Urrus Training

Urrús (the Irish word for strength / confidence) was founded in 1996 by BYAP to provide training in relation to drug and alcohol misuse.  We have developed a range of training and education opportunities which are directed towards facilitating more effective responses to the challenges of drug and alcohol use as they impact on individuals, families and communities.  Delivery also includes training for professionals, and accreditation up to Level 7 within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).  Urrús is also part of a Research Alliance with the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.

We offer the Community Addiction Studies Course (CASC) on a part-time basis.  CASC is an accredited NFQ Level 5 module.
Community Addiction Studies Course – NFQ Level 5
This course will enable people living or working in the community to become more effective when they encounter drug/alcohol misuse or addiction.
Content includes: –
Drug & Alcohol information / Pharmacology of drugs.
Process of addiction.
How addiction effects individuals, families, communities.
How to be more effective in my response to addiction issues.
Develop skills and knowledge to become more effective in responding to drug misuse in the community.
Treatment approaches/Addiction services.
Next Course: – September 2023

For more information: – mailto:urrus@byap.ie

Some of the short workshops on offer are: –
~ Introduction to Addiction Studies
~ Working with Alcohol Misuse
~ Supporting the Therapeutic Relationship
~ Community Reinforcement Approach
~ Keyworking and Care Planning (8 CPD Credits)
~ Women and Substance Use (6 CPD Credits)
~ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
~ Working with Groups (12 CPD Credits)
~ Drugs and Young People (4 CPD Credits)
~ Understanding Harm Reduction (4 CPD Credits)
~ Understanding Safer Injecting Techniques (4 CPD Credits)
~ Understanding Drug Use and Homelessness (4 CPD Credits)
~ Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIED) (4 CPD Credits)

CPD Credits are recognised by Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI)

  • Introduction to Addiction Studies (2-days) This workshop provides an opportunity to refresh your knowledge and gain more information about drugs and alcohol; and the impact of addiction on individuals and families.
  • Working with Alcohol Misuse (1-day) This 1-day workshop is for those working in the social care and allied field, who come in contact with alcohol misuse and seek a deeper understanding of the subject and some strategies for dealing with the attendant problems.
  • Supporting the Therapeutic Relationship (1-day) This 1-day workshop will explore the relevance of the therapeutic relationship to patient engagement, compliance and outcomes.  This workshop is for those working in social care and mental health services.
  • Community Reinforcement Approach (2-days) This 2-day course is for those who wish to gain an understanding of the Community Reinforcement Approach.  It will be of interest to anyone already working / volunteering in a care setting.
  • Keyworking and Care Planning (2-days) This 2-day course is for those who wish to enhance their skills in the keyworking role.  It will also be of interest to anyone already working or volunteering in a care setting.
  • Women and Substance Use (1-day) This one-day training is for workers in the addiction field, particularly those who would like to acquire a better understanding of how substance use affects women, pregnant women, the foetus and infant.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2-days) This training is for those who wish to gain an understanding of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach.  It will be of interest to anyone already working /volunteering in a care setting.
  • Working with Groups (6-days) This six-day course is for those who are working or interacting within a group setting and would like to gain greater knowledge of the theory and practical skills associated with effective groupwork.
  • Drugs and Young People (half-day) This half-day workshop is designed for persons working or volunteering with young people and drug users. It will enhance the participants knowledge of drug related issues specifically related to young people and the impact of such use on the individual, the family and community. It will also provide an update on interventions suitable to young people.
  • Understanding Harm Reduction (half-day)This workshop is designed for persons working or volunteering in the drugs field and those who wish to enhance their professional understanding of the principles and practice of harm reduction as an approach in relation to problem drug use.
  • Understanding Safer Injecting Techniques (half-day)This workshop is designed for persons working or volunteering in the drugs field and who wish to enhance their professional understanding of safer injecting practice.
  • Understanding Drug Use and Homelessness (half-day)This half-day workshop is for project workers and volunteers working with the homeless and drug users and will look at the causes of homelessness; the problems experienced by homeless people and the barriers to integration.
  • Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIED) (half-day) This half-day workshop is for those who would like to gain an understanding of the psychological and pharmacological implications, along with the potential harm associated with image enhancing drug use.

For more information on any of the above: – mailto:urrus@byap.ie

Diploma in Community Drug and Alcohol Work – NFQ Level 7
The Diploma in Community Drug and Alcohol Work, run as a partnership between Urrús and University College Dublin, will be reviewed during the academic year 2023-2024.  The review will examine the delivery of the programme, particularly considering current developments within online teaching methods.  Accordingly there will be no delivery of the Dip CDAW during the academic year starting in September 2023.

Urrús works with community members and workers from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, and provides specially designed packages tailored to meet individual agencies’ needs.  Urrús also serves as a resource to individuals and groups who are working on the theme of addiction, particularly through our library, periodicals, and internet research.