1. OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME

The qualification has been created to develop and reward the health and social care workers of today and the future, and to continue to bring recognition and professionalism to the health and social care sector.

We hope that centres and learners take the opportunity to learn a great deal from this programme that will provide relevant new skills and qualities.

It is envisaged that this programme will encourage both academic and professional development so that your learners move forward to realise not just their own potential but also that of organisations across a broad range of sectors.

The Diploma is accredited at Level 3 with a total equivalence of 60 credits. It is envisaged that learners completing the Level 3 Diploma will progress to the QUALIFI Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care.

2. RATIONALE FOR THE DIPLOMA

The rationale of the programme is to provide a career path for learners who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of care within the health and social care sector. The outcome of the Diploma, which is a recognised UK Qualification, is for learners to develop the skills required by organisations globally.

All QUALIFI programmes create learning that advances the thought leadership of organisations, offering conceptual and practical insights that are applicable in the companies of today and tomorrow.

Furthermore, we look to develop the team leaders, managers and leaders of the future through the creation and delivery of learning appropriate for industry.

The qualification will:

prepare learners for employment; and
support a range of roles in the workplace.

The qualification provides a specialist work-related programme of study that provides breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, along with practical skills required in the health and social care sector. It also allows specialist development through the optional units.

The qualification will help to prepare care professionals with a greater understanding of the health and social care sector. The qualification provides a generic core of mandatory units that apply to all health and social care contexts; and allows learners to select specialisms in the Optional units.

The qualification is suitable for part-time learners in the workplace but equally appropriate for full-time learners who can also participate in formal work placements or part-time employment. Learners can progress into or within employment in the health and social care sector, either directly on achievement of the awards or following further study to QUALIFI Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care degree level.

3. AIMS OF THE DIPLOMA

The programme provides the opportunity for individuals to forge a career in health and social care by seeking a greater knowledge and understanding of the sector, and to support the individual’s development into senior positions. The course aims for the following:

To equip individuals with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for success in employment in the health and social care sector
To enable progression to the first year of a degree or related professional qualification
To provide specialist study relevant to individual vocations and environments in which learners are currently working, or to which learners are aiming to work, within the health and/or social care sector
To develop learners’ ability to contribute positively to good practice in the health and social care environment through effective use and combination of the knowledge and skills gained in the qualifications
To develop skills and techniques, personal qualities and attributes essential for successful performance in working life and thereby enabling learners to make an immediate contribution to employment.

4. LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE DIPLOMA

Learners studying for the Diploma in Health and Social Care will be expected to develop the following skills during the programme of study:

The ability to read and use appropriate literature with a full and critical understanding the ability to think independently and solve problems
Apply subject knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems
Recognise the moral and ethical issues of health and social care practice and research; appreciating the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct
An appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of health and social care service provision
Capacity to give a clear and accurate account of a subject, in a mature way and engage in debate and dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists
Transferable skills and knowledge that will enable individuals to meet changing
To motivate individuals to progress to further professional development through future study or as part of their chosen career.

5. ENTRY CRITERIA

The qualifications have been designed to be accessible without artificial barriers that restrict access and progression. Entry to the qualification will be through centre interview and learners will be expected to hold the following:

Qualifications at Level 2 and/or;
work experience in the health and social care sector and demonstrate ambition with clear career goals;
a Level 3 qualification in another discipline and want to develop their careers in health and social care.

In certain circumstances, learners with considerable experience but no formal qualifications may be considered, subject to interview and being able to demonstrate their ability to cope with the demands of the programme.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 5 (or equivalent) is required. International Qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education post-graduate programmes. The applicants are normally required to produce two supporting references, at least one of which should preferably be academic.

6. PROGRAMME SUMMARY

Unit Reference	Mandatory Units	Level	TQT	Credits
L3HSC01	An Introduction to Health and Social Care	3	100	10
L3HSC02	Communication for Health and Social Care	3	100	10
L3HSC03	Promoting Health in the Population	3	100	10
L3HSC04	Person Centred Care	3	100	10
Unit Reference	Optional Units	Level	TQT	Credits
L3HSC05	Understanding Diabetes Care	3	100	10
L3HSC07	Understanding Dementia Care	3	100	10