NCFE CACHE Health & Social Care Diploma Level 3 (QCF)

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This qualification is an ideal course for those looking to embark on a rewarding career in the health and social care industry. This is an ideal course if you are looking for, or currently working in, care roles in residential settings, home care, and day services. Available in England only.

This is a full RQF qualification and replaces all previous versions of the now obsolete NVQ and QCF Level 3 Adult Care, and Health & Social Care diplomas.

NCFE CACHE Health & Social Care Diploma Level 3 (QCF)

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About This Course

This NCFE CACHE Health & Social Care Diploma Level 3 (QCF) has been replaced by the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (610/0498/4). As such, learners enrolled to the qualification will be moved to the latest version, the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (610/0498/4).

The NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is one of our most popular social care qualifications.

This occupational qualification, which is now provided under the new title “NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care”, is suitable for learners working in a wide range of roles in a health and social care setting, and can be used towards accessing nursing courses in universities.

The programme provides a framework to assess the learner’s competency relating to the health and social care sector. It has been designed to support the carer’s role in the workplace, and provides a pathway to higher level qualifications.

The course is particularly popular for learners currently working as senior care assistants and support workers in residential settings as well as domiciliary/day services.

The content of this level 3 diploma is regularly updated to reflect the latest Acts of Parliament, government guidelines and Codes of Practice, including:

  • Care Act (2014) and subsequent amendments
  • Fundamental Standards 2015
  • Duty of Candour
  • New principles of independent advocacy
  • Revised Audit Processes, following the publication of the Caldicott Report (2015)
  • The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
  • Skills for Care’s updated CPD guide
  • Updates to the requirements for Care and Support Plans
  • Updates to definitions of the balance between risk assessment, risk-taking and rights and responsibilities

The programme contains several different units of assessment,  all of which sit within the ‘Regulated Qualification Framework’ (RQF).

This qualification requires a workplace assessor element where you will demonstrate your practical experience.

Please note that this course can only be delivered to students in England only.

You will need to complete an England based work placement of at least 50 hours and take part in workplace observations in order to complete this course.

Course Units

Qualification Title: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
Qualification Number: 610/0498/4
Total Credits: 58

Unit 1 – Promote communication in care settings (A/650/1366)

  • Understand the principles of effective communication in a care setting.
  • Know how to meet the communication needs of individuals.
  • Be able to communicate effectively with individuals and others.

Unit 2 – Handling information in adult care (D/650/1367)

  • Understand the legislation and codes of practice relating to the recording, storing, and sharing of information.
  • Know how to record, store, and share information securely and effectively.
  • Understand the principles of confidentiality and when to disclose information.

Unit 3 – Promote own continuous personal and professional development (F/650/1368)

  • Understand the importance of continuous personal and professional development (CPD).
  • Be able to assess own performance and identify areas for development.
  • Be able to plan and carry out development activities.

Unit 4 – Person-centred practice, choice and independence (H/650/1369)

  • Understand the principles and practice of person-centred care.
  • Be able to promote choice and independence for individuals.
  • Understand the importance of respecting an individual’s identity, preferences, and needs.

Unit 5 – Understand how to promote personal wellbeing (L/650/1370)

  • Understand the components of personal wellbeing.
  • Know how to promote an individual’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.
  • Understand the impact of lifestyle choices on wellbeing.

Unit 6 – Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights in care settings (M/650/1371)

  • Understand the importance of equality, diversity, inclusion, and human rights.
  • Know how to promote individuals’ rights.
  • Be able to work in an inclusive way.

Unit 7 – Promote health and safety in care settings (R/650/1372)

  • Understand own responsibilities and the responsibilities of others relating to health and safety.
  • Know how to recognise and report hazards and risks.
  • Be able to follow procedures for promoting health and safety.

Unit 8 – Support the health and wellbeing of individuals in a care setting (T/650/1373)

  • Understand the factors that can impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals.
  • Be able to support individuals to maintain their health.
  • Know how to respond to ill health.

Unit 9 – Scope and responsibilities of an adult care worker (Y/650/1374)

  • Understand the scope of own role and responsibilities.
  • Know the limits of own ability and when to seek support or advice.
  • Understand the importance of working within agreed ways of working.

Unit 10 – Understand duty of care (A/650/1375)

  • Understand the meaning of ‘duty of care’ and its relevance to adult care work.
  • Know how to respond to concerns about an individual’s safety or wellbeing.
  • Understand how to manage risks associated with duty of care.

Unit 11 – Understand how to safeguard individuals (D/650/1376)

  • Understand the principles of safeguarding and protection in adult care.
  • Know how to recognise signs of abuse or neglect.
  • Be able to respond to suspected or disclosed abuse or neglect.

Unit 12 – Understand mental capacity and restrictive practices (F/650/1377)

  • Understand the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA).
  • Know how to support individuals who lack mental capacity to make specific decisions.
  • Understand the term ‘restrictive practice’ and how it should be avoided or minimised.

Unit 13 – Infection prevention and control in a care setting (H/650/1378)

  • Understand the importance of infection prevention and control.
  • Know how to prevent the spread of infection.
  • Be able to follow procedures for hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe disposal of waste.

