The Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion is a Level 7 course delivered by the National Youth Council of Ireland in partnership with the University of Galway. Aimed at those working in the youth sector, this course will be of interest to anyone looking to gain the skills to encourage, support and facilitate youth organisations to become effective settings for health. This course is also linked to the Health Quality Mark (HQM) initiative and prospective participants must be in the position to implement the HQM in their respective organisations.
This course will be delivered face to face at a Dublin venue (to be confirmed on registration).
Deadline to apply: 5 pm on Thursday the 19th of March
Capacity
16 participants
Cost
€450
Dates & time
Induction: Thursday September 3rd, 2026
Block 1: Wednesday and Thursday 9th & 10th September 2026
Block 2: Wednesday and Thursday 21st & 22nd October 2026
Block 3: Wednesday and Thursday 2nd & 3rd December 2026
Block 4: Wednesday &Thursday 27th & 28th January 2026
Block 5: Wednesday & Thursday 17th & 18th February 2027
Block 6: Wednesday & Thursday 14th & 15th April 2027
Block 7: Wednesday & Thursday 12th & 13th May 2027
Course Aim
The course encourages, supports, and facilitates youth organisations to become effective settings for health.
Key Benefits
- Build the capacity of your organisation to identify and address the health needs of young people effectively
- Develop a range of competencies in Health Promotion
- Access up-to-date research and specialist input from expert speakers
- Develop a ‘whole organisation approach’ to health promotion through implementing the Health Quality Mark.
- Supports the implementation of the National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF)
- Support the achievement of Outcome number 1- ‘Active and Healthy’ in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People.
Participants can expect to
- Develop and evaluate their understanding of health education and health promotion and the application of theory to practice through academic and experiential learning.
- Develop skills and knowledge to assess the health needs of the young people they work within the context of their own organisations.
- Explore theories of health behaviour and models of good practice in health promotion.
- Undertake to examine the development of policy and strategy as part of a ‘whole organisational’ approach to youth health promotion.
- Develop an outcomes-focused approach to planning.
- Develop and enhance facilitation and group work skills.
- Develop a whole organisational approach to health promotion through the implementation of the Healthy Quality Mark.
- Support the implementation of the National Quality Standards Framework
This course will be of interest to
- Those who work in the youth sector
- Have an interest in responding to the health needs of young people.
- Wish to develop their understanding of the determinants of health on people’s lives.
- Are interested in the significant role of research in the development of knowledge and best practice in health promotion.
- Wish to acquire or further develop the core competencies to practice health promotion.
Programme Structure: 3 Modules
MODULE 1
- Foundations of Health Promotion
- Concepts and principles of health promotion
- Communication, training and facilitation skills
MODULE 2
- Specialism Module
- Young people and health behaviour
- Settings approach to health promotion
MODULE 3
- Project Development
- Organisational health promotion strategy
Application process
The Deadline for Applications is 5 pm on Thursday the 19th of March
Register your interest below
An application form will be sent out for your completion once you have completed the registration link.
Your line manager or manager of the organisation must also complete the application form.
An interview will be organised and facilitated by the National Youth Health Programme.
Programme Award
Certificate in Health Promotion (LEVEL 7) Specialist Certificate in Youth Mental Health Promotion awarded by the University of Galway.
The Specialist Certificate in Youth Mental Health Promotion is a Level 7 award on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Successful graduates who wish to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion Programme offered by University of Galway can carry forward ECTS and, on this basis, are exempt from one optional module of the programme.
What some of our course graduates had to say
“Health promotion is so much more than I gave it credit for. The concepts, skills and topics covered have added so much to my abilities in thinking about how health topics impact on people across the technological spectrum. The course is now very much practice in my work, not theory in my head.”
John Buckley, Former Deputy Director Spunout
“I went back to college for the first time in many years to take part in the Specialist Certificate in Health Promotion because I passionately believe that the level of educational engagement, progression and happy fulfilled lives of each individual is determined by the awareness and quality of their own health and wellbeing. My original view of Health and Health Promotion has broadened considerably since my participation on the specialist cert. While on the Health Promotion programme, I was continually motivated and enthused by the subject matter as it totally related to my own work with the staff team as well as with our students. Health Promotion in its broadest sense, has now been moved up a gear in being integrated fully across all aspects of our Youth Reach programme. I share the knowledge and skills I gained on the programme with the staff team and students so that the needs and quality of the health and wellbeing of staff and students remains the focal point of our work.”
Josephine Dempsey, Youthreach Co-Ordinator Miltown Malbay
Register your interest
Please contact us using the form below to register your interest in the course.
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Health Quality Mark: A Whole Organisation Approach for Promoting Health
The Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion is the first phase of implementing the Health Quality Mark (HQM). The Health Quality Mark encourages and facilitates youth organisations to develop and deliver a ‘whole organisational approach’ to promoting health. This happens at four distinct levels, developing personal skills through health education, partnerships with others, creating supportive environments and policy development. The Health Quality Mark enhances good practice, supporting and complimenting the National Quality Standards Framework process. The Health Quality Mark criteria are based on international best practices supporting a culture of quality assurance through continuous assessment and improvement of practice.
Delivered by
National Youth Council of Ireland/National Youth Health Programme in partnership with the University of Galway
