Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care RQF

Our level 3 Diploma in Adult Care aims to equip learners with a better understanding of this subject area. The programme strives to assess the development of the student’s knowledge and skills related to the health and social care sector.

Following a Skills for Care update in Autumn 2025, this version includes all the newest and up to date literature for the healthcare sector. The Level 3 Adult Care Diploma replaces the previous Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care QCF and NVQ Level 3.

This new diploma aims to develop the knowledge, skills and competence of learners working in a wide range of roles in a health and social care setting. The purpose of the qualification is to support the carer’s role in the workplace and to enable them to progress to higher level qualifications.

Popular job roles include: Senior Care Assistants, Support Workers, and Key Workers in residential settings, as well as domiciliary services and day services.

The underpinning knowledge sections of the programme of study have been fully updated to include 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 level 3 adult care diploma contains a number of different units of assessment which sit within the RQF (Regulated Qualification Framework). When you complete a unit successfully, you will gain a certain number of credits.

This qualification is made up of learning outcomes, and within these outcomes, you will need to have confirmed your knowledge and demonstrate practical experience.

Please Note: To complete this course, you will need to undertake a England (mainland) based work placement of at least 50 hours, either paid or voluntary.

As part of this work placement you must first ensure that a member of staff with occupational competence is able to provide supervision, prepare and sign the witness testimonies, to prove you have achieved the work based learning outcomes of this course. In addition you will need to be able to partake in in-person observations by an NCC Assessor.

This learning programme has been developed to enable those working, or hoping to work, in the health and social care sector to acquire and develop a level of understanding and skills that will help them to do this effectively.

If you are looking for a knowledge-based alternative, the Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma RQF offers a flexible route with no placement required.