Summary

The Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care is a competence-based qualification specifically designed for learners who work in health and social care in adult settings and want to develop skills and knowledge in order to demonstrate their competence in their role. This qualification is for learners who are at least 19 years old. There are no formal entry requirements for learners, but centres must ensure that learners have the skills, potential and opportunity to gain the qualification successfully.
It is desirable that you are working in a role where you have some level of responsibility for or supervision of others, or for leading on aspects of work within your work setting, or that you work in an unsupervised capacity.
This course is suitable for those who wish to develop onwards from Level 3 but are not yet quite ready to undertake the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Duration and structure
The diploma is a flexible qualification to suit different settings in the care sector. There is a strong emphasis on practical skills, as well as the underpinning theories which support your working practices. The qualification will take around 18 months to complete.
Candidates are required to complete their training within the workplace, where an assessor will visit them and support their progress through on-site assessment.

Entry criteria
You will need to be employed in the care sector and working in excess of 16 hours per week. You must be working in an unsupervised capacity with responsibilities. You will have undergone a workplace induction and it is desirable that you have at least 12 months' experience within your job role and a good level of English and Maths.

Why study with us?
• We focus on you
• We are flexible and reliable
• Competent assessors
• Resources are provided
• Bespoke packages to meet individual employers' requirements

What will I study?
• Students must complete a range of mandatory units covering:
• Work in Partnership in health and social care
• Advanced Communication
• Equality and diversity in health and social care
• Safeguarding and protection
• Personal development
• Person-centred assessment and personalisation
• Health and safety
• Support planning to promote positive outcomes
• Professional practice
• Use of records and reports

The wide range of optional units will allow you to cover topics such as:
• Independent advocacy and awareness of the Mental Capacity Act
• Administration of medication to individuals with dementia
• Communication with individuals with dementia
• Sharing knowledge and good practice
• Monitoring in social care
• Promoting assistive technology
• Appraising staff performance
• Understanding how to manage a team
• Understanding professional supervision in practice

All learners will complete the mandatory units and then a selection of optional units, allowing them to tailor their learning and acquire specific knowledge and skills appropriate to the setting where they work and to their job role.

How will I be assessed?
Your course is fully delivered within your real work environment by a competent assessor on a one-to-one basis. Visits are arranged to be flexible to suit the needs of the learner. You will build a portfolio of evidence; this will be achieved through a variety of methods:
• Direct observation of your practice
• Personal reflections on practice
• Written tasks
• Research projects
• Written questions
• Professional discussion
• Study packs and testimonials

You will also develop your research skills, evaluate systems and reflect upon your work practices. In the role of a senior support worker in the health and social care field, as well as competence, you will develop skills including:
• Planning and implementing activities
• Observing adults
• Maintaining records
• Communicating with key people
• Implementing health and safety
• Abiding by government legislation and requirements

How will I learn?
Work-based learning is delivered through a partnership between learner, employers and SGS College. Allowing learners, the opportunity to study within the workplace enables learners to apply professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to course outcomes.
You will be provided with log in details to our Smart Assessor portal and assigned an assessor who will visit you within the work place throughout the year.

What could this qualification lead to?
This qualification will enable learners to confirm their occupational competence in a range of roles such as community care support officers, social care, social services officer, social care assistant or physiotherapy assistant.

This qualification can utilise the Advanced Learner Loan to help pay your fees.
For more information on these and other financial support options including payment plans, please visit our Money Management Service area or email [email protected]. 

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
For more information about this course please email [email protected] or [email protected]

Entry Requirements

A good level of maths and english is required alongside a passion for the subject.

Progression routes

Additional Information

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
For more information about this course please email [email protected].

COURSE FEES
Please be aware that some courses have fees that are payable on enrolment. More information on if this course has a fee can be found in the Availability section below.  

If you require financial support including payment plans, bursaries and advanced learner loans please visit the Money Management Service section of the website.

For more information on fees please view our Fees, Charges and Refunds Policy and our Applications, Admissions and Enrolment Policy and Procedures.

ONLINE ENROLMENT
This course offers simpler and safer online enrolment requests, which means in a matter of minutes you can submit an enrolment request to us. However please be aware that upon submitting your enrolment form you are not guaranteed to be accepted. A number of our courses require assessments, qualification checks or simply a conversation with you before we can confirm your enrolment.

Within 24 hours of enrolment submission you will receive an automated email notification with information on what happens next. Please add [email protected] to your safe sender list. Most email providers allow you to do this within settings/options. For full instructions simply use your chosen search engine to find instructions on how to make emails as safe.