About the Level 5 Leader in Adult Care Apprenticeship

The Leader in Adult Care will guide and inspire teams to make positive differences in someone’s life when faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will be a leader of the care team and will develop and implement a value-based culture at a service or unit level. They may be responsible for business development, financial control, organisational resilience and continuity, as well as managing risk and leading an organisational change.

The Level 5 in Leader in Adult Care Apprenticeship lasts between 18-22 months.

We provide you with lots of specialist resources to help you progress through the programme. Such as course task activities based on specific workplace requirements of your job, relevant resources to help you provide evidence of your understanding and knowledge to complete the workplace task activities (including free Learner access to Quality Compliance Systems Ltd, which provides extensive operational policies, procedures and tool kits), one-to-one tutorial support provided remotely to you, webinars and workshops (both live and recorded) providing relevant tutorial support, workplace observation assessment, which allows you to demonstrate your competency in performing workplace tasks and responsibilities, flexible remote access to tutors/assessors Monday to Friday during office hours, learning portal to view all of your activities, access resources and monitor your progression and access to resources and support via our social media channels.

The Higher Apprenticeship is for supervisors and managers within Health and Social Care. The programme includes the award of the stipulated Level 5 Care Leadership and Management diploma qualification.

Adult care leaders may work in domiciliary or residential care facilities, community day care centres, private homes, or some clinical healthcare settings. The role of Leader in Adult Care in this standard also covers Personal Assistants who operate in a management role but they may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services.

Typical job titles include registered, assistant, deputy, unit or service manager.

The following behavioural traits and actions are expected of all Adult Care Leaders in the performance of their duties:

Care is the ability to constantly care for people in a way that improves their lives.

Compassion is the ability to provide care and assistance in a way that is polite, considerate, respectful, and deserving of dignity.

Being courageous means standing up for someone you support when they’re in danger and doing the right thing for them.

Excellent teamwork and the development of caring connections depend heavily on excellent communication.

Competence is the ability to use knowledge and abilities to deliver superior assistance and care.

Commitment to enhancing the person-centred experience for those in need of care and support

You should occupy a management role, which has the necessary tasks and responsibilities assigned to it, which are to be developed as part of the programme. You are required to have GCSE’s in (or equivalent) English and Maths qualifications at grades 4-9 (A-C). 

To be eligible for funding you have to:

• Be a UK or EU resident for 3 years or more, and currently live in England
• Be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week and have a contract of employment on payroll. Access skills normally prefer that your employer is either CQC registered or regulated by a Local Authority.

The Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship Standard is a government-funded programme. The agreed funding band for this programme currently requires employers to contribute 5% of the agreed cost (approximately £350 plus VAT) as the fee for the programme. Large employers (payroll in excess of £3m) meet the full cost of the programme from their Levy account. Employer grant incentives are available to assist eligible employers in terms of the cost of supporting an apprenticeship programme. The Sector Skills Council Skills for Care also offer significant funding support from the Workforce Development Fund towards the cost of Apprenticeships.

Upon completion of the Leader in Adult Care Level 5 Apprenticeship, participants will have acquired knowledge and understanding in the following areas:

1. Tasks and Responsibilities:

   • Understand and execute the tasks and responsibilities associated with leadership in adult care.
     
     

2. Statutory Frameworks and Compliance:

   • Familiarity with statutory frameworks, standards, guidance, and Codes of Practice governing the safe delivery of services.
   • Ability to implement systems and processes ensuring compliance with regulations, organizational policies, health and safety, and risk management.
     
     

3. Risk Management:

   • Grasp the principles of risk management, assessment, and outcome-based practice.
     
     

4. Change Management:

   • Knowledge of theories and underpinning models of change management.
   • Proficiency in employing approaches, tools, and techniques supporting the change process.
     
     

5. Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks:

   • Understanding legislative and regulatory frameworks influencing quality standards.
     
     

6. Performance and Appraisal:

   • Familiarity with theories and models underpinning performance and appraisal, including disciplinary procedures.
     
     

7. Dignity, Human Rights, and Diversity:

   • Knowledge of legislation and policy initiatives promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the services they lead.
     
     

8. Communication:

   • Awareness of legal and ethical frameworks related to confidentiality and information sharing.
   • Proficiency in utilizing a range of tools and strategies, including technology, to enhance communication.
     
     

9. Safeguarding:

   • Understanding legislation, national and local solutions for safeguarding adults and children, including reporting requirements.
   • Knowledge of creating a supportive culture for whistleblowing within the organization.
     
     

10. Health and Wellbeing:

    • Familiarity with models for monitoring, reporting, and responding to changes in health and wellbeing.
      
      

11. Professional Development:

    • Grasp the principles of professional development.
    • Set goals and aspirations for personal professional development and access available opportunities.
    • Knowledge of creating a culture valuing learning, professional development, reflective practice, and evidence-based practice.
    • Proficiency in systems and processes to identify, plan, source, evaluate, and record professional development opportunities for workers.
      
      

12. Leadership:

    • Understanding theories of management and leadership and their application to adult care.
    • Recognition of features contributing to effective team performance.