Adult Care (England) qualifications and training courses

Last Updated: 02 Apr 2026

Supporting Development & Career Progression in Adult Social Care
Important Qualification Updates

Closing 31 March 2026

3096‑31 – Level 3
3096‑51 – Level 5

New Qualifications (open for registration from 1 April 2026)

3096‑32 – Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
3096‑52 – Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service

Unaffected Qualification

3096‑02 – Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate will remain open and available as normal.

About the 3096 Qualification Suite

The 3096 suite has been created specifically to support the Adult Social Care workforce in England.
Designed in line with the Skills for Care Qualification Specifications, these qualifications reflect the:

Knowledge
Skills
Values
Behaviours

Outlined in the Care Workforce Pathway.

The suite provides a clear, structured learning and career pathway and includes a mix of competence‑based and knowledge‑based units to ensure practical and professional readiness.

Pathways to Progression in Care
Explore how the 3096 qualifications support progression from entry‑level roles through to leadership and management in Adult Social Care.

Level 2: 3096‑02 Adult Social Care Certificate

This qualification covers the essential knowledge and skills required to work in a variety of frontline adult care roles, including:

Adult Care Worker
Healthcare Assistant
Support Worker
Personal Assistant

It supports workers in a wide range of settings supporting individuals who have diverse needs. The qualification includes a blend of competence-based and knowledge-based units to prepare individuals for high‑quality care practice.

Level 3: 3096‑32 Diploma in Adult Care

(Replaces 3096‑31 from 1 April 2026)

The updated Level 3 Diploma reflects the August 2025 Skills for Care qualification criteria and prepares learners for lead adult care roles such as:

Senior Support Worker
Home Care Worker
Residential Care Worker

The qualification includes both competence and knowledge-based units.

New Optional Units (Group A)

Two new units have been introduced to support workforce development:

Unit 386 — Supporting Neurodiversity in Adult Care Settings
Unit 387 — Trauma‑Informed Practice When Supporting Individuals

These additions reflect emerging needs within the sector and enhance the specialist skills of learners.

Level 5: 3096‑52 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service

(Replaces 3096‑51 from 1 April 2026)

The Level 5 Diploma is a competence‑based qualification designed in line with Skills for Care requirements and informed by extensive consultation with employers and assessment centres.

It prepares learners for leadership and management roles within adult care services, including:

Registered Manager
Deputy Manager
Service Lead
Team Leader in home care, domiciliary, or residential services

This qualification develops the knowledge and skills needed to:

Lead and manage a service
Support and supervise teams
Deliver safe, high‑quality care to adults with a range of support needs

The qualification includes a combination of competence and knowledge-based units, ensuring readiness for senior operational responsibility.

The 3096-02 Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate 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 3096-32 Level 3 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 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 3096-52 Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Management an Adult Care Service 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 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 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 3096-32 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 3096-52 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 3096-32 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 3096-52 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: 31 Aug 2029

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: 31/08/2031 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £87.00 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. VAT may apply depending on your funding status and VAT registration.

Level 3

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (3096-31)

Last Registration Date: 31 Mar 2026

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: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £160.00 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. VAT may apply depending on your funding status and VAT registration.

Level 3 Diploma in Adult care (3096-32)

Last Registration Date: 31 Mar 2031

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Accreditation No: 610/7031/2 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: 31/03/2035 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. VAT may apply depending on your funding status and VAT registration.

Level 5

Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England) (3096-51)

Last Registration Date: 31 Mar 2026

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: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
Qualification fees in the UK: £230.00 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. VAT may apply depending on your funding status and VAT registration.

Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (3096-52)

Last Registration Date: 31 Mar 2031

Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service

Accreditation No: 610/7034/8 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: 31/03/2035 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. VAT may apply depending on your funding status and VAT registration.

Additional information for centres

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.

Adult Care (England) (3096)