Care qualifications and funding
Put the right qualification behind the right person.
We help care providers match staff to recognised qualification pathways, understand potential funding routes and keep enrolment, assessment and progress clear.
- Role and suitability review
- Funding eligibility check
- Employer progress updates
We start with the employee's role, experience, aspirations and workplace evidence.
Funding matters, but it should support a suitable qualification—not determine it.
Competence-based qualifications require learning, evidence, assessment and employer support.
Start with the workforce outcome
A qualification should solve the right development need.
We organise routes around what the employee and service need next, then confirm the most appropriate regulated qualification or supporting programme.
Build confident, consistent practice
For newer or developing care staff who need a recognised baseline.
- Core knowledge and values
- Observed workplace practice
- Recognition of developing competence
Prepare experienced staff for more
For established carers taking greater responsibility or progressing towards senior work.
- Deeper professional knowledge
- Evidence from real care practice
- Progression-focused optional learning
Develop knowledge around the people you support
For teams or individuals who need deeper understanding in a relevant area of care.
- Mental health, autism and dementia
- Learning disabilities and behaviour
- Communication, counselling and digital confidence
Core adult care qualifications
Two important points on the care progression pathway.
These qualifications require more than online knowledge checks. Suitability, workplace access and the opportunity to generate valid evidence must be confirmed.
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate
For new and developing care staff
A regulated qualification designed to establish a recognised baseline for adult social care. It is based on the same 16 standards as the Care Certificate while deepening and consolidating knowledge and understanding.
- Requires observational assessment in the workplace
- Typically around 6–8 months for a new learner
- Experienced workers may complete more quickly
- Employer cooperation is essential for evidence and assessment
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
For experienced and progressing care staff
The updated NCFE adult care diploma launched in April 2026. It supports the development and recognition of occupational competence for people working with greater autonomy and responsibility in adult care.
- Learning and assessment linked to the employee's real role
- Workplace evidence and assessor access are required
- Optional content must fit the learner's responsibilities
- Current route replacing the earlier NCFE Level 3 diploma
Specialist and supporting pathways
Develop depth where the service needs it.
Shorter awards and certificates can help staff develop relevant knowledge, while English, maths, ESOL and digital skills can remove practical barriers to confident workplace performance.
The exact qualification title, level and reference number will be confirmed before enrolment. Some subjects are knowledge-only; others require workplace evidence or a particular occupational role.
- Understanding mental health
- Understanding autism
- Dementia knowledge and care
- Learning disabilities
- Behaviour that challenges
- Counselling and communication skills
- English, maths and ESOL
- Digital skills for care
Understanding funding
Funding can help. It is never automatic.
We help employers and learners understand the likely route, but eligibility and availability must be confirmed before anyone relies on public funding.
Employer reimbursement route
Learning and Development Support Scheme
Eligible adult social care employers in England may claim reimbursement for eligible qualifications. Employers pay first, retain the required evidence and submit their own claim through the scheme.
- Maintain an up-to-date ASC-WDS account and confirm employer eligibility.
- Pay for an eligible qualification from an eligible awarding organisation.
- Submit the 60% start claim and 40% completion claim within the required windows.
Reimbursement is not guaranteed. The funding pot is limited, claims are time-sensitive, and payment cannot exceed legitimate evidenced spend. LDSS does not fund a qualification undertaken as part of an apprenticeship.
Funding information reviewed August 2026
The Eagles support package
Support around the qualification matters.
A recognised certificate is the outcome. The real service is the structure that helps the right learner enrol, stay engaged, produce valid evidence and progress.
Role and suitability review
Check the qualification matches the employee's work and development goal.
Funding and eligibility check
Identify the likely route and explain what still needs employer confirmation.
Named tutor or assessor
Give the learner a clear point of contact throughout the programme.
Planned assessment support
Set expectations for learning, evidence, observation and review.
Regular learner check-ins
Monitor momentum, remove avoidable barriers and agree useful next steps.
Employer progress updates
Provide proportionate reporting while protecting learner confidentiality.
A shared commitment
Good qualification delivery needs both sides.
What the employer provides
- Accurate role and employment information
- A suitable workplace for required evidence and observation
- Reasonable access for the assessor
- Time and encouragement for the employee to learn
- A manager or workplace contact who responds promptly
- Honest notification if the employee's role or employment changes
What Eagles Consultancy provides
- A clearly explained and appropriate qualification route
- Transparent delivery, assessment and funding information
- Planned tutor and assessor support
- Fair assessment and internal quality assurance
- Early communication where progress is at risk
- Completion records and progression recommendations
From review to achievement
A clearer route for managers and learners.
Map the workforce
Identify roles, experience, qualification gaps, aspirations and service priorities.
Confirm the route
Check suitability, funding, workplace evidence and programme availability.
Learn and demonstrate
The learner completes planned learning, evidence, assessment and observation.
Review and progress
Managers receive completion information and recommendations for the next stage.
Need a workforce-wide approach?
Build qualifications into a 12-month development plan.
The Care Workforce Partnership includes qualification reviews, rolling referral support and employer progress reporting alongside planned team training. Qualification tuition and awarding fees remain funded or invoiced separately.
Questions before referral
Clear answers about qualifications and funding.
Is funding guaranteed?
No. Every route has eligibility conditions and available budgets can change. LDSS is a capped reimbursement scheme with limited funds; Adult Skills Fund eligibility depends on the learner, qualification and current rules.
Does the employer have to pay first under LDSS?
Yes. The employer pays for the eligible qualification, keeps acceptable proof of payment and submits the claim. Reimbursement cannot exceed the lower of legitimate evidenced spend or the published maximum.
Is the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate the same as the Care Certificate?
No. The Level 2 qualification is based on the same 16 Care Certificate standards but is an Ofqual-regulated qualification that deepens and consolidates learning and requires observational assessment.
Does a learner need to be employed in care?
Competence-based adult care qualifications normally require the learner to be working in a suitable role with access to real workplace evidence and observation. Knowledge-only qualifications may have different requirements.
How long will a qualification take?
Skills for Care indicates around 6–8 months for a new learner completing the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, although experienced workers may complete sooner. Other qualifications vary according to size, prior learning, workplace evidence, assessment and learner engagement.
Are qualification costs included in the Care Workforce Partnership?
No. The partnership includes workforce planning, qualification reviews, referral support and progress reporting. Tuition, assessment and awarding-organisation fees are funded or invoiced separately.
Can several employees start together?
Potentially. We first check each employee's role, suitability and funding position. A phased cohort can be more manageable where workplace observations, release time or manager capacity are limited.
Can Eagles guarantee that an employee will achieve?
No responsible provider can guarantee achievement. We provide structured teaching, assessment and support, but the learner must participate, produce valid evidence and meet every qualification requirement.
Request a qualification review
Start with your people, roles and progression priorities.
We will help you identify suitable pathways, explain the evidence required and establish which funding or payment route should be checked next.