Free 15-min call with a care-courses adviser · no obligation
Not sure whether Level 3 or Level 5 is right for you, or whether you qualify to start? Tell us where you're at. An adviser calls you back — same day if you enquire before 6pm Mon–Sat.
Drop your details. A care-courses adviser calls you within 30 minutes (Mon–Sat 9am–6pm) — same day every time.
No exams
portfolio assessed
18–24mo
typical completion
4.9/5
Google rating
Accredited and recognised
Health & Social Care diplomas
Start where your experience puts you with Level 3, or go straight to a Level 5 leadership diploma if you're already leading. Every diploma below is awarded by NCFE.
Summer offer
NCFE Diploma · senior-carer & team-leader route
£50 deposit · 12 monthly payments · 0% interest
NCFE Diploma · CQC registered-manager route
£50 deposit · 12 monthly payments · 0% interest
NCFE Diploma · Ofsted registered-manager route
£50 deposit · 12 monthly payments · 0% interest
NCFE Diploma · 5 pathways — adults AND children
£50 deposit · 12 monthly payments · 0% interest
All prices include VAT. Finance: £50 deposit + 12 monthly payments at 0% APR — subject to credit check via our FCA-regulated finance partner. Assessment is portfolio-based — no exam fees. All diplomas are awarded by NCFE.
Career roadmap
The typical UK care-leadership route, mapped step by step. Salary ranges are indicative 2026 figures.
Where you are
£23,000 – £28,000
Leading shifts, supervising colleagues, writing care plans — the experience the Level 3 and Level 5 diplomas build on.
Level 3 diploma
£24,000 – £30,000
12 months
Formalises senior-carer competence. Portfolio assessed from your day-to-day leadership on shift.
Level 5 diploma
£28,000 – £45,000
18 – 24 months
The qualification CQC expects registered managers to hold or be working towards. Run your own service.
Beyond registration
£35,000 – £50,000+
career ceiling
Multi-site leadership, quality and operations roles across care groups — the diploma travels with you.
NCFE diplomas are nationally recognised qualifications, accepted across UK adult social care. Level 3 formalises senior-carer and team-leader competence; Level 5 is the qualification CQC expects registered managers of adult care services to hold or be working towards.
Book a free 15-min call with a care-courses adviser. No script, no pressure.
4.9/5 Google Reviews "I am studying the NCFE Level 5 Adult Care Diploma in Leadership and Management. The course is well structured, practical, and relevant to real workplace leadership."
"I have started my Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care. Tutor support is readily available through messages and calls to help with assignments."
"I have started the Leadership and Management for Adult Care course. My tutor has been very supportive — she explains things clearly and makes learning feel encouraging."
"My experience has been very good — the way she teaches makes everything easy to understand. I am doing Level 3 in Adult Care and I am confident with my new skills."
Every learner is paired with a named tutor and assessor from day one. You'll know who they are — and you'll have their direct email.
No fixed timetable, no deadlines you can't move. Fit study around full-time care work — most learners complete 18–24 months after enrolling.
Spread tuition across interest-free monthly instalments via our FCA-regulated partner. Full price up front. No mid-course add-ons.
Portfolio assessment built from the care work you already do. Direct observation, witness evidence, reflective accounts — reviewed by a real assessor, not a test centre.
Typical 2026 UK salary ranges for adult social care roles — based on national job-board listings.
| Role | Diploma | UK salary |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Care Worker | Level 2 | £20,000 – £24,000 |
| Senior Care Worker | Level 3 | £23,000 – £28,000 |
| Lead Adult Care Worker | Level 3 | £24,000 – £30,000 |
| Deputy Manager | Level 5 | £28,000 – £36,000 |
| Registered Manager | Level 5 | £32,000 – £45,000 |
| Service Manager | Level 5 + experience | £35,000 – £50,000 |
Source: composite of Indeed, Reed and Totaljobs listings, May 2026.
Not if you have solid experience — senior carers, deputies and managers can go straight to Level 5. Earlier in your care career? Level 3 is the right start. Your adviser will sanity-check the fit on your callback before you pay anything.
Yes — the Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service is the recognised NCFE CACHE qualification CQC expects registered managers of adult services to hold or be working towards.
No exams. Both diplomas are assessed by portfolio — written assignments and evidence drawn from your day-to-day work, reviewed by your assessor.
Yes — that's how it's designed. Fully online, no fixed timetable, and your workplace practice is the core of the assessment. Level 3 typically takes 12 months; Level 5 takes 18–24 months, around full-time care work.
Often, yes. Many care employers fund the Level 5 for their deputies and acting managers — it's frequently part of a CQC improvement plan. We can invoice your employer directly. Mention it on your adviser callback.
You have a 14-day cooling-off period — full refund, no questions asked. After that, talk to your adviser and we'll find a solution.
Book a free call with a care-courses adviser. They'll help you pick the right level and the right next step — even if that's not Integer Training.
Same call, second chance to book.
