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Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare -CYP
If you’ve completed the mandatory Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare and are ready to step into leadership in residential childcare, the Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare supports your career progression.
This qualification is designed for experienced practitioners working in regulated children’s homes and therapeutic residential settings. It focuses on developing confident leaders who understand safeguarding, trauma-informed care, and the responsibilities of managing residential childcare services.
What You’ll Learn
You will learn advanced care leadership skills that improve care quality, including:
Leadership and management of residential childcare settings
Advanced safeguarding practice and regulatory compliance
Trauma-informed and rights-based approaches to supporting CYP
Risk management, care planning, and promoting positive outcomes
Supporting transitions, independence, and complex needs
Who Is This Qualification Is For ?
This course is perfect if you are:
Ofsted-regulated children’s home workers
Experienced residential childcare practitioners progressing into leadership and management roles
Residential care team leaders and supervisors
Care professionals preparing for Registered Manager positions
Study and Delivery Methods
A blended approach designed for working professionals. Endorsed to meet the UK Care Standards.
Study anytime anywhere with access to resources and our secure learning platform which helps you track your progress.
You’ll be supported by a qualified tutor who will guide you through each learning stage and offer feedback to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to free tools and care resources that supports you through your learning.
Study flexibly at your own pace over 9–12 months.
Gain a Nationally Recognised TQUK Certificate
Alligned with recognised UK care standards
Enquire Now your Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Residential Childcare -CYP
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COURSE OVERVIEW
The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Residential Childcare is a nationally recognised qualification, awarded by Training Qualifications UK, designed for experienced childcare workers ready to step into senior leadership roles within children’s residential services.
Throughout the course, you will build an advanced knowledge in childcare leadership, communication, risk management, safeguarding, and inclusive practice, while applying learning directly within their workplace.
The programme supports person-centred leadership, ensuring children and young people receive safe, supportive, and outcome-focused care aligned with current legislation and Ofsted expectations.
Practical learning activities aligned with real workplace requirements
Workplace observation assessments to demonstrate on-the-job competence
Access to resources, including discounted QCS policies and toolkits
Personalized remote tutor support with weekday access to assessors
Live/recorded webinars and a learning portal for resources and progress tracking
This is more than a qualification — it’s a real step forward in your care career.
Course Content - Level 5 diploma in residential child CARE
The Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare is made up of 22 units dedicated to developing learners’ leadership skills in residential childcare. Each unit offers practical guidance you can apply straight away in your day-to-day care delivery in residential childcare.
You will:
- Understand the principles of continuing professional development and reflective practice
- Prepare, implement and monitor a professional development plan
- Support and encourage a learning culture across your team
You will:
- Understand the legislative framework for health and safety and risk management
- Implement and monitor compliance with health, safety and risk requirements
- Promote a culture that balances needs and risks
- Apply theories and models of communication to practice
- Manage and improve communication and information-sharing systems
- Understand approaches to conflict management and difficult relationships
You will:
- Understand partnership working at a national and local level
- Establish and maintain working relationships with colleagues and other professionals
- Understand the commissioning cycle and its practical implications
You will:
- Understand diversity, equality and inclusion in your area of responsibility
- Promote diversity, equality and inclusion, and challenge discrimination
Manage the risks of balancing individual rights with duty of
You will:
- Understand the pattern of development from birth to 19 years
- Understand the impact of early intervention and transitions on development
- Understand how assessing and recording development informs better outcomes
You will:
- Understand theoretical approaches and frameworks that support positive outcomes
- Lead and support developmental assessment and intervention
- Lead positive behaviour support, including best practice in the use of restraint
You will:
- Understand the impact of current safeguarding legislation
- Support the review and implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures
- Lead best practice in supporting children’s wellbeing and resilience
You will:
- Understand effective team performance and different leadership styles
- Support a positive culture and a shared vision within the team
- Develop plans with team members and manage team performance
You will:
- Understand the purpose of professional supervision and its link to performance management
- Prepare for and provide professional supervision with supervisees
- Evaluate professional supervision practice and identify improvements
You will:
- Understand resource and financial management in the work setting
- Plan and manage a budget for your area of responsibility
- Evaluate financial management and recommend adjustments
You will:
- Understand the principles of change management
- Develop and gain support for an approved change management plan
- Implement and evaluate the change management process
Entry Requirements For Level 5 Diploma In Residential Childcare Care
Learner must be aged 19 or over and have a minimum of Level 2 in literacy and numeracy or equivalent
Learner must have completed the mandatory Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
Must be currently working in a residential childcare setting
Must be based in England (aligned with English legislation and regulation)
There are no formal exams. Instead, you’ll demonstrate your learning and competence through practical, real-world activities in your workplace.
