We are delighted to announce the launch of our Level 2 Care Certificate Programme.
Our NCFE Level 2 Adult Care Certificate Course has been developed by the Team at Professional Training Solutions as part of the Department of Health & Social Care’s drive to raise standards and professional outcomes within our amazing and dedicatedCare Sector. This qualification will recognise the professionalism and dedication of our care workforce, and employers will have the knowledge that their staff will be trained and qualified to this minimum level.
About the course
Our course is delivered online, 3 hours per week over 26 weeks, and will deliver 290 guided learning hours. We will offer morning, afternoon and evening sessions, to accommodate shift patterns and caring needs of our applicants.
This qualification is now available for funding under the Learning and Development Support Scheme, and eligible Employers can claim funding for eligible care staff up to £1,500. Further information is below on how to access the funding.
Additional Awards
Choose an additional qualification as part of our Adult Care Certificate Offer for FREE
Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia.
Level 2 Award in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities
Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care
Delivery Model of the Level 2 Adult Care Certificate:
- Weekly online live workshops of 3 hours each for 26 weeks, plus assignments to achieve the 290 Guided Learning Hours. Choice of day and time that suits you, including evenings.
- A roll on roll off programme – applicants can start anytime.
- There will be two workbased assessments throughout the course.
- Learners will be expected to undertake a minimum of 40 hours of work-based practice.
- Assignments will be set up on our e-portfolio system OneFile, where student work will be completed and uploaded.
- There will be the opportunity to progress onto the Level 3 Adult Care Apprenticeship.
Express your interest for the Learning & Development Support Scheme
On 6th September 2024 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provided an update in relation to funding for the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate. This means that eligible employers can claim funding for eligible care staff of up to £1,500 for the Level 2 Adult Care Certificate, in addition to other training and courses (with many of these offered by Professional Training Solutions). With a pot of in excess of £50m, funding is currently only ring-fenced for starts up to 21st March 2024 (with final payments of 40% for completions paid up to 31 December 2026.) Note: that overall funding pot is limited. Once this has been exhausted, claims submitted will not receive reimbursement.
The initial 60% reimbursement claim must be made by the earliest date of either 21st March 2025 (inclusive) or within 3 months after the qualification start date. The 3-month rule does not apply where eligible qualifications were paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and the launch of the LDSS (6 September 2024). Late claims for the initial 60% reimbursement that are submitted between 22nd and 31st March 2025 (inclusive) may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The remaining 40% reimbursement claim must be made within 3 months of completion. When an eligible qualification has been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive), but completion extends beyond 31st March 2025, completed claims can be submitted up to 31st December 2026.
To find out more, confirm eligible qualifications, and to register, please find below details and links:
- Learning and Development Support Scheme for the adult social care workforce: a guide for employers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme/learning-and- development-support-scheme-for-the-adult-social-care-workforce-a-guide-for-employers. Reimbursement of the funding from the Learning and Development Support Scheme will be as follows:
- The List of Qualifications (including the Care Certificate that the new Scheme will fund) is listed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme/eligible-training- courses-and-qualifications
Employers must express their interest in using the online claims service through the form (link below). Adult Social Care employers will be contacted by NHSBSA to start the onboarding process in due course. This is a phased onboarding process, guided by NHSBSA. For the first few months, access to the online claims service is only possible through an invitation from NHSBSA.
https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/d7ae4538-4f3d-4090-ab7b- 590351e41991
Note that only the employers of eligible care staff will be able to access the online claims service – claims cannot be submitted directly by care staff or training providers.
The Workforce Development Fund, administered by Skills for Care, has been scaled down from 1st April 2024. However, it can still be used to fund courses and qualifications that started on or before 31st March 2024 and will complete by 31st March 2025.
DHSC and CQC Feedback on the Level 2 Adult Care Certificate
The Department for Health and Social Care is working with CQC on the introduction of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate and how the qualification will be recognised and reported on. CQC regulation currently stipulates that employers should “deploy enough suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff to enable them to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times”.
Recommendations for CQC providers (skillsforcare.org.uk)
“If you employ people with no previous care experience, in addition to covering basic core and mandatory training, you would also need them to undertake the new Care Certificate qualification in their first year”
Learner Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be aged 19+ and working in a Care Setting/about to start working in a Care Setting
- The applicant must have the literacy and communication of at least Level 1 to enable them to complete the course successfully.
- Applicants must be IT literate, have access to and be able to use Microsoft Teams and a desktop/laptop computer for each of the online weekly sessions.
- Applicants must be supported by their employer to attend the weekly online workshops.
- Applicants will sign a contract with us as the training provider to show their commitment to the course, and to also understand our code of conduct when doing our online workshops.
Learner Expectations
- Applicants must be committed to completing the course within 26 weeks.
- Applicants must attend every workshop.
- Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have worked in a care setting for at least 40 hours during the programme.
- Applicants will need to be observed at least twice in the workplace.
- Applicants must commit to completing assignments and gathering evidence for their online portfolio and submitted within the deadlines agreed with their tutor.
Learner Progression
- Upon completion of the Programme, Learners will be able to progress onto the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care.
