The Social Care Council works with the sector, the qualifications regulator CCEA, awarding organisations, further education colleges and other training providers to regularly review and develop work-based/competence qualifications for social care, children and young people’s and early years services. These include competence-based qualifications for example Levels 2 and 3 Health and Social Care Diplomas or Levels 2 and 3 CCLD (Child Care Learning and Development). It also includes academic qualifications for example BTEC and HNC/HND which are accepted for entry to higher education.

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Why Work-based/Competence Qualifications?

Work-based/competence qualifications are designed to develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities to work in the health, social care and early years sectors.

The qualifications available in Northern Ireland are the RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework). RQF classifies qualifications according to their ‘level’ and ‘size’ and maps them to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, as well as to the European Qualifications Framework.

Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) requires awarding organisations to meet the General Conditions for Recognition in order to maintain a consistent approach to the level and size of all regulated qualifications.

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Qualifications Guide for Social Care

To support both employers and social care staff, the Social Care Council has developed a Qualifications Guide for Social Care. 

What is in the guide?

The guide provides guidance on relevant qualifications that are essential and/or desirable in developing the required knowledge, skills and competency, to ensure support and care is provided to the highest standard.

It can be used to:

• Inform learning and development plans to ensure staff are meeting relevant standards.
• Support individuals to consider what learning, development and qualifications they may need to progress their careers or maintain their knowledge and skills related to their job role and responsibilities.
• All of this learning and development can be used to evidence Post Registration Training and Learning or PRTL

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Do social care workers need a qualification to work in social care?

Registered managers in regulated services are the only group of social care staff where there is a mandatory requirement for a qualification (See pages 14 – 19 of the Qualifications Guide for Social Care for more information).

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More Information and Guidance

See Associated Resources to access key guidance documents and forms.