Flexible payment options available - Apply Online!
Maternity care is one of the most specialised and rewarding areas of healthcare, and demand for skilled maternity care assistants across Irish hospitals and maternity units continues to grow. Every maternity ward depends on qualified support staff who can assist midwives, provide compassionate care to mothers and families, and carry out practical clinical tasks with confidence and precision. For those seeking to enter this field or strengthen their credentials for further study in midwifery or nursing, the Dorset College Maternity Care Support Certificate is the recognised starting point.
The Maternity Care Support programme at Dorset College Dublin is a focused seven-week course delivered by a qualified, practising Midwife. It covers the full scope of maternity care support – from the philosophy and organisation of maternity services in Ireland through to ante natal, labour, postnatal, and Special Care Baby Unit environments, infection control, clinical skills, infant feeding, pregnancy loss, and emergency response. Demonstrations use real specialist equipment including hospital beds, baby cots, incubators, and resuscitation tools, ensuring students build genuine clinical confidence in a hands-on learning environment. Assessment is through a combination of written assignments, practical skills demonstrations, and self-evaluation.
WHERE THIS COURSE TAKES YOU
This certificate is the first step on a nationally recognised pathway into maternity care and midwifery.
STEP 1
Maternity Care Support Certificate, Dorset College Dublin
↓
STEP 2
QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support or Nursing Studies, Dorset College Dublin
↓
STEP 3
BSc in Midwifery or Nursing (via CAO or UCAS)
↓
STEP 4
Registered Midwife or Registered Nurse, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
Key skills covered in this programme
A practical, employer-focused curriculum covering the essential skills of maternity care support.
✓ Maternity care skills — Learn to assist midwives in caring for mothers, babies, and families.
✓ Hands-on practical training — Develop the key skills required to work as a Maternity Care Assistant.
✓ Enhance career prospects — Access job opportunities in maternity and healthcare settings.
✓ CV-boosting qualification — Strengthen your credentials with a recognised industry award.
✓ Pathway to further education — Progress to advanced healthcare qualifications and degree programmes.
✓ Flexible & career-focused — A seven-week programme designed to support your professional development.
✓ Make a meaningful impact — Support new mothers and families during a vital stage of life.
✓ Industry-recognised certification — Earn a nationally recognised qualification in maternity care support.
"
A wonderful experience from start to finish – quick to respond, a lovely lecturer, and exactly the course I was looking for. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Do it. You won’t regret it.
Leticia Ryan Collins – Dorset College Dublin
Course programme information
Day 1
✓ Overview of maternity care & terminology
Introduction to the key concepts, language, and principles that underpin maternity care support.
✓ Working in maternity care
Explore the roles, responsibilities, and professional expectations of a Maternity Care Assistant.
✓ Philosophy of maternity care
Understand the values and person-centred approach that guides quality maternity care practice.
✓ Organisation of maternity care in Ireland
Learn how maternity services are structured and delivered across the Irish healthcare system.
✓ UNICEF Baby-Friendly Initiative
Explore the international standards that promote breastfeeding and bonding in maternity settings.
Day 2
✓ Common admissions across ante natal, labour, postnatal & S.C.B.U. wards
Understand the different ward environments and the types of admissions encountered in each.
✓ National maternity strategy
Explore Ireland’s national framework for improving maternity services and outcomes for mothers and babies.
✓ Harvard referencing
Learn to correctly reference sources using the Harvard system for academic and professional writing.
✓ Presentation of written & practical assignments
Understand the standards and format expected for written and practical assessments on the programme.
Day 3
✓ Mother and infant care scheme & maternity leave
Understand the entitlements and supports available to mothers before and after birth in Ireland.
✓ Impact of prematurity & congenital abnormalities
Explore the care needs and challenges associated with premature births and babies born with congenital conditions.
✓ Coping with pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth & neonatal death
Develop sensitivity and practical skills to support families through pregnancy and infant loss.
✓ Breast & bottle feeding, the role of the care attendant
Learn how to support and assist mothers with infant feeding in line with best practice guidelines.
✓ WHO regulations regarding infant feeding
Understand the World Health Organization’s guidelines on infant feeding and their application in practice.
Day 4
✓ Security measures & infection control in hospital
Understand the protocols that maintain patient safety and prevent the spread of infection in a maternity setting.
✓ Care of the isolated patient
Learn the procedures and responsibilities involved in caring for patients in isolation.
✓ Blood & urine testing
Understand the role of the care attendant in supporting clinical testing procedures for mothers and babies.
✓ Clinical incident reporting
Learn the correct procedures for reporting and documenting clinical incidents in a maternity setting.
