenging behaviours and the factors that can create challenging behaviours. It will also provide the student with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with a child with challenging behaviours in a school or home environment.

The Deaf Awareness distance learning course aims to deliver an understanding of the range of communication tactics used in communicating with deaf people. Students will learn to become ‘deaf aware’ and gain a basic knowledge of deafness and communication skills which can be used with a range of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf blind people. This course will also assist the student to learn various strategies to assist deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate effectively and also be involved to the best of their ability in everyday conversations.

The Caring for Children distance learning course is intended to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to care for children from 0-6 years either in the home or as part of a supervised team in a childcare setting.

By choosing to study this course with Portobello Institute, students will have access to course materials from our online learning centre for the duration of the course. The course materials for this FETAC certified course are thorough and easy to read and can be downloaded in your own time and from the comfort of your own home. You will also be assigned a personal tutor for the duration of the course who will help you with any challenges you may encounter. In addition you will be able to upload assignments online and receive online feedback. You can use our online learning centre from any computer that has internet access. However, access to a computer is not compulsory as we can arrange for everything to be processed by post. There is an additional administration cost of €30 for this service.

The importance of mental health cannot be underestimated. In light of this, Portobello Institute has developed a distance learning course in Mental Health Awareness which will provide an indepth understanding of the issues of mental health to the learner who can then apply this knowledge in a supportive and positive manner. This course gives the learner an understanding of mental health issues and their context, enhancing the learners familiarity with the national and local needs and those of their families.

The Social Care Skills distance learning course will provide you with and understanding of the various skills needed to be an effective care worker in a variety of settings such as nursing, residential or private homes, disability services and specialized care units. The course objectives include recognizing the personal care needs of clients, how to respond effectively to the client’s needs, practical skills in the area of personal care and maintaining a safe, healthy and hygienic environment for clients.

The Certificate in Supporting a Wheelchair User distance learning course in intended to give the student an insight into the issues around mobility disabilities and how to best support a person who is a wheelchair user. This course explores the barriers experienced by people with mobility disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease to name but a few. Do we see the person first or the wheelchair? What are the practical factors involved in transport shopping, socialising, sport and holidaying for these individuals? This course aims to teach the student how to treat a wheelchair user with dignity and respect, always thinking about the person first and the disability second.

Approximately 40,000 deaf and hearing people overall use Irish Sign Language (ISL) either as their first language or in addition to their first language on a daily basis in Ireland. The Understanding Basic Sign Language distance learning course will give a concise overview of ISL, basic signs and instructions for their use. Students will gain an understanding of the problems and barriers that people who have a hearing loss can experience. It will also outline basic strategies hearing people can use to communicate respectfully and effectively with deaf people.

Being able to communicate our thoughts, aspirations and basic needs is a civic right. Speech and language are the main media through which we communicate. For a variety of reasons some individuals have a delay or inflictions to their speech and language development. Through this course the student will develop a strong knowledge based insight into how speech, language and communication are developed. Furthermore, this course will identify a range of issues that may affect any individual at any stage of their life and it will also suggest some coping strategies to deal effectively with these issues.

Do you know the correct approach to take with a person who is disabled? Do you worry about using the wrong language or being patronising? Do you speak to the ‘person’ or their ‘carer’? Do you assume that a person with a disability always needs assistance? If these are questions you ask yourself then this Understanding Disability Etiquette distance learning course can help give you good advice and information when dealing with a work situation or socially meeting someone who has a disability.

The Dyslexia Awareness distance learning course will enable you to learn more about how to tell if someone has dyslexia, the learning and emotional effects of Dyslexia as well as effective strategies for Dyslexia in the classroom. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which makes it difficult for some children to learn to read, write and spell correctly. A child can become frustrated by these difficulties and over time may also show signs of low self-esteem and behavioural problems at home and school. In addition, the child may also become unmotivated and develop a dislike for school which can impact on the child’s overall success in school.

The aim of the Dyspraxia Awareness distance learning course is to provide the student with an understanding of dyspraxia and the specific difficulties associated with this condition. Dyspraxia is a difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory and/or motor tasks. Children with dyspraxia face many challenges each day in carrying out activities that many take for granted. Such difficulties can have an effect on the child's ability in school and also on their overall self esteem.

In the present ever changing and evolving world of today, diversity, equality and differentiation are commonly used terms. Therefore, in accordance with The Equality Status Act 2000, valuing and accommodating all citizens of the state, regardless of impairments is essential. This course aims to provide the student with an insight and indepth knowledge of visual impairment issues, which will help you to respond appropriately and confidently when dealing or working with people who are blind or who have significant sight loss.

The Leisure Management course provides individuals with the skills, knowledge and competencies required to deliver high level customer care, coupled with the technical ability to manage and maintain the facilities their customers visit.

The Sports Nutrition course teaches you how to enhance an athlete's performance, recovery and energy levels through a scientific understanding of diet and micronutrients.

The main aim of the ITEC Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy is to enable learners to gain the practical and theoretical skills necessary to provide Sports Massage Therapy.  It has been designed for practitioners currently working in Sport and Active Leisure, including Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Sports Therapists and Massage Therapists. The purpose of this Level 4 Sports Massage qualification is to enrich practitioners' understanding of advanced anatomical, physiological and pathological principles relevant to the application of Sports Massage. It will provide learners with advanced palpation skills and those needed to analyse posture and range of movement. It will also provide practitioners with a range of advanced skills and massage techniques to prevent and manage injury in sport and active leisure. Sports Massage Practitioners will learn to critically evaluate massage strategies and methods to inform on future treatments.

The module is designed to equip learners with knowledge of the structure and function of the human body and an understandng of the interrelationship between the systems of the body.

The Manual Handling for Sport course is delivered over 1 day. To comply with current Health and Safety legislation, staff engaged in manual handling must be given training in safe lifting techniques. The manual Handling course will show you how to lift correctly and therefore avoid back injuries. By training how to lift safely you will avoid serious and long-term back injury. This course combines lecture methods with "hands-on" practical work with the use of various types of materials and apparatus.

Last year Portobello Institue were the first education provider to be awarded the BIFM accreditation and since then have successfully delivered this Level 5 Facilities Management course which has set the standard for those wishing to pursue a career in Facilities Management.  The college prides itself on its expert tutors and Portobello Institute are delighted to welcome Eric Khoo onto the board of lectures on the BIFM programme who will deliver the Finance module.