Adult Care

Occupational Profile

Adult Care Workers are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives which is at the heart of person-centred care.

To work in care is to make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. Adult Care Workers need to have the right values and behaviours developing competences and skills to provide high quality compassionate care and support. 

Job roles are varied and determined by and relevant to the type of the service being provided and the person supported. Adult Care Workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings.

Personal assistants do the same job as an Adult Care Worker and work directly for one individual usually within their own home. Working with people, feeling passionate about supporting and enabling them to live a more independent and fulfilling life is a rewarding and worthwhile job that provides excellent career opportunities.

These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Adult Care Workers carrying out their roles

· Care – is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference to their lives

· Compassion – is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity and respect

· Courage – is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk

· Communication – good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working

· Competence – is applying knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care and support

· Commitment – to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person-centred

Entry Requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. Most candidates will have Level 2 Maths and English, ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.

Undertake the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the result prior to starting.

Delivery model and duration

• Between 12-18 months
• Delivery in the workplace or online (remote)
• Additional workshops for English and Maths if needed
• 20% Off-the-job training
• Ongoing support and assessments to capture knowledge, skills, and behaviours in preparation for the End-point Assessment

End Point Assessment – EPA

• Situational Judgement Test
• Professional Discussion 

Qualification Outcomes

Level 2 Diploma in Care.

Functional skills level 1: English and Mathematics

Care Certificate

End-point Assessment (EPA) – Apprenticeship Certificate

Progression

This apprenticeship provides an ideal entry into the occupation and supports progression within the sector. Successful completion of the level 2 could lead to an advanced apprenticeship in Health and Social Care.

Job Roles

• Care Assistant
• Care Worker
• Support Worker
• Personal Assistant
• Relief Team Worker
• Support Worker – Supported Living
• Key Worker in Residential Settings
• Key Worker in Domiciliary Services
• Key Worker in Day Services
• Home Care Support Worker
• Substance Misuse Worker
• Learning Disability Support Worker
• Mental Health Support Worker
• Mental Health Outreach Worker
• Re-enablement Worker

Occupational Profile

Lead Adult Care Workers are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives. In addition, Lead Adult Care Workers have responsibility for providing supervision, frontline leadership, guidance and direction for others, or working autonomously, exercising judgement and accountability.

As a Lead Adult Care Worker you will make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. You will be expected to exercise judgement and take appropriate action to support individuals to maintain their independence, dignity and control. By providing leadership, guidance and direction at the frontline of care delivery you will be instrumental in improving the health and wellbeing of those receiving care and support. Lead Adult Care Workers will in some circumstances have delegated responsibility for the standard of care provided and may supervise the work of other care workers. This exercising of autonomy and accountability means leading and supporting others to comply with expected standards and behaviours.

Lead Adult Care Workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres or some clinical healthcare settings. As well as covering Lead Adult Care Workers this standard also covers Lead Personal Assistants who can work at this senior level, but they may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services, usually within their own home.

These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Lead Adult Care Workers carrying out their roles

· Care – is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference to their lives

· Compassion – is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity and respect

· Courage – is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk

· Communication – good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working

· Competence – is applying knowledge and skills to provide high quality care and support

· Commitment – to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person centred

Entry Requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. Most candidates will have Level 2 Maths and English, ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.

Undertake the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the result prior to starting.

Delivery model and duration

• Between 12-18 months
• Delivery in the workplace or online (remote)
• Additional workshops for English and Maths if needed
• 20% Off-the-job training
• Ongoing support and assessments to capture knowledge, skills, and behaviours in preparation for the End-point Assessment

End Point Assessment – EPA

• Situational Judgement Test 
• Professional Discussion

Qualification Outcomes

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Care Certificate 

Functional Skills Level 2: English and Mathematics – if needed

End-point Assessment (EPA) – Apprenticeship Certificate

Progression

Learners may choose to progress onto the Level 4 or 5 apprenticeship or even onto a Leadership & Management qualification in Adult Care. Successful completion of the level 3 could lead to a higher apprenticeship or degree in Health and Social care or employment within the sector.

Job Roles

• Care Officer
• Care Supervisor
• Senior Care Worker
• Supervising Care Worker
• Senior Support Worker
• Relief Team Leader
• Social Work Assistant
• Social Services Officer
• Outreach Development Worker
• Community Support Worker
• Community Outreach Worker
• Community Development Worker
• Family Support Worker 
• Personal Assistant

Occupational Profile

The Leader in Adult Care will guide and inspire teams to make positive differences in someone’s life when they are 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 values-based culture at a service or unit level. They may be responsible for business development, financial control, organisational resilience and continuity as well as for managing risk and leading on organisational change.

A Leader in Adult Care has responsibility for managing community or residential based services. This role has a large element of leadership, whether with other care workers and networks or in leading the service itself. A successful apprentice will have met all the requirements. They have a responsibility to ensure the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led. They will be responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance of the care given and the values and training of staff with established standards and regulations.

These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Leaders in Adult Care carrying out their roles:

· Care – is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference in their lives

· Compassion – is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity, empathy and respect

· Courage – is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk

· Communication – good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working

· Competence – is applying knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care and support

· Commitment – to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person-centred

Leaders in Adult Care may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, community day centres, a person’s own home 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.

Entry Requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. Most candidates will have Level 2 maths and English, ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.

Undertake the Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the results to the employer.

Delivery model and duration

• Between 18-24 months
• Delivery in the workplace or online (remote)
• Additional workshops for English and maths if needed
• 20% Off-the-job training
• Ongoing support and assessments to capture knowledge, skills, and behaviours in preparation for the End-point Assessment

End Point Assessment – EPA

• Observation of Leadership
• Professional discussion 

Qualification Outcomes

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care

Functional Skills Level 2: English and Mathematics – if needed

End-point Assessment (EPA) – Apprenticeship Certificate

Progression

Learners can progress to a degree in a related discipline.

Job Roles

• Registered Assistant
• Registered Deputy 
• Unit Manager
• Service Manager
• Personal Assistant