Leadership for Health and Social Care Services - Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA)
Course Type
Higher Education
Study Mode
Part-time
Duration
2 Years
Start & End Date
14 September 2026
4 June 2028
Days
Mon
Time
09:00-17:00
Location
Newtownabbey
Interview Required
Yes
The OCN NI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health and Social Care (Adult Management/Adult Residential Care) is an exciting and progressive qualification designed for those currently working in leadership or management roles within the health and social care sector.
This Diploma provides a comprehensive range of learning opportunities to strengthen leadership and management skills, enhance professional knowledge, and support career progression. Learners will explore leadership theories, apply key policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks, and develop best practice approaches for managing within care settings.
The programme combines mandatory and optional units, allowing learners to tailor their qualification to suit their individual career needs and the specific requirements of their organisation.
This qualification is a mandatory requirement under the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) guidelines and is compulsory for all managers and deputy managers operating within the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland.
Students will benefit from personalised, one-to-one peripatetic assessment support, over the duration of the course to ensure competency and practical application of knowledge.
The Diploma carries a total of 90 credits and offers a strong platform for career advancement and leadership excellence in health and social care.
The qualification consists of a blend of mandatory and optional units, allowing learners to tailor their study to meet their specific leadership role and service requirements.
Learners will cover the following key areas
Mandatory Units
Optional Units
This qualification is a compulsory requirement under Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) standards for all managers and deputy managers within adult health and social care settings in Northern Ireland.
Successful completion of the Diploma significantly enhances career prospects, supporting progression into senior management roles within the health and social care sector or onto further higher-level study.
Professional/Recognition, the Diploma is widely recognised across the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland, offering a prestigious qualification that meets sector-specific leadership and management standards
To be eligible for the Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) programme applicants must meet the following criteria,
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.
No fees.
Payment of fees must be arranged prior to course commencement and at the beginning of each academic year, regardless of whether your programme of study is one, two, or three years in duration. Fees for subsequent years (Year 2 and/or Year 3) may be subject to change due to annual increases in awarding body charges, such as registration or examination fees.
Please contact any Campus Reception to arrange payment of your course fees or to confirm you have uploaded evidence of your funding application or entitlement to the online admissions portal. Confirmation of your funding entitlement should also be forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor/employer, you must upload an approved Employer Consent Form to the online admissions portal.
Payment Options
You can pay your fees in full by cash, cheque, credit/debit card, direct debit payment or via a Student Loan. For further details visit our fees and funding page.
Contact Details
Student Loan Queries
T: 028 9085 5048
E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk
Direct Debit or Payment Queries
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
Funding Options including Scholarships
There are several funds available to help with costs related to your course such as grants and scholarships. For further details visit our student finance page.
Additional Mandatory Costs
Additional mandatory costs are essential expenses which are required in order to complete your course. These costs are separate from, and in addition to, any course tuition fees. Most courses do not have any additional mandatory costs. Examples of additional mandatory costs includes trips which are included as a component of your course, essential textbooks which are not available from our learning resource centres, essential equipment which is not provided by the College, professional memberships which are linked directly to the course.
These costs do not include stationery materials or items which a student may choose to purchase, personal computer equipment or software or additional textbooks or journals, memberships of professional bodies not essential for your course. Many students will choose to purchase their own equipment and materials during their course, these are not mandatory costs. For most courses, equipment and materials will be provided by the College.
All tutors are qualified and experienced counsellors. This underpins the authenticity of teaching and learning activities as students engage with practitioners who understand the challenges and opportunities of the counselling role. The following teaching team deliver this course at Northern Regional College:
Staff Team
The OCN NI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health and Social Care (Adult Management/Adult Residential Care) is an exciting and progressive qualification designed for those currently working in leadership or management roles within the health and social care sector.
This Diploma provides a comprehensive range of learning opportunities to strengthen leadership and management skills, enhance professional knowledge, and support career progression. Learners will explore leadership theories, apply key policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks, and develop best practice approaches for managing within care settings.
The programme combines mandatory and optional units, allowing learners to tailor their qualification to suit their individual career needs and the specific requirements of their organisation.
This qualification is a mandatory requirement under the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) guidelines and is compulsory for all managers and deputy managers operating within the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland.
Students will benefit from personalised, one-to-one peripatetic assessment support, over the duration of the course to ensure competency and practical application of knowledge.
The Diploma carries a total of 90 credits and offers a strong platform for career advancement and leadership excellence in health and social care.
This qualification is a compulsory requirement under Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) standards for all managers and deputy managers within adult health and social care settings in Northern Ireland.
The qualification consists of a blend of mandatory and optional units, allowing learners to tailor their study to meet their specific leadership role and service requirements.
Learners will cover the following key areas
Mandatory Units
Optional Units
Successful completion of the Diploma significantly enhances career prospects, supporting progression into senior management roles within the health and social care sector or onto further higher-level study.
Professional/Recognition, the Diploma is widely recognised across the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland, offering a prestigious qualification that meets sector-specific leadership and management standards
To be eligible for the Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) programme applicants must meet the following criteria,
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.
Course Fees
No fees.
Payment of fees must be arranged prior to course commencement and at the beginning of each academic year, regardless of whether your programme of study is one, two, or three years in duration. Fees for subsequent years (Year 2 and/or Year 3) may be subject to change due to annual increases in awarding body charges, such as registration or examination fees.
Please contact any Campus Reception to arrange payment of your course fees or to confirm you have uploaded evidence of your funding application or entitlement to the online admissions portal. Confirmation of your funding entitlement should also be forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor/employer, you must upload an approved Employer Consent Form to the online admissions portal.
Payment Options
You can pay your fees in full by cash, cheque, credit/debit card, direct debit payment or via a Student Loan. For further details visit our fees and funding page.
Contact Details
Student Loan Queries
T: 028 9085 5048
E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk
Direct Debit or Payment Queries
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
Funding Options including Scholarships
There are several funds available to help with costs related to your course such as grants and scholarships. For further details visit our student finance page.
Additional Mandatory Costs
Additional mandatory costs are essential expenses which are required in order to complete your course. These costs are separate from, and in addition to, any course tuition fees. Most courses do not have any additional mandatory costs. Examples of additional mandatory costs includes trips which are included as a component of your course, essential textbooks which are not available from our learning resource centres, essential equipment which is not provided by the College, professional memberships which are linked directly to the course.
These costs do not include stationery materials or items which a student may choose to purchase, personal computer equipment or software or additional textbooks or journals, memberships of professional bodies not essential for your course. Many students will choose to purchase their own equipment and materials during their course, these are not mandatory costs. For most courses, equipment and materials will be provided by the College.