To enrol on the iCQ Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (England), learners must meet the following criteria:

• Learners must be 19 years or older.
• Learners must be working in a managerial role within an appropriate adult care setting to apply and demonstrate competence in both knowledge and skills.
• There are no formal prior qualifications required to undertake this qualification.
• Learners working within care services may be legally required to undergo criminal record checks before starting or continuing employment.
• Non-native English speakers must demonstrate a minimum level of English language competency.*
• Learners must be able to demonstrate the capability to achieve the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the qualification.

For further information, please click here and find out the clear guidelines.

*A learner not from a majority English-speaking country must provide evidence of English language competency. For more information, visit Language Expectations.

This course is ideal for managers, deputy managers, assistant managers, and registered managers working in adult care services who want to advance their leadership skills and career. It is perfect for those already in a managerial role looking to gain a nationally recognised Level 5 qualification while improving service quality, staff development, and person-centred care. The course is suitable for professionals working in residential care, domiciliary care, day services, respite care, or community-based adult care settings across England.

Career Progression 
This qualification allows learners to learn, develop and demonstrate the skills and knowledge required for employment and/or career progression in Adult Care. Learners who achieve this qualification could progress to the following: further or higher education, employment within the adult care sector in job roles such as:

• Deputy Manager 
• Manager 
• Assistant Manager 

The iCQ Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care (England) is accredited by iCQ Awards, an awarding body regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). Ofqual regulation ensures the qualification meets national standards and delivers high-quality, recognised learning outcomes. You can verify this qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications.

iCQ Awards is an Ofqual-approved awarding body (Reference Number RN5325), and this qualification is officially recognised in England under Qualification Accreditation Number (QAN): 610/2987/7. Inspire London College offers this qualification through iCQ Awards, providing learners with a trusted and nationally recognised adult care leadership qualification.

All units of the iCQ Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (England) are assessed through a portfolio of evidence, which is internally assessed and quality assured by  Inspire London College and externally verified by iCQ Awards. Assessments follow the Skills for Care & Development Assessment Principles to ensure fairness, reliability, and relevance to real workplace practice. The majority of assessment takes place on the job in real adult care settings, allowing learners to demonstrate practical skills and leadership competence in authentic situations. Knowledge-based outcomes can be assessed through tasks and assignments, while skills-based outcomes require direct observation in the workplace.

Learners must provide enough evidence to meet all learning outcomes and assessment criteria, without including confidential records, which are checked on-site by a qualified assessor. Each unit gives guidance on assessment, and all evidence must be in English. This ensures learners can clearly demonstrate their ability to lead, manage, and improve adult care services using both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.

Upon successfully passing the qualification, the learner will receive an Ofqual-regulated certificate (soft copy/scanned version) issued by iCQ Awards, which is included in the course price.

If you require a hard copy certificate, an additional fee of £25 will apply. This covers standard postal charges.

For faster delivery, you may choose to have your certificate and transcript sent via special courier (e.g., DHL). This service incurs an additional cost of £40, which applies primarily to international deliveries.

Note: It is not mandatory to select the courier service for delivery. We provide this special courier option for your convenience because standard posts take longer (3-4 weeks). For support, contact admissions@inspirelondoncollege.co.uk.