About the course

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, are 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.

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.