Day 5
✓ Skills demonstrations
Observe and learn the practical skills required for maternity care support in a clinical environment.
✓ Skills assignments & student practice
Receive and begin working through hands-on skills assignments in a supervised setting.
✓ Skills assessment & self-evaluation
Carry out skill assignments and complete self-evaluation sheets to reflect on your own performance and progress.
Upon course completion
✓ Discuss the philosophy & principles of maternity care
Articulate the values that underpin high-quality, person-centred care for mothers and families.
✓ Summarise the physical, emotional & social needs of the mother
Understand care needs across the ante partum, intra partum, and post partum periods.
✓ Investigate infection prevention & control in maternity care
Apply infection control protocols to protect mothers, babies, and staff in a clinical setting.
✓ Support families affected by congenital abnormality, loss & bereavement
Describe the grief process and provide compassionate care for families affected by pregnancy and infant loss.
✓ Assist mothers with personal care & infant feeding, hygiene & handling
Provide hands-on support for mothers and babies covering hygiene, comfort, positioning, and feeding.
✓ Demonstrate clinical skills & assist during examinations
Prepare clinical areas, measure and test urine, and report changes in condition to the midwife.
✓ Respond appropriately to emergency situations
Execute correct responses including reporting, patient positioning, and airway clearance for mother or baby emergencies.
• Submit the online application in 3 minutes
• Photo ID not required to begin your application
• Our team will guide you through the next steps
• Start even if your documents aren't ready yet
• Admissions support at every stage
• Contact us at [email protected]
• Assessment via assignment & skills demonstration
• Work experience does not apply to this course
• Full Award: QQI Maternity Care Support Level 5 Minor Award (Code: 5N3746)
• Credit Value: 15 ECTS
• Pass: 50%–64%
• Merit: 65%–79%
• Distinction: 80%–100%
• On completion, combine with Healthcare Support or Nursing Studies Level 5 Major Awards
• Qualify to seek employment in a hospital maternity setting
• Work as a Healthcare Assistant in a Maternity Care facility
• Non-refundable deposit of €75 to secure your place
• Balance paid in full before the course starts or split into 2 instalments
• Full course fee: €595 (inc. exam fee)
• Deposit: €150 — secures your place
• 1st Instalment: €222.50 — 16/10/2026
• 2nd Instalment: €222.50 — 10/11/2026
Q1
Do I need any prior experience to enrol?
No prior experience is required. The course is designed for anyone looking to begin a career in maternity care support and builds the knowledge and practical skills from the ground up.
Q2
What certification will I receive?
A QQI Level 5 Minor Award in Maternity Care Support (Code: 5N3746), worth 15 ECTS credits and awarded by QQI.
Q3
How is the course delivered?
This is an on-campus programme delivered at Dorset College Dublin. You will learn in a student-centred environment led by a professional Midwife, with hands-on demonstrations using specialist maternity equipment.
Q4
How long is the course and when does it start?
7 weeks, delivered over a series of full days. Contact our admissions team for the current start date and intake details.
Q5
What does it cost and are there payment options?
The full course fee is €595 (including exam fee). A €75 non-refundable deposit secures your place, with the balance payable in full or split across 2 instalments. No hidden fees.
Q6
What topics will I cover?
Maternity care philosophy, ante natal and post natal care, infant feeding, infection control, pregnancy loss, National Maternity Strategy, safety and security procedures, and clinical skills demonstrations.
Q7
How is the course assessed?
Through a written assignment and a practical skills demonstration. Work experience does not apply to this course. Grading: Pass 50–64%, Merit 65–79%, Distinction 80–100%.
Q8
What careers or progression routes does this course lead to?
On completion, combine this award with the Healthcare Support or Nursing Studies Level 5 Major Award to qualify for employment as a Maternity Care Assistant in a hospital or maternity care facility.
Q9
Will I have direct access to a tutor?
Yes. Every session is led by a professional, practising Midwife who will mentor and guide you throughout the programme with real-world expertise and direct feedback.
Q10
How large are the classes?
Dorset College maintains deliberately small class sizes to ensure quality learning, meaningful tutor interaction, and a more personalised experience than larger institutions typically offer.
Q11
What makes this course stand out?
You train with real specialist maternity equipment, learn from a practising Midwife, and earn a nationally recognised QQI Minor Award — a stepping stone to a full Level 5 Major Award and a career in maternity or healthcare.
Q12
How do I apply?
Complete the online application form in under three minutes. A €75 deposit secures your place, with flexible payment options available for the remainder of the course fee.
