Course overview
Good care starts with understanding the person you support. This course introduces the principles behind respectful, safe and responsible adult social care, helping you explore what a care worker’s role involves before taking your next step.
Across nine mandatory units, you will explore how to communicate with people, respect their choices, recognise safeguarding concerns and work within professional boundaries. The course also covers equality and inclusion, duty of care, health and safety, information handling and personal development.
The qualification focuses on knowledge and understanding. It is a foundation for exploring care work and further study, rather than a substitute for workplace induction or a qualification that assesses practical competence in a care role.
Who is this course for?
This course is suited to people exploring a first role in adult social care, career changers who want to understand the sector, and people looking for a structured introduction to care principles.
It may also interest people who support others informally and want to understand professional responsibilities. If you already work in care, ask our admissions team whether this introductory certificate or a work-based care diploma is the better fit for your goals.
Fees and funding
The course fee is £500. This is a self-funded course; no funding is available. Ask JFC to confirm what the fee includes and the payment arrangements before booking.
Funding
No funding is available for this course.
What you will learn
- Communicate respectfully: recognise different communication needs and understand barriers that can affect conversations in care settings.
- Put the person first: understand how dignity, choice, independence and individual preferences shape person-centred support.
- Promote equality and inclusion: recognise discrimination and understand why people must be treated fairly and respectfully.
- Understand safeguarding: recognise the principles of protecting adults from abuse and the importance of reporting concerns.
- Understand duty of care: explore responsibilities, professional boundaries and situations where rights and safety need careful consideration.
- Know your role: understand agreed ways of working, working relationships and the responsibilities of a social care worker.
- Support safer care: explore health and safety principles, including risks, infection prevention and safe working practices.
- Handle information responsibly: understand confidentiality, secure information handling and the importance of accurate records.
- Develop your practice: understand reflection, feedback and personal development as part of working in care.
Course units (9)
Mandatory units
- Principles of diversity, equality and inclusion in adult social care settings
- Understand person-centred approaches in adult social care settings
- Principles of communication in adult social care settings
- Principles of personal development in adult social care settings
- Understand the role of the social care worker
- Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
- Understand health and safety in social care settings
- Understand how to handle information in social care settings
- Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care
Learners must achieve all 9 mandatory units, totalling 20 credits.
How you will learn
JFC provides 3 days of training, with a choice of in-person or online delivery. The course content is organised around the nine mandatory qualification units, connecting the principles of care with situations such as respecting someone’s choices, handling confidential information and recognising a concern.
The 3 days describe the training schedule, not a promise of certification in 3 days. You must meet the qualification requirements to achieve the certificate. Ask our team to confirm session times, assessment arrangements and any work to complete outside taught sessions before you enrol.
Assessment
To achieve this certificate, you must successfully complete all nine mandatory units, totalling 20 credits. Attendance at the training sessions alone does not award the qualification.
Our admissions team can explain the assessment format, evidence requirements and completion timetable before you book.
You will qualify with
- Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care (RQF)
- 20 credits across nine mandatory units.
Careers and progression
Career options
- Care assistant roles — subject to employer requirements
- Support worker roles — subject to employer requirements
- Domiciliary care roles — subject to employer requirements
Progress on to
- Explore the Level 3 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care to develop your knowledge further; admissions requirements and availability must be confirmed.
- Consider a work-based Level 2 Diploma in Care or Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care when you have a suitable role or placement and meet that course’s entry requirements.
Skills employers look for
- Empathy and patience
- Active listening
- Personal care
- Safeguarding awareness
- Accurate record keeping
- Medication support
- Working on shifts
- Teamwork
Frequently asked questions
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