Qualification Overview

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge needed to manage practice and lead others in children and young people’s services.

The NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (England) is a professional qualification designed for individuals working in leadership or supervisory roles within the health, social care, and children’s services sectors.

The qualification equips learners with the knowledge and practical leadership competencies required to manage teams, develop policies, ensure safeguarding, and improve service quality across care settings.

Qualification Details

• Level: Level 5
• Minimum Entry Age: 19 years
• Credit Value: 90 credits

The qualification offers two pathways:

• Management Pathway
• Advanced Practice Pathway

These pathways allow learners to either focus on management responsibilities or advanced professional practice within care settings.

Aims and Objectives

The qualification aims to develop leadership and management competencies necessary for managing services in health and social care or children and young people’s environments.

The objectives include:

• Developing effective leadership and decision-making skills in care settings.
• Enabling learners to manage teams and supervise staff effectively.
• Supporting the implementation of policies and procedures in care organisations.
• Promoting safeguarding and protection of children, young people, and vulnerable individuals.
• Encouraging high standards of professional practice and ethical care.
• Strengthening partnership working with families, communities, and external agencies.

Overall, the programme prepares professionals to lead services that deliver safe, effective, and person-centred care.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the qualification, learners will develop the ability to:

• Lead and manage services within health and social care or children’s services environments.
• Develop, implement and review policies and procedures that support safeguarding and protection.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in professional practice.
• Communicate effectively with children, families, colleagues, and multi-agency partners.
• Manage and supervise staff to improve professional performance.
• Apply research and evidence-based practice to improve service delivery.
• Evaluate service performance and implement quality improvement strategies.

These outcomes help ensure that managers and leaders can maintain high-quality standards of care and support.

Course Duration

The qualification typically takes 12 to 18 months to complete depending on the study mode.

The learning commitment includes:

• Total Qualification Time (TQT): 900 hours
• Guided Learning Hours (GLH): 515 hours

Learning may be delivered through:

• Online or blended learning
• Tutor-led sessions
• Workplace-based learning
• Independent study and research

Because the qualification is competency-based, learners will normally complete much of their learning within their workplace environment.

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements include:

• Learners must be at least 19 years old.
• It is recommended that learners hold a Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or a related field.
• Learners should be working in a relevant health, social care, or children’s services setting.

Since the programme focuses on leadership, learners should ideally:

• Be working as Deputy Managers, Assistant Managers, or Senior Practitioners, or
• Have the opportunity to carry out management or supervisory responsibilities within their organisation.

Who is this Course for?

This qualification is designed for professionals who are responsible for leading teams and managing services within care environments.

Typical roles include:

• Assistant Manager
• Deputy Manager
• Care Manager
• Case Manager
• Senior Support Worker
• Team Leader in children’s services

The qualification is particularly suitable for individuals preparing to take on full managerial responsibility for health and social care or children’s services organisations.

Qualification Structure

The qualification structure consists of units that represent small steps of learning and allow learners to build leadership knowledge progressively.

To achieve the qualification, learners must:

• Complete 90 credits
• Achieve a minimum of 66 credits at Level 5 or above

The structure includes:

1. Shared Core Mandatory Units
2. Pathway Mandatory Units
3. Optional Units

This flexible structure allows learners to specialise depending on their career pathway and professional responsibilities.

Mandatory Units

The following mandatory units appear in the official NCFE unit breakdown:

1. Develop Health and Safety and Risk Management Policies, Procedures and Practices in Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings 
2. Champion Equality, Diversity and InclusionWork in Partnership in Health and Social Care or Children and Young People’s Settings 
3. Use and Develop Systems That Promote Communication 
4. Undertake a Research Project Within Services for Health and Social Care or Children and Young People 
5. Promote Professional Development
6. Understand Children and Young Person’s Development 
7. Lead Practice in Promoting the Well Being and Resilience of Children and Young People 
8. Develop and Implement Policies and Procedures to Support the Safeguarding of Children and Young People 
9. Lead Practice That Supports Positive Outcomes for Child and Young Person Development 

These units focus on key leadership areas including risk management, safeguarding, communication systems, workforce development, and improving outcomes for children and young people.

Assessment Methods

Assessment is carried out through a portfolio of evidence, which is internally assessed and externally quality assured.

Typical assessment methods include:

• Workplace observations
• Written assignments
• Professional discussions
• Reflective accounts
• Research projects
• Evidence from workplace practice

Learners must demonstrate that they can apply their knowledge and leadership skills in real work environments.

Career Progression & Pathways

After completing this qualification, learners may progress to:

• A degree in a related discipline, such as Health and Social Care or Social Work
• Advanced leadership or management qualifications
• Higher education programmes in healthcare or social services management

The qualification also supports progression into senior leadership positions within care organisations.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this qualification may pursue roles such as:

• Registered Care Manager
• Service Manager
• Deputy Manager
• Residential Care Manager
• Children’s Services Manager
• Social Care Team Leader

These roles involve managing staff teams, overseeing service delivery, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving care outcomes.

Salary Expectations

Salary expectations vary depending on the organisation, country, and level of responsibility.

Typical salary ranges for leadership roles in health and social care may include:

• Deputy Manager: £28,000 – £35,000 per year
• Care Manager: £35,000 – £45,000 per year
• Service Manager or Registered Manager: £40,000 – £60,000+ per year

Senior leadership roles within larger organisations may command higher salaries.

Payment Options

• Full upfront payment
• Monthly instalment plans