Lead in Adult Care Higher Apprenticeship Standard

Course overview

The topics you will cover whilst training include:
Tasks and responsibilities: Statutory frameworks, standards, guidance and Codes of Practice which underpin practice in relation to the safe delivery of services; Systems and processes needed to ensure compliance with regulations and organisational policies and procedures including health and safety and risk management; Principles of risk management, assessment and outcome based practice; Principles and underpinning theories of change management including approaches, tools and techniques that support the change process; Legislative and regulatory frameworks which inform quality standards; Theories and models that underpin performance and appraisal including disciplinary procedures
Dignity and human rights: Legislation and policy initiatives on the promotion of diversity, equality and inclusion in services they lead
Communication: Legal and ethical frameworks in relation to confidentiality and sharing information; Range of tools and strategies to enhance communication including technology
Safeguarding: Legislation, national and local solutions for the safeguarding of adults and children including reporting requirements; The elements needed to create a culture that supports whistleblowing in the organisation
Health and Wellbeing: Models of monitoring, reporting and responding to changes in health and wellbeing
Professional development: Principles of professional development
Goals and aspirations that support own professional development and how to access available opportunities; Elements needed to create a culture that values learning, professional development, reflective practice and evidence based practice
Systems and processes necessary to ensure professional development opportunities are identified, planned, sourced, evaluated and recorded for workers
Leadership: Theories of management and leadership and their application to adult care
Features of effective team performance


Typical job roles include:
The Leader in Adult Care will guide and inspire teams to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will be a leader of the care team and will develop and implement a values-based culture at a service or unit level. They may be responsible for business development, financial control, organisational resilience and continuity as well as for managing risk and leading on organisational change.

A Leader in Adult Care has responsibility for managing community or residential based services. This role has a large element of leadership, whether with other care workers and networks or in leading the service itself. A successful apprentice will have met all the requirements. They have a responsibility to ensure the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led. They may be a registered manager of a service, unit, deputy or assistant manager. They will be responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance of the care given and the values and training of staff with established standards and regulations.
These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Leaders in Adult Care carrying out their roles:
Care - is caring consistently and enough about individuals to make a positive difference to their lives
Compassion - is delivering care and support with kindness, consideration, dignity, empathy and respect
Courage - is doing the right thing for people and speaking up if the individual they support is at risk
Communication - good communication is central to successful caring relationships and effective team working
Competence - is applying knowledge and skills to provide high quality care and support
Commitment - to improving the experience of people who need care and support ensuring it is person centred
Leaders in Adult Care may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, community day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings. The role of Leader in Adult Care in this standard also covers Personal Assistants who operate in a management role but they may only work directly for one individual who needs support and/or care services.

What else do I need to know?

On an apprenticeship programme you usually will work for a minimum of 30 hours a week for the employer and then have one day a week at college or designated time in the workplace.
Some job roles will require a DBS before starting, you will be advised at interview stage if this is required.

Whilst you are on an apprenticeship your employer pays you a salary, this includes all off the job training.