Adult Care Worker (H&S Care L2)
Health, Public Services and Care


What will you be working towards?
Code | Adultcare2 |
Qualification Type | Apprenticeship |
Qualification Level | Level 2 |
Course type | Full Time |
Overview
Adult Care Workers are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives.
Job titles might include: Care Assistant, Care Worker, Support Worker, Personal Assistant, Relief Team Worker, Support Worker - Supported Living, Key Worker in Residential Settings, Key Worker in Domiciliary Services, Key Worker in Day Services, Home Care Support Worker, Substance Misuse Worker, Learning Disability Support Worker, Mental Health Support Worker, Mental Health Outreach Worker and Re-enablement Worker.
To work in care is to make a positive difference to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional or intellectual challenges. Adult Care Workers need to have the right values and behaviours developing competences and skills to provide high quality compassionate care and support. They are the frontline staff who help adults with care and support needs to achieve their personal goals and live as independently and safely as possible, enabling them to have control and choice in their lives which is at the heart of person centred care. Job roles are varied and determined by and relevant to the type of the service being provided and the person supported. Adult Care Workers may work in residential or nursing homes, domiciliary care, day centres, a person’s own home or some clinical healthcare settings.
Personal assistants do the same job as an Adult Care Worker and work directly for one individual usually within their own home. Working with people, feeling passionate about supporting and enabling them to live a more independent and fulfilling life is a rewarding and worthwhile job that provides excellent career opportunities.
These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Adult Care Workers 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 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
Details
An Adult Care Worker must know and understand:
A. The job they have to do, their main tasks and responsibilities
1. The tasks and responsibilities of the job role relevant to the context of the service in which they are working. This could include supporting with social activities, monitoring health, assisting with eating, mobility and personal care
2. Professional boundaries and limits of their training and expertise
3. Relevant statutory standards and codes of practice for their role
4. What the ‘duty of care’ is in practice
5. How to contribute towards the development and creation of a care plan underpinned by the individuals preferences in regard to the way they want to be supported
6. How to identify, respond to and escalate changes to physical, social, and emotional needs of individuals
7. How to access, follow and be compliant with regulations and organisational policies and procedures
B. The importance of having the right values and behaviours
8. How to support and enable individuals to achieve their personal aims and goals
9. What dignity means in how to work with individuals and others
10. The importance of respecting diversity and treating everyone equally
C.The importance of communication
11. The barriers to communication
12. The impact of non-verbal communication
13. The importance of active listening
14. How the way they communicate can affect others
15. About different forms of communication e.g. signing, communication boards
16. How to find out the best way to communicate with the individual they are supporting
17. How to make sure confidential information is kept safe
D. How to support individuals to remain safe from harm (Safeguarding)
18. What abuse is and what to do when they have concerns someone is being abused
19. The national and local strategies for safeguarding and protection from abuse
20. What to do when receiving comments and complaints
21. How to recognise unsafe practices in the workplace
22. The importance and process of whistleblowing
23. How to address any dilemmas they may face between a person’s rights and their safety
E. How to promote health and wellbeing for the individuals they support and work colleagues
24. The health and safety responsibilities of self, employer and workers
25. How to keep safe in the work environment
26. What to do when there is an accident or sudden illness
27. What to do with hazardous substances
28. How to promote fire safety
29. How to reduce the spread of infection
30. What a risk assessment is and how it can be used to promote person centred care safely
F. How to work professionally, including their own professional development
31. What a professional relationship is with the person being supported and colleagues
32. How to work together with other people and organisations in the interest of the person being supported
33. How to be actively involved in their personal development plan
34. The importance of excellent core skills in writing, numbers and information technology
35. What to do to develop, sustain and exhibit a positive attitude and personal resilience
36. Where and how to access specialist knowledge when needed to support performance of the job role
How will it be delivered?
Diploma (Coursework)
On the job observations
EPA (End Point Assessment) Multiple choice test and one hour professional discussion
Entry requirements
This apprenticeship provides an ideal entry into the occupation and supports progression within the sector.
Individuals without level 1 English and maths will need to achieve this level and take the test for level 2 English and maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.
For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.
No specific entry requirements needed, however you will have to undertake an initial assessment by Woodspeen Training to determine your suitability.
Your next steps...
Follow on courses:
Lead Adult Care Worker - Only for those in supervisory roles.