The Level 5 Leader In Adult Care, and the 90 providers delivering it.
Leading the care service and managing teams of carers to look after adults with care needs.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
This apprenticeship develops the skills to lead a care service and manage teams supporting adults with a range of care needs. Apprentices learn how to supervise and develop care workers, manage safeguarding responsibilities, oversee care planning, and ensure regulatory compliance. The programme covers person-centred approaches, budget and resource management, risk assessment, and working with other health and social care professionals. Leadership behaviours, effective communication, and professional accountability are central throughout.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves supervising care staff, conducting team meetings, reviewing and updating care plans, and responding to safeguarding concerns or incidents. Apprentices liaise with families, social workers, healthcare professionals, and local authority contacts. They monitor staffing levels, support recruitment, carry out staff appraisals, and ensure their service meets Care Quality Commission (CQC) or equivalent standards. Completing reports, maintaining accurate records, and acting on feedback from inspections or audits are regular parts of the role.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Registered Manager, Service Manager, or Deputy Manager within adult social care settings. Employers include residential and nursing homes, domiciliary care providers, supported living services, and day centres. Some graduates move into operational management across multiple sites or take on commissioning and quality assurance roles within local authorities or NHS trusts. The Level 5 qualification also provides a foundation for further professional development, including management qualifications or degree-level study in health and social care.
90 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Wiltshire College & University Centre is a further and higher education college offering a broad por...
Hugh Baird College is an Ofsted outstanding further education college and University Centre based in...
North Hertfordshire College (NHC) is a further education college offering a broad range of vocationa...
Realise is a longstanding work-based learning and training provider that has been delivering trainin...
The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise that has delivered high-quality training an...
Independent Training Services Ltd (ITS) is a national provider of vocational education and workforce...
3Spirit Training is a UK-based Skills for Care Centre of Excellence established in 2012 that works c...
Lincoln College is part of the Lincoln College Group, encompassing Lincoln and Newark colleges, and ...
Vocational Training Services (VTS) is an Essex-based apprenticeship and work-based learning provider...
Norton Webb is an independent training provider specialising in government-funded adult apprenticesh...
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) offers a wide range of technical and professional education o...
Training Works is a nationally recognised apprenticeship training provider specialising in Adult Car...
The Isle of Wight College is a further and higher education college established in 1951 that provide...
Shipley College is a further education college based in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Saltaire, ...
Bath College is a further education provider offering a wide range of vocational and technical train...
The Link Training delivers apprenticeship and vocational training focused on hairdressing, barbering...
Established in 2011, Richmond is an apprenticeship and workforce development provider offering appre...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this standard typically leads to registered manager positions in residential or domiciliary care settings. Common job titles include Registered Care Home Manager, Domiciliary Care Manager, Supported Living Manager, and Deputy Manager stepping up to full registration. Some completers move into Quality and Compliance Manager roles, particularly in larger organisations that separate operational management from regulatory oversight.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many move into Area Manager or Regional Manager roles, overseeing multiple services or sites. Those who prefer depth over breadth often specialise as practice leads in dementia care, learning disabilities, or mental health support. Longer term, senior paths include Head of Care Operations, Director of Care Services, or Registered Manager with ownership interest in an independent provider. Some move into inspection and regulatory work with bodies such as the Care Quality Commission.
Where these roles sit
Employers hiring at this level span the full adult social care sector: independent and charitable care home groups, domiciliary and live-in care agencies, supported living providers, NHS community services, and local authority-commissioned services. The roles sit in both private and not-for-profit organisations, ranging from small single-site providers to national care groups. Demand is consistent across England, with particular activity in areas with ageing populations and high volumes of local authority-funded placements.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place in a real workplace, with the apprentice applying leadership and management skills directly in an adult care setting throughout the programme. Before final assessment begins, the apprentice and their employer must confirm readiness, commonly called the gateway, demonstrating that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to the standard expected of a leader in care. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can genuinely perform the role, not just describe it. Assessment models across many standards are currently being updated as part of ongoing reforms, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong body of workplace evidence from the start is far more manageable than trying to compile it at the end. That means keeping records of leadership decisions, team management situations, safeguarding actions and service quality improvements as they happen. Regular reviews with both the employer and training provider help identify any gaps in the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected at the gateway. Arriving at final assessment with well-organised, real evidence from day-to-day practice gives the clearest picture of competence in leading an adult care service.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile; above 75% is a meaningful signal given the demands this standard places on working managers. Employer satisfaction scores matter here because this apprenticeship depends heavily on workplace learning, and a provider that actively supports line managers to supervise and assess will show that in their ratings. Check that tutors and coaches have direct experience in adult social care leadership, not just generic management qualifications. Learner reviews mentioning the Care Act, CQC inspection readiness, and workforce planning are a good sign the curriculum is current.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running very large cohorts with a falling achievement rate; working managers in care settings face high attrition pressure, and a provider without strong pastoral support will lose people mid-programme. Vague answers about how off-the-job hours are structured around shift patterns should give pause. Equally, if a provider cannot point to alumni currently working in registered manager or deputy manager roles, that is worth questioning. Any provider unable to explain their approach to the end-point assessment, specifically the professional discussion and portfolio, is underprepared.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you structure off-the-job learning around shift-based rotas?
- Can your coaches demonstrate direct experience working in or managing adult social care services?
- How do you prepare apprentices for the CQC inspection framework and the Care Act duties relevant to their role?
- What support do you offer if an apprentice changes employer or role mid-programme?
- How many apprentices from your recent cohorts have progressed into registered manager positions?
- What does your end-point assessment preparation look like, and what is your EPA pass rate for this standard?
Common questions
What entry requirements do applicants need to meet for the Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship?
There are no nationally set entry requirements, so employers decide what they need. Most will expect candidates to already be working in a care setting, ideally in a supervisory or senior care role. Some employers ask for a Level 3 care qualification or relevant experience managing others. Apprentices must have, or be working towards, Level 2 English and maths before they can complete the programme.
How long does the Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship take, and how does learning fit around work?
The typical duration is 18 months, though the exact minimum may be affected by ongoing reforms under Skills England. Off-the-job training is built into the working week, not done in the apprentice's own time. The split between on-the-job practice and structured learning varies by provider. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website for the latest requirements before committing.
How is the Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship assessed?
Before the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. Assessment methods for many standards are being reviewed as part of current reforms, so the exact format may change. Check the current assessment plan on the gov.uk apprenticeship standard page to confirm what end-point assessment your apprentice will face.
How does an employer pay for the Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £7,000, which caps what the government will contribute. Levy-paying employers draw the cost from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy SMEs pay 5% of the training cost and the government covers the remaining 95%. If you employ fewer than 50 people and take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, the government pays the full training cost. Any costs above the funding band are met by the employer.
What does a Leader in Adult Care apprentice actually do during the programme?
Day-to-day responsibilities typically include managing a team of care workers, overseeing care plans for adults with a range of needs, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding and regulatory standards. Apprentices are expected to lead shifts or services, handle staff performance conversations, liaise with families and health professionals, and take responsibility for quality and safety in the care environment. The apprentice does this as part of their regular employed role, not in a separate placement.
What can someone do after completing the Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship?
Completion at Level 5 positions someone well for registered manager roles in residential or domiciliary care settings, which often require registration with the Care Quality Commission. From there, progression routes include senior operations roles across larger care organisations. Further study options include Level 5 or Level 7 qualifications in leadership and management, social work, or health service management, depending on which direction the individual wants to take their career.
Not sure which provider fits?
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Need help choosing a provider?
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 537.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.