Diploma in adult care (Level 3)

About the course

The Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is a nationally recognised qualification designed for care professionals who are ready to develop their skills and take on greater responsibility. It supports learners to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care across a range of adult care settings, including residential, domiciliary and community services.  

Quality assured and approved by Skills for Care, the programme reflects the high level of skill required in modern care roles, building strong foundations that enable learners to practise confidently and make a meaningful difference to the lives of adults with a wide range of care and support needs. 

Please note this free course is available in South Yorkshire (Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and Doncaster).  

While completing the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, you will take an important step towards progressing your career and moving into more senior roles within the sector. This qualification is widely recognised as a key requirement for experienced care workers who want to develop their practice, take on greater responsibility and progress into roles such as Senior Care Worker, Team Leader or Deputy Manager. 

Throughout the programme, you will access a wide range of learning opportunities designed to build the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to succeed in a modern care environment. The learning is closely linked to your day-to-day role, ensuring everything you study can be applied directly in practice. This means you will grow in confidence as you take responsibility for a broader range of tasks, support others in the workplace and contribute to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care. 

You will be supported by a highly skilled, enthusiastic and experienced training team who are committed to helping you reach your full potential. Training is delivered through a blend of on-the-job and off-the-job learning, including face-to-face or remote teaching and observations, webinars, one-to-one sessions, online learning and independent tasks. Your dedicated trainer will meet with you every month to guide your progress, provide feedback and ensure you receive the right level of support at every stage. 

Delivered over nine months and available to start throughout the year, this programme fits around your work and personal commitments. By completing the diploma, you will strengthen your professional credibility, develop leadership capability at the frontline of care, and position yourself for long-term career progression while making a positive difference to the lives of those you support. 

Is this course right for you?  

If you are already working in the care sector, looking to advance your skills, take the next step in your career and are passionate about adult care, then this programme could be ideal for you. 

As an experienced worker in adult care, you’ll already recognise how important it is to maintain the very best care and support. This programme will help you take the next step in your career, give you the skills you need to be a successful supervisor in the setting you work. 

Typical job titles and job roles suitable for the programme include: Care Officer, Care Supervisor, Senior Care Worker, Supervising Care Worker, Senior Support Worker, Relief Team Leader, Social Work Assistant and Social Services Officer. 

Throughout the programme, we will meet with you to ensure you understand your programme, to report on your development and progress as well as making sure your programme requirements are being met.  

What you’ll learn: 

You’ll develop a wide range of skills so that you’re able to successfully supervise, lead and support others to deliver quality care. We’ll teach and support you to be a competent lead adult care worker able to deliver the very best care and be an expert practitioner. 

To help fulfil your role, we’ll equip you with the expertise to provide supervision, frontline leadership, guidance and direction for others. 

Key learning topics covered during the diploma include: 

• Professional practice and duty of care  

• Effective communication and information handling  

• Person-centred care and independence  

• Health, wellbeing and safety  

• Inclusive practice and continuous development 

How you’ll learn:  

Our sector expert staff will support you to achieve the diploma. We have highly skilled and knowledgeable staff with significant experience of working in the industry who will be able to share their experiences and support you. 

We deliver the programme throughout the year providing you with the flexibility to start the diploma when it meets your needs. All learning is either on a 1-2-1 basis or small group webinars, so you have the best experience possible with sector experts. 

Our delivery model includes: 

• Face to face sessions 

• Regular 1-2-1 support 

• Remote support 

• Assignments 

• Ongoing mentoring, coaching and support 

• You will also record and track your learning progress through your e-portfolio, helping to support and evidence your journey. 

Diploma Eligibility Criteria: 

You must be a South Yorkshire resident aged 19 or over on 31st August 2025, be an ordinarily resident in the UK and have the right to live and work in the UK. If you are employed, this must be your first full Level 3 qualification, or if this is not your first Level 3 qualification, you may still be eligible for free training if you are currently unemployed or earning less than £34,977.43 per year.