Qualifications that open doors in care

Adult care

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF)

For people already working in adult care who want to take on more responsibility, such as becoming a lead adult care worker or senior carer.

The diploma builds your knowledge, skills and confidence across the core areas of adult social care, including safeguarding, person-centred practice, communication, mental capacity, health and safety, and infection prevention. It was developed with Skills for Care and links to the Lead Adult Care Worker apprenticeship standard.

Who it's for

You'll need to be working in a health or social care setting, paid or voluntary, because part of the assessment happens at work. There are no formal entry requirements. Level 2 literacy and numeracy (or equivalent) is recommended, and the minimum age is 16.

How you're assessed

You'll build a portfolio of evidence, including written work, questions and workbooks. An assessor will also observe you doing your job in real work situations. There are no exams.

Mandatory units (all 14 required)

1. Agreed Ways of Working in Care Settings
2. Safeguarding in Care Settings
3. Mental Capacity and Restrictive Practice in Care Settings
4. Duty of Care in Care Settings
5. Effective Communication in Care Settings
6. Handling Information in Care Settings
7. Person-Centred Practice in Care Settings
8. Importance of Choice and Independence in Care Settings
9. Importance of Health and Wellbeing
10. Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights in Care Settings
11. Health and Safety in Care Settings
12. Infection Prevention and Control in Care Settings
13. The Importance of Continuous Development
14. The Importance of Personal Wellbeing

Optional units (choose 19 credits)

• Choose optional units that match your role. Examples include dementia care, supporting autistic people, acquired brain injury, digital skills for care settings, care of older people, and pain management. We'll help you choose the right combination.

Where it can lead

It can lead to roles such as care home worker or lead adult care worker, or on to the Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care, the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care, or a Lead Adult Care apprenticeship.

Health and social care

Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Dignity and Safeguarding in Adult Health and Social Care (RQF)

A knowledge-based certificate for anyone starting out in care, or anyone who wants a solid grounding in treating people with dignity and keeping them safe.

You'll learn how to recognise and respond to abuse and neglect, what dignity means in everyday care, your duty of care, and how to handle dilemmas, complaints and concerns. You don't need to be working in care, because there's no workplace assessment. That makes it a good first step before a job in care or before the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care.

Who it's for

There are no formal entry requirements. Level 1 literacy and numeracy (or equivalent) is recommended, and the minimum age is 16.

How you're assessed

You'll complete written assignments, questions and workbooks. There are no exams and no grades: you pass once you've met every learning outcome.

Course structure (4 units)

1. Understand Safeguarding in Adult Health and Social Care
2. Principles of Dignity in Adult Health and Social Care Practice
3. Understand Duty of Care in Adult Health and Social Care
4. Understand Dilemmas and Public Concerns in Adult Health and Social Care

Where it can lead

It can lead on to the Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults), the Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia, the Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems, or the Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of End of Life Care.

Early years

Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Care and Education (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Become a qualified Early Years Educator, working with children from birth to five.

This diploma is approved by the Department for Education as full and relevant, and meets the latest Early Years Educator standards introduced in September 2024. It fulfils the qualification part of Early Years Educator status, so once you've also met the Department for Education's other requirements, you can be counted in Level 3 staff-to-child ratios.

You'll study child development and learning, safeguarding and child protection, health, safety and wellbeing, special educational needs and disability, attachment and transitions, early literacy and maths, speech and language, and working in partnership with parents and other professionals.

Who it's for

You'll need to be working or on a voluntary placement in an Ofsted-registered early years setting, such as a day nursery, pre-school, school nursery, reception class or childminder. Holiday clubs, after-school clubs and crèches don't count. You'll complete at least 300 hours in your setting and gain experience with babies, toddlers and pre-school children. There are no formal entry requirements, though the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner diploma is a helpful first step. The minimum age is 16.

How you're assessed

You'll build a portfolio of evidence, including written work, questions and workbooks. An assessor will also observe you working with children in your setting. There are no exams.

Course structure (all 17 units required)

1. Understand Development of Babies and Young Children
2. Prepare Young Children for the Transition to School
3. Safeguarding and Child Protection in the Early Years
4. Promote the Health, Safety and Welfare of Babies and Young Children
5. Support the Physical Care, Health and Wellbeing of Babies and Young Children in Early Years Settings
6. Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Practice in Early Years Settings
7. Support Self-regulation, Emotional Wellbeing and Positive Behaviour within the Early Years
8. Support Children with Special Educational Needs and Disability
9. Promote Positive Attachments in Early Years Settings
10. Support Babies and Young Children through Transitions and Significant Life Events
11. Promote Purposeful Play Activities within Early Years Settings
12. Develop Early Literacy, Reading and Mathematical Skills with Young Children
13. The Role of Assessment in Early Years and Child Development
14. Effective Record Keeping and Information Sharing in the Early Years
15. Promoting Effective Partnership in Early Years Settings
16. Professional Practice and Developing as an Early Years Educator
17. Promote Speech, Language and Communication in the Early Years

Where it can lead

It can lead to work in private and local authority nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools, school nurseries and reception classes, or on to the Level 5 Diploma for Senior Early Years Practitioners or the Level 6 Diploma in Applied Innovative Practice in Early Childhood Pedagogy and Care.

Early years

Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner (RQF)

A first step into childcare, giving you the skills to support young children from birth to five.

This diploma meets the Department for Education's criteria for a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner. You'll learn about child development, health and safety, safeguarding, communicating with children, supporting play and learning, children with special educational needs, children's wellbeing, and working with parents and colleagues.

Who it's for

Anyone starting out in early years, or already working in a nursery or pre-school without a qualification. Some units are assessed by watching you at work, so you'll need to be working, volunteering or on a placement in an early years setting. There are no formal entry requirements. Level 2 literacy and numeracy (or equivalent) is recommended, and the minimum age is 16.

How you're assessed

You'll build a portfolio of evidence, including written work, questions and workbooks. An assessor will also observe you working with children. There are no exams.

Course structure (all 9 units required)

1. Understand the Role of the Early Years Practitioner
2. Health and Safety in a Childcare Setting
3. Safeguarding in a Childcare Setting
4. Understand Child Development
5. Communication with Children
6. Supporting Activities, Purposeful Play and Educational Programmes
7. Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs
8. Working with Others in Early Years Childcare
9. Understand the Principles of Wellbeing in Children

Where it can lead

It can lead to roles such as early years practitioner or nursery assistant, or on to the Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Care and Education (Early Years Educator) above.