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Funded for eligible adults

Health and Social Care

Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care

  • Study online
Why study online

Designed to fit around your life

  • Study around your life

    No fixed timetable and no commute. Log in on a lunch break, in the evening or at the weekend, and work at whatever pace suits you.

  • A qualification that counts

    Every course leads to a nationally recognised qualification from an established awarding body, not a certificate of attendance.

  • A real tutor, not just a website

    You submit your work to a tutor who reads it and writes back within five working days, and who you can reach by email or phone during office hours.

  • Funded for eligible adults

    For most adults aged 19 and over living in England, the Adult Skills Fund covers the tuition, the materials and the assessment.

Have you ever considered how you might contribute to the care of vulnerable adults in society? This course provides the necessary preparation for any role within adult social care, in order to ensure the needs of vulnerable people continue to be met. The qualification covers a variety of topics with a focus on safeguarding, equality and diversity and communication in an adult care setting.

Unit 1: Principles of communication in adult social care settings

Look at the importance of communication in adult social care settings, as well as confidentiality in these settings. Learn how to reduce barriers to communication and how to meet the communication needs, wishes and preferences of individuals being cared for.

Unit 2: Principles of personal development in adult social care settings

Explore the requirements for good practice in adult social care roles and will look at how a personal development plan can contribute positively to an individual’s learning and development. This unit also covers the learning activities that can be used to develop an individual’s knowledge and skills.

Unit 3: Principles of diversity, equality and inclusion in adult social care settings

This unit enables an understanding of the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion in an adult social care setting. Learn how to work in an inclusive way and how to access information, advice and support about the key aspects of diversity, inclusion and discrimination.

Unit 4: Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care

Learn how to identify signs of abuse, respond to suspected or alleged abuse, reduce the likelihood of abuse, and recognise and report unsafe practices. This unit will also cover the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse.

Unit 5: Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

Look at the implications of duty of care, and the support that is available for addressing dilemmas that may arise in relation to duty of care. Learn how to respond to complaints and how to work in line with agreed procedures for handling complaints.

Unit 6: Understand the role of the social care worker

This unit explores the different types of working relationships in social care settings and how important it is to work in partnership with others. This unit also covers the importance of working in ways that are agreed with the employer to ensure you are following workplace policy and procedures.

Unit 7: Understand person-centred approaches in adult social care settings

Look at different person-centred approaches for care and support in adult social care settings, how to implement person-centred approaches, the importance of consent when providing care or support for an individual and how to support individuals to make the right choices. Learn how to encourage active participation and how to promote an individual’s well-being.

Unit 8: Understand health and safety in social care settings

This unit explores the key aspects of health and safety in social care settings and covers the different roles and responsibilities for health and safety. Learn about risk assessments, the procedures for responding to accidents and sudden illness, methods for reducing the spread of infection, techniques for moving and handling equipment and the principles of moving an individual safely. Look at hazardous substances, environmental safety procedures, stress management, the safe handling of medication and how to handle and store food safely in an adult social care setting.

Unit 9: Understand how to handle information in social care settings

Look at the need for secure handling of information in social care settings and the different ways of accessing support for handling information in social care settings.

Learning Method(s)
Paper materials
Online assessment
Paper assessment

How it works

What studying online actually looks like

  • Everything happens online

    The course runs on our online learning platform. There is no need to attend college at any point, though you are welcome to if you would rather work here.

  • You submit work as you go

    Each unit ends in questions you answer and send to your tutor through the platform. There is no exam hall and no fixed deadline to sit anything.

  • Your tutor writes back

    You get full written feedback on every assessment within five working days, and your tutor is available by email or phone during office hours if you get stuck.

Eligibility

Who can study these courses

Funding eligibility

Funding is set nationally. To study one of these courses at no cost you need to be:

  • Aged 19 or over
  • Currently living in England
  • Resident in the UK or EU for the last three years, for reasons other than study
  • Not currently on an apprenticeship
We check this when you apply, so there is nothing to work out before you start.

For this course

  • Perfect for beginners

Withdrawals

Your Tutor will provide support and guidance throughout your qualification. In return, we expect learners to demonstrate commitment and engagement in completing the qualification within the academic year.

If no work is submitted for a period of four consecutive weeks, and no mitigating circumstances have been communicated, we will assume that you wish to withdraw from the course. Where mitigating circumstances apply, you must inform your Tutor as soon as possible by telephone or email so that appropriate support and arrangements can be considered.

Please note that, should you be withdrawn from the programme, an administration withdrawal fee of £249 will be payable. This fee covers administrative costs only and is not a charge for tuition.

Easy to get started

Four steps from here to qualified

  1. 1

    Find the course

    Browse by subject or search for what you need. Every course page lists the units, how long it takes and who it suits.

  2. 2

    Apply online

    Fill in the form. It takes a few minutes and you do not need anything to hand.

  3. 3

    We check you are eligible

    We confirm the funding, set up your account on the learning platform and introduce you to your tutor.

  4. 4

    Study at your own pace

    Work through the units in your own time, send your assessments to your tutor, and finish with a qualification.