Leadership for Health and Social Care Services (Adult Care/Residential Care Pathway) - Level 5 Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Part-time
Start date: 15th September 2025
End date: 1st June 2027
Day: Mon
Time: 09:00-17:00
Information Event: Yes

Course fees for each year.

Fees are payable annually.
The fees for year 2 may be subject to change.

Course Content

This professional qualification is designed to build advanced knowledge and skills required by Managers, Deputy Managers, and Senior care workers who aspire to be managers who work in the Residential /Domiciliary Care in the Health and Social Care sector. It is the accepted qualification for registration and regulation in accordance with RQIA guidance. The qualification is appropriate for Managers/Senior staff who wish to gain a recognised leadership qualification and are already working in health and social care and have not yet achieved a vocational qualification at this level. You must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills at level 5 and their job role allows them to be able to demonstrate the required skills in real work activities.  You will have the option to specialise in Adults' Residential Management or Adult Care

The College will provide blended learning (a mix of face to face and online) designed to provide a thorough understanding of the key requirements of the role and qualification.  

An occupationally competent assessor will assess you in the workplace and provide support and feedback, throughout the qualification.

You will be required to attend a mandatory pre-course information session.

Modules you will study include:

• Use and Develop Systems that Promote Communication
• Promote Professional Development
• Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Develop Health and Safety and Risk Management Policies, Procedures and Practices in Health and Social Care Settings
• Work in Partnership in Health and Social Care Settings
• Manage Health and Social Care Practice to Ensure Positive Outcomes for Individuals
• Safeguarding and Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• Understand Safeguarding
• Lead Person-Centred Practice
• Lead and Manage a Team within a Health and Social Care Setting
• Assess the Individual in a Health and Social Care Setting

Assessment Methods

You will be required to compile an electronic portfolio of evidence. The qualification guides and assesses development of knowledge, understanding and skills in management practice within health and social care. This will be in the form of written statements and ‘Reflective Accounts’ along with supporting work products you have produced. An assessor will visit you in the workplace during the course and carry out observations of you at work. These will be planned to cause the minimum disruption to your work routine and to try to capture as much information as possible in each visit.

Learners must be in a care role to study this course this can be full, part-time or in a voluntary capacity.

Where students wish to have prior education and/or experience taken into account, in lieu of meeting the full course entry requirements, they should contact the relevant Course Director or Admissions. APEL applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start date of the programme. More details can be found in the APEL Policy.

In the event of oversubscription, the College reserves the right to increase the entry criteria for this programme to GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above in preference to Essential Skills or lower graded GCSEs. Applicants will still be reviewed in date order and by order of preference.

Upon successful completion graduates may progress into professional management within the health and social care sector such as a manager of Adult Care, Residential and Domiciliary services or an Advanced Practitioner or you may choose to continue your learning and studies with a degree in a related discipline.  Previous students have received module exemption on courses at university, such as Social Work, and Health and Social Care degrees.

This course fulfils the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) requirements for managers and deputy managers in health and social care settings.