We are delighted to share that City & Guilds, a leading vocational education organisation, have introduced the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate which will only be delivered through approved training provider organisations.
Here at the ARC Qualification Centre, as an existing accredited centre with City & Guilds for over 30 years, we have secured accreditation to deliver this qualification along with the Adult Care Diplomas, Levels 2 to 5!
Benefits of enrolling staff onto this new qualification
Currently 54% of direct care workers do not have a level 2 (or above) qualification. The introduction of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification will provide people in care roles the most up to date knowledge and baseline skills required to support people well and succeed in their roles.
For those who have been in the sector for several years and deserve acknowledgement for the skilled care they provide, the qualification will also provide a route for them to gain a recognised qualification. Investing in training and support for staff acts as an incentive for staff recruitment, retention and development within the workforce.
What’s it all about?
This qualification is based on the existing Care Certificate standards and is for individuals working in indirect care aged 19 and over. But unlike the current Care Certificate, it will be accredited and recognised throughout the sector, reducing the amount of repetition, and providing a baseline standard that will transfer between employers.
This certification aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals and increase the number of people in social care that hold a Level 2 qualification. This builds on the entry level 1 which prepares people as an introduction to the sector, by offering a more comprehensive recognised qualification, which delves deeper into the subject matter and will require individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and skills – with the intention of enhancing the skills and knowledge of individuals working across the adult social care sector.
It will equip professionals with the necessary competencies to deliver person-centred support, understand safeguarding, promote independence, and maintain dignity and respect. By obtaining this qualification, individuals demonstrate their commitment to upholding standards of excellence in adult social care practice. It also reflects the knowledge and behaviours of the ‘New to Care’ category outlined in the Care Workforce Pathway.
The qualification is likely to take an average of 6 to 8 months to complete, however, each learner’s journey will depend on their individual needs and experience, those newer to the sector may require more learning led by the employer/training provider. The qualification does not replace the need for an employer-specific induction or mandatory training, which remains the employer’s responsibility, but we believe a blended approach working with our ARC Assessors is the way forward so these two areas can/should be completed and work hand in hand alongside each other.
What does it cover?
The qualification specifications reflect the 15 topics in the original care certificate with amplification as to the depth and breadth required, and other areas have been updated to ensure consistency with the core capabilities framework.
Mandatory Topic Areas
- Understand own role
- Personal development
- Duty of Care
- Equality, diversity, inclusion, and human rights
- Work in a person-centred way
- Communication
- Privacy and dignity
- Nutrition and hydration
- Awareness of mental health and dementia
- Adult safeguarding
- Safeguarding children
- Health, safety, and principles of basic life support
- Handling information
- Infection prevention and control
- Awareness of learning disability and autism – updated to ensure consistency with the Core Capabilities Framework
ARC’s approach emphasises a collaborative support model that integrates closely with both assessors and employers/managers. We aim to work together to seamlessly blend mandatory in-house training with the qualification process. This partnership endeavours to ensure that learners receive comprehensive guidance and support tailored to their learning needs.
Each candidate benefits from one-on-one assistance from an ARC or in-house assessor through phone, video calls, email, face-to-face visits, and observations of practice while also utilising an e-portfolio system to upload work and communicate effectively. This joint approach fosters a rich learning environment that enhances knowledge, skill development, and workplace readiness.
Funding
The training is approved for funding under the Learning and Development Support Scheme. For more information please see Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification from Skills for Care.