Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare

Who is it for?

To achieve this qualification you will be working in a residential childcare setting. If you are a new residential care worker you will need to achieve the qualification within two years from employment.

You must be working with a minimum of two service users to complete the qualification and will need an expert witness who is occupationally competent to give verbal and written testimony of competence across specified units in the qualification.

What topics does the qualification cover?

The mandatory units cover the following areas:

• Core Knowledge - You will complete workbooks demonstrating your understanding of children and young people’s development, safeguarding and how to support children who have been harmed or abused
• Core Skills - You will demonstrate through being observed, questioning and completion of assigned tasks, your communication skills, assessment and planning with children and young people including risk management and supporting group living 
• Achieving Outcomes - You will demonstrate through being observed, professional discussion and completion of assigned tasks how to support positive outcomes for children and young people in relation to well-being, health learning and behaviour  
• Professional Practice - You will demonstrate through being observed and the completion of workbooks how they work in teams, engage with professional development and support the rights, diversity and equality of children and young people 

 A range of optional units to choose from relating to specific aspects of the work role include:

• The care system
• The youth justice system
• Working with children and young people with complex disabilities
• Working with families of children and young people in residential childcare
• Supporting the use of medication in social care settings

Programme structure

You will provide evidence of your work practice, including completing assignments, case studies, written accounts and providing work products. Evidence is uploaded to an e-portfolio which is available 24/7 on computers, tablets and mobile devices.

An Open University assessor will observe work-based practice on at least one occasion, assess evidence uploaded to the e-portfolio and provide developmental feedback.

You will have access through VQLearner Home to online resources specific to your qualification and links to suggested further study with The Open University.

Support will be provided throughout the qualification by the VQAC Learner Support Team.