Professional discussions and assignments
Reflective practice logs
Evidence from work settings
Workplace observations by a qualified assessor
Nationally recognised qualification awarded by TQUK. Endorsed by Skills for Care and aligned with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
Fees & Funding
We’re here to make your learning journey as accessible as possible with full payment options or flexible payment, we offer several options to suit you.
- Easy payment plans to spread cost
Career Progression With Level 5 Diploma In Residential Care
Achieving the Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare demonstrates that you are ready to lead within regulated children’s residential services. This qualification supports progression into senior leadership and management roles, where you are responsible for safeguarding, service quality, and team performance.
Typical roles include:
- Residential childcare team leader
- Registered Manager in children’s home
- Residential Childcare Service Manager
ADVANCE INTO FURTHER STUDY WITH RECOGNISED qualifications
Level 5 Diploma in Adult Care
This course is designed for experienced professionals working in supervisory, senior or management roles within the care sector.
Course Length
9-12 Months
Pricing
LDSS Funding Available, Advanced Learner Loans Plus Easy payment plans
CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership
Ideal for Care Supervisors, Registered, Deputy Managers and future Operational Leaders
Course Length
Self-paced
Pricing
Government Funding Available, Easy payment plans
CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership
- Designed for professionals looking to develop advanced strategic leadership skills, organisational planning, and high-level decision-making capability.
Course Length
Self-paced
Pricing
Government Funding Available Plus Easy payment plans
The Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare is designed to develop advanced leadership skills for managing teams and services in children’s residential settings, with a strong focus on safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and positive outcomes for children and young people.
This qualification is most suitable for experienced residential childcare practitioners who have completed the mandatory Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare and are ready to move into leadership and management roles in children’s homes.
Enrolling in the Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare requires the following;
- You must be aged 19+
- Have a minimun of Level 2 in literacy and numeracy or equivalent
- Completed the mandatory Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare
- Currently working in a residential childcare setting.
- Must be based in England.
This qualification is self-paced and can be completed within 9–12 months, depending on your level of dedication and commitment to study.
Basically, there are No exams. Assessment is conducted through workplace observations, reflective logs, professional discussions, assignments, and evidence from your leadership role.
The Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare is made up of 12 mandatory units covering safeguarding, team leadership, risk management, professional supervision, finance and change management, plus a selection of optional units such as group living, living disability support, or the youth justice system, chosen to match your role.
Yes. The Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare aligns with Ofsted expectations and regulatory frameworks for leadership in residential childcare in England.
This qualification is delivered flexibly online with a secure portal, expert tutor and assessor available to support you during your learning and daily drop-in workshops, and access to discounted QCS resources (depending on your enrolment method)
When you enrol with Access Skills, you get to enjoy a lot of funding options and you can pick the one that best fits you. Available funding options include;
- Flexible payment plans if you are self-funded
- LDSS funding for employers with updated ASC-WDS data
- Advanced Learner Loans
- Group discounts for multiple enrolment.
Upon completing the Level 5 Diploma in Residential Childcare, you’re fully fit to a children’s residential services and you can also progress to further leadership qualifications via CMI Qualifications.
Our Matrix-accredited training has supported more than 12,000 learners nationwide. With a 4.8/5 rating, our flexible approach truly stands out.
Leave your feedback
“After years of working on the floor, moving into a management role required a totally different skillset. This course helped me bridge that gap. The reflective tasks made me rethink how I communicate, and I’ve noticed the children and staff benefiting from a more consistent and organised home environment.”
“Stepping into leadership in a residential childcare setting felt overwhelming at first, especially managing a team with mixed levels of experience. The Level 5 Diploma helped me understand how to lead with clarity and confidence. I now approach difficult conversations calmly, and my team actually looks to me for direction”
“What really made this qualification work for me was the supportive structure. Even with a demanding rota and family commitments, the assessor worked around my schedule and kept me motivated. The course felt achievable without being easy and finishing it has given me a huge sense of pride all thanks to Access Skills.”
“After six years in leadership, I didn’t realise how much more there was for me to learn. The Level 5 programme really broadened my perspective, and it’s amazing to think it all started from attending their free webinars. The leadership modules were practical, relevant, and rooted in real situations we face every day in residential childcare. It genuinely strengthened the way I lead.”
These are just a few of our learners’ journeys we’ve been a part of.
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