Care Diploma Training - Overview

Welcome

The National Qualification Framework (NQF) was replaced in 2010 by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). These innovative new qualifications offer clear progression routes towards Continuous Professional Development.

Access Skills offer a suite of recognised qualifications in Care, ranging from Levels 2 and 3 in Health & Social Care to Level 5 Leadership in Health & Social Care. Although the NVQ remains a recognised and respected course within the Care sector, you can no longer register with an awarding body to study NVQs. The new Diploma replaces the NVQ. Our Diplomas are largely delivered in the workplace, although classroom provision is available in some areas.

The QCF qualification is made up of units; you can study a generic pathway or a specialist pathway depending on your sector and area of expertise. By building up your credits you can progress to the next level and maintain your CPD. Diplomas in Health and Social Care are available at these levels to facilitate Career progression and to help meet the national minimum standards as regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Diplomas in Care are mainly used to prove an individual’s professional competency in their particular role and you will need to be working within that role to enable your assessor to measure your competency and to complete your qualification.

Resources

• Section 1: General information about Edexcel diplomas
• Section 2: How to compile your portfolio or logbook
• Section 3: How should evidence be presented?
• Section 4: Portfolio/logbook recording forms

Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults)

There is no formal entry requirement to start your Level 2 Diploma in Health & Social Care but you will need to be working in the Care sector as the Diploma is a work based qualification. The Level 2 is aimed at home Care assistants, community support assistants, healthcare assistants and residential or day service assistants, support workers in supported living projects, community-based Care assistants/support workers/key workers and personal assistants employed directly by the individual they support or their families; including those working in specialist areas, such as dementia and learning disabilities.

The Level 2 in Care is the standard entry level Care qualification and it focuses on person enabled Care, the development and maintenance of individual independence, and direct Care delivery to the service users. The Level 2 qualification provides specialist routes for learning disabilities and dementia Care.

“The Edexcel Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for England and the Edexcel Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Wales and Northern Ireland have been approved as components required for the Health and Social Care Apprenticeship framework” (Edexcel competence based qualifications specification 2011)

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Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults)

There is no formal entry requirement to start your Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care but you will need to be working in the Care sector as the Diploma is a work based qualification. It is anticipated that you will either progress to level 5 qualification, work as a senior practitioner or work towards a specialist qualification. The Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care is aimed at senior Care assistants/support workers/key workers in day services, senior support workers in supported living projects, community-based senior Care assistants/support workers/key workers, including those working in specialist areas, eg dementia, learning disabilities, personal assistants employed by a company on behalf of an individual they support or their families, emerging work roles and multi-disciplinary health roles crossing traditional service barriers and delivery models.

The focus of the Level 3 Diploma is in delivering physical and emotional support, enabling Care to clients whether in Health & Social Care, public, private or voluntary sectors. The Level 3 in Care is designed to be relevant to learners who will be delivering Care; often without direct supervision, demonstrating a degree of responsibility and autonomy and making decisions within previously agreed boundaries.

“The Edexcel Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Wales and Northern Ireland confirms competence in areas of health and social Care as appropriate and is the required qualification for registration and regulatory requirements in the social Care sector in Wales and Northern Ireland. Social Care workers in Wales must take the unit Understand Sensory Loss. HealthCare workers in Wales and workers in Northern Ireland have a free choice of units.” (Edexcel competence based qualifications specification 2011)

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Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services

The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care is aimed at assistant managers of residential services and domiciliary services, assistant managers, senior Care workers, day service managers, day service assistant managers, managers of residential services and domiciliary services, managers of community based services; those who are accountable for the services for those with learning or physical disabilities, services for those with sight or hearing impairments or those with a mental illness.

This qualification is designed to benefit those responsible for the running of Care homes and adult day Care centres, nursing homes and facilities for older people. The new level 5 replaces the current Level 4 NVQ in Leadership and Management for Care Services (LMCS) and the Level 4 NVQ in Health and Social Care (HSC), which are accepted as entry requirements to a number of HealthCare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) programmes.

The focus of the Level 5 Diploma is to develop and demonstrate a manager’s competency by working in partnership in Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings, to develop policies, procedures and practices, promote professional development of staff and champion diversity and inclusion.

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