Unit 14 – Promote nutrition and hydration in adult care settings (D/650/1682)

  • Understand the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration.
  • Know how to support individuals to meet their nutritional and hydration needs.
  • Understand the risks associated with poor nutrition and hydration.

Unit 15 – Understand personalisation in adult care (J/650/1379)

  • Understand the concept and principles of personalisation.
  • Know how personalisation can be achieved through person-centred approaches.
  • Understand the role of the care worker in promoting personalisation.

Unit 16 – Facilitate assessment, planning, implementation and review using person-centred and strengths-based approaches (F/650/1683)

  • Understand the purpose and process of assessment in care.
  • Be able to contribute to person-centred and strengths-based care planning.
  • Understand the importance of reviewing and adapting care plans.

Unit 17 – Move and position individuals in accordance with their care plan (T/615/7229)

  • Understand the principles of safe moving and positioning.
  • Know how to use equipment safely when moving and positioning individuals.
  • Be able to move and position individuals in line with their care plan.

Unit 18 – Support individuals to access housing and accommodation services (H/615/7243)

  • Understand the range of housing and accommodation options available.
  • Know how to support individuals to access appropriate housing and related services.
  • Understand the impact of housing on health and wellbeing.

Unit 19 – Cleaning, decontamination and waste management (R/615/7156)

  • Understand the importance of cleaning and decontamination in preventing infection.
  • Know how to carry out cleaning and decontamination procedures safely.
  • Understand procedures for the safe handling and disposal of waste.

Assessment

Your course is assessed through a series of assignments designed to test your knowledge of the materials. You’ll access your learning materials and submit your work online via our learner management system. Your expert tutor will mark your work and guide you throughout the programme.

A mandatory work placement of at least 50 hours (which must be in England only) is required to complete the necessary witness testimonies and workplace assessment.

The course contains practical elements that will need to be witnessed in your place of work by a qualified member of staff (usually your supervisor). There is no requirement for an external assessor to visit your place of work.

Your nominated witness will complete an induction with our QA team to cover the requirements of the course assessments (and sign a document to evidence this).

Required Knowledge

Please note that to complete the workplace element of this course, learners must be in England.

No prior knowledge or skills in this subject area is needed in order to enrol onto this course, making it ideal for those just starting out in this career field.

Awarding Body

Once you successfully complete the course, you will obtain a certification in Working in the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (RQF) Level 3. You will receive a certificate as recognition of your achievement.

NCFE is an educational charity as well as a leading provider of vocational and technical courses. With over 170 years of experience in providing an exceptional educational experience, NCFE collaborates with industry experts to develop smarter solutions to the most pressing learning needs. They are one of the largest technical and vocational awarding bodies in the United Kingdom, with thousands of people receiving qualifications each year. CACHE (The Council for Awards in Care, Health, and Education) joined NCFE in 2015.

After enrolling in your NCFE CACHE course, you will have two years of access to the NCFE CACHE Alumni membership. NCFE CACHE Alumni is a professional membership network for those working in the care, health, and education industries, offering valuable resources and advice for those studying for/with an NCFE CACHE qualification.

Please be aware that this course is only available to students in England.

Support

From the guidance of your personal tutor, whose industry experience will help to support and mentor your studies, to our comprehensive study guide and course materials; from day one we will go above and beyond to help you succeed in your studies. 12 months of tutor support are included with this course, however it’s possible to complete this course within 6 months or less.

You too can take advantage of the extensive knowledge base of your personal tutor and use their experiences to get all of your questions answered. Similarly, our student support team are readily available to lend you their advice and guidance as they help you to decipher your course materials and answer your questions.

Only one click away, you can trust that help will be there when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a question that our team are often asked, there are many reasons but here are the main reasons to choose Association of Learning:

  • No hidden charges, the price you see includes everything, from tutoring to certification.
  • Our average tutor marking time is 3 working days (most providers are 10+).
  • Our customers have rated us ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.
  • Our courses are up to date. Many providers create course content and fail to keep it up to date.
  • We are open later than any other home learning provider.
  • As many submissions as you need to complete, many providers cap how many times you can submit work.
  • All courses are fully endorsed by external awarding organisations.
  • 14 day money back guarantee or course switch.

If you need any more reasons to choose Association of Learning, contact our team!


You have 12 months to complete your course (longer for A Levels and course packages). It’s possible to get your qualification in less time however, depending on the course.


This is a government-regulated qualification, with certification provided by an Ofqual-regulated awarding body.


There are two payment options, pay in full for your course or monthly. Our monthly payment option allows you to spread the cost of your course over a number of months.

If you choose to pay using a payment plan, to apply you must be able to answer yes to the following:

  • Your billing address is based in the UK
  • You have a UK based bank account
  • Bill payer must be 18 or above.

You will need to complete the work placement element of the course to gain the qualification (confirmation or proof of a work placement is not needed in order to enrol on this course).


No, this course is assignment based, which means you will not have to complete any exams. If your assignment doesn’t pass first time, you can retry as many times as you need within your 12 months support period.


Unlike other providers, Association of Learning use a fast-track system to get your certificate to you within six weeks (our average is two weeks).

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