Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF) Health and Social Care

Qualification Overview

The Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF) is aimed at those learners with supervisory experience who are already working within the care sector, such as a lead adult care worker, lead personal assistant, etc. 

This qualification recognises the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to demonstrate effective communication, person development, values and behaviours, health and wellbeing, responsibilities of self and others, and safeguarding.

A lead adult care worker will make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, or intellectual challenges.

They will be expected to exercise judgement and take appropriate action to support individuals to maintain their independence, dignity, and control. By providing leadership, guidance, and direction at the front line of care delivery, they will be instrumental in improving the health and wellbeing of those receiving care and support.

Lead adult care workers will, in some circumstances, have delegated responsibility for the standard of care provided and may supervise the work of other care workers. By exercising autonomy and accountability, they will lead and support others to comply with expected standards and behaviours. Lead adult care workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, or other clinical healthcare settings.

Qualification Structure

Learners must achieve a total of 58 credits; 28 credits from the mandatory units and a minimum of 30 credits from the optional units. A minimum of 46 credits must be at Level 3.

Learner Entry Requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification.

Focus Awards does not set any other entry requirements but training providers or colleges may have their own guidelines.

Progression Routes

Learners wishing to progress from this qualification can undertake the following qualification:

• Level 3 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce
• Advanced Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (England)

Age Ranges

This qualification is accredited for learners who are at least 16 years old

The Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care is one of our most popular social care qualifications.

This occupational qualification, which is now provided under the new title “Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF)”, is suitable for learners working in a wide range of roles in a health and social care setting, and can be used towards accessing nursing courses in universities.

The programme provides a framework to assess the learner’s competency relating to the health and social care sector. It has been designed to support the carer’s role in the workplace, and provides a pathway to higher level qualifications.

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

Learner Entry Requirements:

Focus Awards does not set any other entry requirements, but additional criteria may be requested or specified by the centre.

The content of this level 3 diploma is regularly updated to reflect the latest Acts of Parliament, government guidelines and Codes of Practice, including:

• Care Act (2014) and subsequent amendments
• Fundamental Standards 2015
• Duty of Candour
• New principles of independent advocacy
• Revised Audit Processes, following the publication of the Caldicott Report (2015)
• The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
• Skills for Care’s updated CPD guide
• Updates to the requirements for Care and Support Plans
• Updates to definitions of the balance between risk assessment, risk-taking and rights and responsibilities

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 where you will demonstrate your practical experience.

Please note that this course can only be delivered to students in England only.

You will need to complete an England based work placement of at least 50 hours and take part in workplace observations in order to complete this course.