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A Carndonagh man who has had a complete career change from construction to caring declares that no day feels like work when he’s making a difference in people’s lives.
Two years ago, John Paul Curley decided to leave his plastering trade and pursue Health Service Skills training through Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
The inspiration for this change came from his personal experience of caring for his mother and witnessing the valuable work of professional carers.
Now working for the Irish Wheelchair Association, John Paul gets immense satisfaction in his daily interactions assisting individuals in their homes
“That’s the thing about the course; it gives you a job for life,” he says. “I wouldn’t even see it as a job. After all the years working at building sites, I never wake up any morning thinking of it as going to work.
“You are doing something worthwhile.”
John Paul’s journey has inspired others around him to take the leap. His partner Patricia Kelly recently completed her year of training on the same course, and he has two other friends beginning the course in September.
The part-time course, which runs from September to May for two days a week, offered John Paul the flexibility to continue working while studying.
“We were in class on a Tuesday, and sometimes I would drive to Dublin that night, be plastering all week, and then sit in the van on the laptop on Thursdays for my class. I was determined to do it,” he recalls.
John Paul attributes much of his success to the support from Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).
“The ETB was very supportive of someone like me going back to education. I’d never done anything like this in my life before, but everything was straightforward. It’s years and years since I did a module and I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but when you deal with the ETB, the way they teach and present the course it helps you big time.
“I’d like to thank my tutor Anne Tinney for all her help,” he adds.
John Paul Curley
The programme consists of eight modules, including care skills, care support, and work practice.
“They were all straightforward. Once you did the first module, you were able to do the rest. Palliative care was the one I got the most out of,” John Paul says.
John Paul did his work experience in St. Columbcille Village in Clonmany. As well as putting his skills into practice, he learned a valuable lesson – that he would prefer community outreach work.
“The Irish Wheelchair Association suited me better, and I learned about it when the ETB held recruitment days in Letterkenny. As soon as I finished the course, I was contacted by the Irish Wheelchair Association and got a job that week.”
John Paul also availed of career guidance support through Donegal ETB, which gave him valuable pointers for the interview.
John Paul said he grew in confidence in his work over a few short weeks.
“You learn everything you need to know with the ETB and after a couple of weeks on the job you are flying,” he said.
“There is a high demand for men through all the companies throughout the whole sector,” he notes.
“As a home help, you are also like a friend to people. I take the craic I had in the building sites and take that into the houses and we all get on great.
“There is the social side too, because at the end of the day, you are coming into someone’s house.
“Being in a class with other people, meeting and chatting, builds your confidence up for the job as well.”
John Paul said that he and his class colleagues benefitted from mutual respect from their tutor during their training.
“They treat you like an adult. We’ve all children and families and different things going on everything is there to accommodate that as well,” he said.
When asked if he would recommend the Health Service Skills programme, John Paul says he already has numerous times!
“I tell people to 100% go for it. My own partner has done her first year and is going into home help work. I’ve encouraged a man and his wife to start the course in September. A lot of people couldn’t believe I would do it, but I stuck it out and did it. Now, when people ask me how to do it, I say, ‘Go to the ETB; they’ll take it from there.’”
John Paul’s course is now open for applications in Buncrana and Letterkenny, along with a range of other full-time courses in this area – apply through the links below.
Part-Time
- Health Service Skills (Buncrana): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=438378
- Health Service Skills (Letterkenny): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=438785
Full-Time
- Essential Healthcare Skills (Milford): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=441278
- Health Service Skills (Letterkenny): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=416301
- Healthcare Support (Letterkenny*): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=412777
- Healthcare Support (Buncrana*): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=436665
- Pathway to Health and Fitness Studies (Letterkenny): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=445214
- Pathway to Healthcare and Nursing Studies (Letterkenny): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=445217
- Tertiary Degree Access Route into General Nursing (Letterkenny): https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=416337
Or, if you’re thinking about changing career, upskilling or reskilling in another area this Autumn, check out the wide range of full-time, part-time and evening courses available around the county with Donegal ETB’s FET Service: https://www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
If you want to talk through your options, contact their Adult Guidance and Information Service by calling 074 9178088 or complete this form and they’ll get back to you: https://www.donegaletb.ie/further-education-training/adult-guidance/.
* Traineeships are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. #EUinMyRegion