Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

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The Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is designed for experienced care workers who are ready to take the next step in their career. Aligned with the Supervisor/Leader role within the Adult Social Care Workforce Pathway, this qualification supports individuals who are already acting as positive role models and making a difference within their teams.

Smiling senior carer, supporting her team

Great news! LDSS funding has returned for 2026/27, including the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care !

The programme focuses on developing leadership, communication, decision-making, and person-centred practice skills, helping learners build the confidence and knowledge needed to support colleagues, promote high-quality care, and contribute to service improvement.

For those considering a future management role, the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care provides an excellent foundation and is often the first step on the leadership journey within adult social care.

Qualification Information

Assessment method

Portfolio of evidence

Credit value

Guided learning hours (GLH)

375

Learning aim reference

61070452

Qualification number

610/7045/2

Total qualification time (TQT)

580

Who is the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care for?

Suitable job roles for the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care typically include staff responsible for supporting others, coordinating care, or performing supervisory duties. Examples include:

Senior Care Worker
Senior Support Worker
Care Team Leader
Lead Support Worker
Shift Leader
Key Worker
Senior Healthcare Assistant
Reablement Worker
Community Support Worker (with supervisory responsibilities)
Supported Living Team Leader
Residential Care Team Leader
Domiciliary Care Supervisor
Assistant Manager (in smaller services)
Activities Coordinator with leadership responsibilities
Specialist Support Worker (e.g. dementia, learning disabilities, autism, mental health)

Payment terms for LDSS-funded qualifications and programme

The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) provides financial support for vocational learning and continuing professional development (CPD) of staff in the adult social care sector. It is offered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and helps cover the costs of various adult social care qualifications, learning programs and digital learning modules.

What does the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care cover?

This qualification consists 15 mandatory units:

Ways of working in adult care
Safeguarding in adult care
Mental capacity and restrictive practice in adult care
Duty of care in adult care
Choice and independence in adult care
Health and wellbeing in adult care
Equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights in adult care
Health and safety (General) in adult care
Infection prevention and control in adult care
Health and safety (topics) in adult care
Continuous development in adult care
Personal wellbeing in adult care
Learners will then choose from a range of optional units, which we have grouped to meet the needs of individual learners and their services, including leadership units and sector-specific units such as learning disability, autism and brain injury, dementia, or domiciliary care. Our experienced assessors will guide learners to the most suitable options for their role. It is important that optional units reflect the learner’s role to demonstrate the evidence required to meet the criteria.

Why learn with Coleman Training?

With over 25 years of experience in the adult social care sector, we understand the challenges and rewards of working in care and are committed to supporting our learners every step of the way.

We believe that achieving the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is about more than completing assessments. It is about developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide high-quality, person-centred care and progress within the sector.

Our experienced assessors have extensive backgrounds in adult social care, with many having worked as Registered Managers and senior leaders. Their practical experience enables them to provide meaningful guidance and support, helping learners apply their knowledge confidently in the workplace.

From enrolment, learners receive personalised support tailored to their individual needs, strengths, and career goals. Assessors work closely with learners to build confidence, develop competence, and celebrate achievements throughout the qualification journey.

To support learning, we provide a range of resources including workbooks, case studies, practical tools, handouts, and video materials that bring learning to life and help learners develop a deeper understanding of key topics such as person-centred practice, safeguarding, communication, and professional development.

We also work closely with employers through regular progress reviews and ongoing communication, ensuring learners receive the support they need both in the workplace and throughout their studies.

Most importantly, we care about our learners and their success. Our aim is not only to help you achieve your qualification but to support you in becoming a confident, skilled, and compassionate care professional who can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

a man studying with laptop - level 2 adult social care certificate

Study Skills Workshop

Many of us may not have studied for a qualification for many years, and the thought of doing a qualification can, understandably, be daunting. Our FREE course demystifies academic language by explaining the meaning of different "command verbs", reassures about the wide variety of assessment methods we use, so writing reams is not required (unless you enjoy writing!) and describes what can be used as "prior learning", so you don't have to repeat recent work.

We discuss the use of AI in your qualification, and answer any concerns you may have - no matter how trivial they seem. This course is available as a video, to watch when it suits you, or as a workshop where you can engage with others and realise that you aren't alone!

mother working from home doing the level 2 adult social care certificate

We provide a wide range of resources and workbooks to help learners develop their knowledge and skills throughout their qualification. We also offer a variety of workshops (many of which are LDSS-funded) to strengthen knowledge, develop professional practice, and generate valuable evidence for the portfolio.

Our assessors will support you to gather evidence as part of your normal day-to-day role, reducing the need for lengthy written assignments. Regular professional discussions provide an opportunity for you to talk through your experiences, explain how you apply your knowledge in practice, and reflect on real-life situations you have encountered. Many learners find this a far more natural way to demonstrate their competence than writing extensive answers, while also allowing assessors to explore understanding in greater depth.

By combining workplace evidence, professional discussions, observations, witness testimonies, and learning activities, we make the qualification as practical, flexible, and learner-friendly as possible.

Flexible Assessment

Quality matters to us, and we understand the time, effort, and commitment that go into completing your work alongside the demands of your role. That’s why our supportive team of assessors aims to mark and return your work within 48 hours, providing constructive feedback, recognising your achievements, and guiding you through your next steps with confidence.

We recognise that everyone learns differently, so we use a variety of assessment methods to help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a way that works best for you. These may include written evidence, professional discussions, recognition of prior learning, workplace observations, reflective accounts, and photographic evidence of documents or activities you have completed. Our goal is to make the assessment process as supportive, flexible, and relevant to your role as possible, helping you succeed throughout your learning journey.

Funding for the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

This qualification is funded by the Learning and Development Support Scheme for the adult social care workforce.

Here is the detailed information on how to reclaim the cost of the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Rest assured, we will be with you every step of your journey and will celebrate your success with you as you complete your qualification!

What Our Clients Say Testimonials

PROVIDER

I submitted my first 2 claims through the LDSS last week and found the process much smoother than I initially thought it would be. Once I was told the qualification number (which is required), the rest of the process was very easy to follow. I uploaded both a copy of the invoice, and the receipt and both claims were accepted first time round. I was informed they were accepted on the same day as submission so a very quick turnaround.
Mel Macaulay

PROVIDER

Our experience with the new Learning & Development Support Scheme has been really positive. We have found the new system to be very straight forward, easy to use and have already received the 60% funding for each submitted application. The new service also enables providers to more easily obtain funding for qualifications to support their employee's progression, learning and development.
Joseph Taylor