Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care approved by Skills for Care and regulated  | NCFE

What can we help you find?

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care approved by Skills for Care and regulated

We’re pleased to share that our new NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (610/ 0498/4) has been approved by Skills for Care and also regulated. The qualification is due to launch on 1 May 2022 and will replace the current NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (603/2618/9) which will be withdrawn on 30 April 2022. 

The qualification was updated as a result of the outcomes of the sector wide consultation led by Skills for Care which resulted in new qualification criteria. To support centres with the transition to the new updated qualification, we have provided information below highlighting the key changes. 

Further information will be communicated leading up to the launch.  

 

 

Current NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (603/2618/9) 

 

New NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (610/ 0498/4) 

Key dates 

 

This qualification will be withdrawn on 30 April 2022 and this is the last date we can accept learner registrations. The last date for certificate claims is 30 April 2025. 

 

This new replacement qualification will be launched on 1 May 2022. A copy of the draft specification can be found on our coming soon page at: https://www.qualhub.co.uk/qualifications-coming-soon/  

Mandatory content  

  • Promote communication in care settings 
  • Promote effective handling of information in care settings 
  • Promote personal development in care settings 
  • Promote person-centred approaches in care settings 
  • Promote equality and inclusion in care settings 
  • Promote health, safety and well-being in care settings 
  • Responsibilities of a care worker 
  • Duty of care in care settings 
  • Safeguarding and protection in care settings 

 

 

All mandatory units have been newly developed to reflect updated Skills for Care criteria and there are some units covering new mandatory subject areas (indicated in bold below) 

 

  • Promote communication in care settings 
  • Handling information in adult care 
  • Promote own continuous personal and professional development 
  • Person-centred practice, choice and independence 
  • Understand how to promote personal wellbeing 
  • Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights in care settings 
  • Promote health and safety in care settings 
  • Support the health and wellbeing of individuals in a care setting 
  • Scope and responsibilities of an adult care worker 
  • Understand duty of care 
  • Understand how to safeguard individuals 
  • Understand mental capacity and restrictive practices 
  • Infection prevention and control in a care setting 

Optional content  

Refer to current specification  

Optional units from the current qualification have all been reviewed to ensure they continue to be fit for purpose and carried over, there have been some minor amends made and some new units have also been written to provide further choice for learners – there are 80+ optional units covering:  

  • aspects of support 
  • specialisms 
  • clinical skills or healthcare tasks 
  • leadership and management skills 

 

Examples of new optional units: 

  • Promote innovation, change and positive representation of own organisation 
  • Adult social care regulation, inspection and quality improvement 
  • Supervision skills and developing and supporting others 
  • Support individuals to maintain oral health and mouth care 
  • Understand personalisation in adult care 

Rules of Combination  

Learners must achieve a minimum of 58 credits for the Diploma. 

Learners must achieve 28 credits from the mandatory units and a minimum of 30 credits from the optional units. 

At least 35 credits must be achieved at level 3 or above. 

The qualification remains 58 credits, however there are more mandatory units to achieve in the new version due to additional content.  

 

Learners must achieve a minimum of 58 credits for the Diploma. 

 

Learners are required to successfully achieve 39 credits from the mandatory units and a minimum of 19 credits from the optional units. At least 35 credits must be achieved at level 3 or above. 

 

Digital Skills  

n/a 

Digital skills have been highlighted a key learning and development priority for care workers.  The use of digital technologies has been referred to throughout the qualification criteria where relevant to all level 3 learners. 

 

We’ve embedded digital skills within appropriate optional qualification content wherever practicable and relevant to enable evolution of the workforce. 

 

Please refer to pages 313 -315 within the linked draft specification for further information  

 

Mapping to current Lead Adult Care Worker standard  

Mapped and named within standard 

The standard is currently under review; however our new qualification continues to map to the current Lead Adult Care Worker standard. Should there be any changes once the new version of the standard is released we would look to update our qualification where required. 

 

Please refer to pages 310-312 within the linked draft specification for further information  

 

Funding  

Workforce Development Fund  

Learner loans  

Funding is yet to be confirmed, however, the qualification is expected to attract Workforce Development Funding and we’ve also applied for adult/learner loans  

 

Skills for Care approval  

Approved by Skills for Care 

The new qualification is approved by Skills for Care