Adult Care (England) (3096)

Last Updated: 29 May 2024

This suite of qualifications has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the Adult Social Care workforce in England. The qualifications are based on the Skills for Care Qualification Specifications.

The suite consists of the following qualifications:

  • 3096-02 Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate (NEW)
  • 3096-31/91 Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England). Full qualification and Unit route
  • 3096-51 Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England)

Paving a pathway to progression

These qualifications enhance our existing and broader portfolio for the sector - from our Level 2 qualifications and apprenticeships, right the way through to Leadership and Management. 

If you need additional information about Level 2 and Level 4, please refer to the following:   

  • 3095-21 Level 2 Diploma in Care
  • 4222-34 Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care
They are a key element in providing a learning and career pathway for Adult Care workers.

Take a look at our pathways to progression in care.

The NEW 3096-02 Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is a competence based qualification that reflects the 15 topic areas of the revised Care Certificate and include an awareness of learning disability and autism consistent with learning outcomes from the Core Capabilities Frameworks for supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people. It is expected that all learners who work for regulated service providers will have attended training that meets the standards in the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice prior to or alongside completing the new qualification.

Centre Approval

Existing centres will need to apply for qualification approval. This is because we have introduced a slightly different assessment approach to that applied for other qualifications in the suite

Centres that do not currently offer the above listed qualifications in Adult Care will need to apply for Qualification approval.

Organisations who are not currently a City & Guilds centre but that would like to offer the qualification will need to apply for both centre and qualification approval.

Our recent launch events have been very well attended, but just in case you missed them, please watch the event recording HERE

We are also facilitating a number of follow-on events:

The 3095-21 Level 2 Diploma in Adult Care is a competence based qualification which has been designed to meet the Skills for Care qualification criteria. City & Guilds conducted additional consultation with employers and assessment centres during the development of the qualification. 

The qualification covers the knowledge and skills required to work in adult care worker roles, such as, Adult Care Worker, Healthcare Assistant, Support Worker and Personal Assistant in a range of settings, supporting individuals with different needs. The qualification contains units which are competence based and knowledge base.

The 3096-31 Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England) is a competence based qualification which has been designed to meet the Skills for Care qualification criteria. City & Guilds conducted additional consultation with employers and assessment centres during the development of the qualification. 

The qualification covers the knowledge and skills required to work in lead adult care worker roles, such as, support worker, home care workers and residential care worker in a range of settings, supporting individuals with different needs. The qualification contains units which are competence based and knowledge base.

The 3096-51 Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England) is a competence-based qualification which has been designed to meet the Skills for Care qualification criteria. City & Guilds conducted additional consultation with employers and assessment centres during the development of the qualification. 

The qualification covers the knowledge and skills required to work as a leader and manager of an adult care service, such as domiciliary/home care or residential care for adults with a range of care and support needs. The main purpose of the role supported by this qualification is to lead and manage a service, including having responsibilities for staff or staff teams who deliver the service. The qualification contains units which are competence based and knowledge base.

Available to deliver in the following:
  • England

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

The aim of the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England) is to provide learners, who have experience, in working within adult care settings/services, with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge which support their role as they take on more responsibility and a level of autonomy within their employment settings. 

The aim of the Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (England) is to provide learners, who have experience, in working within adult care settings/services, with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge which support their role as they take on leadership and management responsibilities regarding both staff and the service itself.  Learners will need to have a high level of autonomy within their employment settings. 


What Careers Can This Lead To?

Completing the 3096-31 qualification supports progression to either a Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care or with more experience, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management/Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service qualification as a standalone qualification or as part of the associated apprenticeship.

Completing the 3096-51 qualification supports learners in meeting the qualification requirements to register as a registered manager of a service with the local authority. Learners could also progress to a learning and development role within their organisations and access the City & Guilds 6317 Assessment and/or Quality Assurance qualifications (TAQA). 

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
To deliver the 3096-31 qualification you will need staff who are occupationally competent in Adult Care who are current and have maintained relevant continuing professional development. Learners MUST have access to work settings and are usually employed or working as an apprentice.

To deliver the 3096-51 qualifications you will need staff who are occupationally competent as leaders or managers of Adult Care services. Staff must be who are current and have maintained relevant continuing professional development. Learners MUST have access to work settings and are usually employed or working as an apprentice.

Level 2

Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate (3096-02)
Last Registration Date: 30 Jun 2027
Coming Soon

Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate

  • Accreditation No: 610/4226/2 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 07/02/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (3096-31)
Last Registration Date: 05 May 2025

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England)

  • Accreditation No: 610/0789/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 05/05/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 5

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England) (3096-51)
Last Registration Date: 03 Jun 2025

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England)

  • Accreditation No: 610/0977/5 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 05/06/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

Learning Assistant

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

Explore our wider maths & English offer

Our maths & English qualifications underpin our apprenticeships and technical qualifications. They build learners’ confidence with the core skills required for employment, including the capacity to problem solve and use technology effectively. They are also key to triggering conditions of funding.

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For Learners

Related Qualifications

Browse some of our related qualifications:

> (3095) Adult Care

> (3086) Health and Social Care

> (4222) Health and Social Care

> (3610) Independent Advocacy

> (3614) Independent Advocacy Practice

> (4212) Induction into Adult Social Care

> (3625) Technical Qualifications in Health and Care

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