Care qualifications & funding
Put the right qualification behind the right person.
Help your staff progress through recognised adult care qualifications and specialist learning. We review their roles, explain assessment requirements and help you understand possible funding or payment routes.
Matched to the role Start with the employee’s experience and intended progression.
Supported through learning Planned tutor or assessor support and regular check-ins.
Clear for managers Agreed assessment arrangements and appropriate progress updates.
Core adult care qualifications
Build a foundation. Support progression.
LEVEL 2 · 610/4131/2
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate
For new and developing adult care staff who need to build knowledge and demonstrate practice in their workplace.
Learning and assessment requirements
This regulated qualification includes knowledge and workplace assessment. Learners need a suitable adult care role, access to evidence and employer cooperation for observation.
Prior experience and learning are reviewed before we agree the programme and expected timescale. This is a regulated qualification, distinct from the employer-led Care Certificate.
LEVEL 3 · 610/7192/4
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
For experienced care staff developing greater autonomy, responsibility and occupational competence.
Learning and assessment requirements
Learning and assessment are linked to the employee’s real adult care role. Workplace evidence and assessor access are required, and optional learning must fit their responsibilities.
We confirm suitability, assessment arrangements, expected duration and the full fee before enrolment.
Delivery availability is confirmed after checking learner suitability, awarding-organisation approval, registration status and assessor capacity. Request a review for current fees and cohort options.
Specialist qualifications and supporting skills
Potential routes include mental health, autism, dementia, learning disabilities, behaviour that challenges, counselling and communication. English, maths, ESOL and digital learning can support staff where these skills are needed.
We confirm each qualification’s exact title, level, availability and assessment requirements before enrolment. Knowledge-only courses and workplace-assessed qualifications have different entry requirements.
Funding and payment
Understand the cost before you commit.
There are three possible routes: employer reimbursement, eligible adult learner funding or employer-funded study. We help you identify which route to check; funded places and reimbursement are not guaranteed.
LDSS: employer reimbursement in England
The Learning and Development Support Scheme allows eligible adult social care employers in England to claim towards eligible learning. Employers pay first, retain the required evidence and submit their claim.
The exact qualification and awarding organisation must meet the current scheme criteria. Reimbursement is limited to eligible evidenced spend and the published cap. Check employer requirements, claim deadlines and availability before booking.
Adult learner funding: eligibility checked individually
Some qualifications may have an adult learner funding route. Availability depends on our funded provision and the relevant learner, qualification and geographical criteria.
Tell us where the employee lives, their age, employment circumstances and prior qualifications so we can advise what needs to be checked. We confirm eligibility and an available place before enrolment.
Employer-funded study: a clearly scoped quotation
Where public funding is unavailable or unsuitable, we provide an employer quotation covering the agreed teaching, assessment and awarding-organisation costs.
We confirm fees, delivery, learner support and any additional costs before you commit. If several staff want to start, we review each person’s suitability and discuss a manageable cohort plan.
Support from enrolment to progression.
Your learner has a named tutor or assessor, planned learning and assessment, regular check-ins and clear next steps. Managers receive appropriate progress updates while learner confidentiality is protected.
What will the employer need to provide?
- Accurate role and employment information.
- A suitable workplace for evidence and observation where required.
- Reasonable assessor access and a responsive workplace contact.
- Time and encouragement for the employee to learn.
- Updates if the employee’s role or employment changes.
Learners must participate, produce valid evidence and meet the qualification requirements. Achievement cannot be guaranteed.
Three steps to the right route.
- Review your staff Share roles, experience, qualification gaps and progression priorities.
- Confirm the programme Agree suitability, assessment, fees and any available funding before enrolment.
- Learn, assess and progress Staff follow their learning plan with tutor or assessor support and agreed employer updates.
A few useful answers
Does the learner need to work in care?
Workplace-assessed adult care qualifications require a suitable role and opportunities for real evidence and observation. Knowledge-only qualifications may have different requirements. We check this before recommending a route.
How long will the qualification take?
Timescales depend on the qualification, prior learning, workplace evidence, assessment access and learner engagement. We agree an expected programme duration after the suitability review.
Are qualification fees included in the Workforce Partnership?
The partnership includes workforce planning, qualification reviews, referral support and progress reporting. Qualification tuition, assessment and awarding fees are funded or invoiced separately.
Who is ready for their next step?
Tell us about your staff’s roles and development priorities. We’ll help identify suitable qualifications and explain the funding or payment route to check.