Health and Social Care Diploma (QCF)

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career in the health and social care industry? Take your learning into your hands with the Health and Social Care Diploma Level 3 (QCF). The course is specially designed for both current care employees, as well as newcomers to this fulfilling sector.

The Health and Social Care Diploma Level 3 is one of our most popular social care qualifications, and for good reason. It's suitable for learners working in a variety of care positions, and can be used towards university nursing courses should you choose to continue your studies. Regularly updated to reflect the latest changes to Government Guidelines, Acts of Parliament, and Codes of Practice, you can feel assured that you will receive the most up-to-date course content and material.

The best part? You can learn at your own pace from home, on your terms. You will receive a comprehensive study guide, as well as all course material. Your personal tutor will always be on-hand to offer you expert guidance to help support your studies, and you'll receive fast, high-quality feedback on any coursework.

This course is the most up-to-date version of the popular Health and Social Care Level 3 qualification, and replaces all previous NVQ and QCF versions.

The programme contains several different units of assessment, all of which sit within the ‘Regulated Qualification Framework’ (RQF). Credits are achieved for each unit completed (please see unit listing below for more detail).

This qualification has a workplace element which must amount to at least 50 hours in total, and you must ensure that a member of staff with occupational competence is able to sign the witness testimonies to prove you have achieved the work based learning outcomes.

Qualification Title: TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF) (previously 'Health and Social Care Level 3 RQF')
Qualification Number: 610/0103/6
Total Credits: 59
UCAS Points: 32

Unit 1: Agreed Ways of Working in Care Settings (K/650/2298)

• Understand agreed ways of working
• Be able to work in ways that are agreed with the employer
• Working relationships in care settings
• Be able to work in partnership with others.

Unit 2: Safeguarding in Care Settings (L/650/2299)

• Understand the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse and neglect
• Know how signs of abuse and neglect in care settings
• Ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse or neglect occurring care settings
• Know how to respond to suspected or disclosed abuse and neglect care settings
• Know how to recognise and report unsafe practices care settings
• The principles of online safety in care settings

Unit 3: Mental Capacity and Restrictive Practice in Care Settings (A/650/2300)

• The principles of mental capacity
• The application of the principles of mental capacity and consent
• Restrictive practices in care settings

Unit 4: Duty of Care in Care Settings (D/650/2301)

• Understand how duty of care contributes to safe practice in care settings
• Know how to address conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between an individual’s rights and the duty of care
• Know how to respond to concerns and complaints in care settings
• Know how to recognise and respond to adverse events, incidents, errors and near misses in care settings

Unit 5: Effective Communication in Care Settings (F/650/2302)

• Understand the variety in people’s communication needs and preferences in care settings
• Be able to meet the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of individuals in care settings
• The role of independent advocacy services in supporting individuals’ to communicate their wishes, needs and preferences in care settings
• Confidentiality in care settings

Unit 6: Handling Information in Care Settings (H/650/2303)

• Requirements for handling information in care settings
• Be able to implement good practice in handling information in care settings

Unit 7: Person-Centred Practice in Care Settings (J/650/2304)

• The application of person-centred practices in care settings
• Be able work in a person-centred way
• Importance of individuals’ relationships

Unit 8: Importance of Choice and Independence in Care Settings (K/650/2305)

• Be able to promote individuals’ rights to make choices
• Be able to promote individuals’ independence
• The role of risk assessments in promoting a person-centred approaches, choice and independence

Unit 9: Importance of Health and Wellbeing (L/650/2306)

• Understand the importance of individuals’ well-being
• Know how to monitor individuals’ health
• Be able to assess and respond to changes in an individual’s health and well-being
• Be able to promote individuals’ health and wellbeing

Unit 10: Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights in Care Settings (M/650/2307)

• Understand influencers on working practices to promote equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights
• Understand the importance of equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights within your work setting
• Know how to promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and human rights
• Be able to work in an inclusive way

Unit 11: Health and Safety in Care Settings (R/650/2308)

• Understand own responsibilities, and the responsibilities of others, relating to health and safety
• Be able to carry out own responsibilities for health and safety
• Know how to move and handle equipment and other objects safely
• Know how to handle hazardous substances and materials
• Know how to promote fire safety in the work setting
• Be able to implement security measures in the work setting

Unit 12: Infection Prevention and Control in Care Settings (T/650/2309)

• Understand how to prevent and control the spread of infection
• Be able to prevent and control the spread of infection

Unit 13: The Importance of Continuous Development (D/650/2310)

• Understand what is required to be competent in own role
• Know how to commit to own development
• Understand the value of reflective practice
• Be able to use reflective practice to improve ways of working
• Know how to develop leadership behaviour

Unit 14: The Importance of Personal Wellbeing (F/650/2311)

• Understand own wellbeing
• Importance of maintaining and improving own wellbeing
• Know how to maintain and improve own wellbeing
• Know how to manage own stress and anxiety

Unit 15: The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control (Y/616/4058)

• Systems and procedures relating to the prevention and control of infections
• Importance of risk assessment in relation to the prevention and control of infections
• Importance of using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the prevention and control of infections
• Importance of good personal hygiene in the prevention and control of infections

Unit 16: Move and Position Individuals in Accordance with Their Care Plan (K/616/4159)

• Current legislation, national guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols in relation to moving and positioning individuals
• Anatomy and physiology in relation to moving and positioning individuals
• Be able to minimise risk before moving and positioning individuals
• Be able to move and position an individual
• Know when to seek advice and/or assistance from others when moving and positioning an individual

Unit 17: Support Individuals to Maintain Personal Hygiene (L/616/4204)

• Importance of good personal hygiene
• Be able to support individuals to maintain personal hygiene
• Understand when poor hygiene may be an indicator of other underlying personal issues

Unit 18: Support Individuals with Specific Communication Needs (A/616/4179)

• How to support the use of communication technology and aids
• Be able to contribute to identifying and addressing specific communication needs of individuals
• Be able to interact with individuals using their preferred communication method
• Be able to promote communication between individuals and others
• Be able to review an individual’s communication needs and the support provided

Unit 19: Support Individuals to Access and Use Services and Facilities (Y/616/4173)

• Factors that influence individuals’ access to services and facilities
• Be able to support individuals to access and use services and facilities
• Be able to support individuals to review their access to and use of services and facilities

Unit 20: Cleaning, Decontamination and Waste Management (D/616/4059)

• How to maintain a clean environment
• Principles and steps of the decontamination process
• Importance of good waste management practice

The course is particularly popular for learners currently working as senior care assistants and support workers in residential settings as well as domiciliary/day services.

The diploma aims to develop the knowledge and skills of learners working in a wide range of roles within health and social care.

No prior knowledge or skills in this subject area is needed in order to enrol onto this course, making it ideal for those just starting out in this career field.

The qualification supports the carer’s role in the workplace and provides a pathway to higher level qualifications.

An employer holding a Level 3 Diploma RQF can expect to be working in a team leader or senior staff member capacity, and earning an average of around £22,000 per annum.