Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice:

As part of the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework (CiP) there is a new entrance level qualification, the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice.

In line with the CiP Framework, all new social care staff, who are registering with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council for the first time, if supported by their employer to do so, will have the opportunity to complete this new work-based, qualification within the first 6 months of commencing employment as part of their induction process (you will learn more about the certificate as you scroll down the page).

Department of Health “Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025-2035” and the Care in Practice Framework Launch

On 12 December the Department for Health (DoH) launched the “Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025-2035″ and the Care in Practice Framework. At that event the following films were released. These showcase employers, training organisations and social care practitioners (learners) who undertook the pilot of the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice (See pilot impact report and guidance below). These films provided participants with the opportunity to tell us about their experience of the pilot. Click on the films below to learn more.

The Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice – What you need to know

The Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice was accredited by CCEA in September 2024. It has been approved for use with three awarding organisations:

OCN NI
ProQual.
Skills Education Group.

The Certificate has also be added to the Health and Social Care Level 2 Apprenticeship NI Framework.

Click here for more information about apprenticeships for individuals.

Click here for more information about apprenticeships for employers.

What does the qualification provide?

The qualification will provide workers with foundational knowledge and skills to enable them to work as an adult or children’s services social care practitioner within health and social care services.

This qualification consists of 7 units (see below for a list of units and their purpose) that will enable social care practitioners to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become confident in their practice and to work safely and effectively.

Qualification overview:

The following table tells you about the units to be completed:

Unit Title	Unit Purpose
Standards and Values Underpinning Social Care Practice	This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities and the values required to work as a registered social care practitioner. It will also help the worker to understand the importance of person-centred practice in social care.
Understand Safeguarding in Social Care Services	This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding individuals, as a registered social care practitioner.
Safe Moving and Positioning of Individuals in Social Care Services	This unit will help learners understand their responsibilities and how to move and position individuals safely in practice. It will also help learners to recognise, respond to and report unsafe practice in relation to moving and positioning.
Environmental Health and Safety in Social Care Services	This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to health and safety in the social care setting – including in relation to: – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) – Fire Safety – Infection Prevention and Control
Understand Safe Medication Practice in Social Care	This unit will help learners to understand their role and responsibilities in relation to the safe management of medication in social care practice.
Safe Food Handling and Dysphagia Awareness in Social Care Services	This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to safe food hygiene in social care settings. The learner will also be helped to understand what dysphagia is, how it effects individuals and their responsibilities when supporting someone with swallowing difficulties.
Emergency First Aid in Social Care Services	This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities when delivering basic emergency first aid.

NB Learners must fully complete all 7 units to be able to achieve this qualification.

After achieving the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice and their induction, social care practitioners may then be supported by their employer to work towards the achievement of a higher level, work-based social care qualification aligned with their job role and career progression.

Certificate Pilot, Impact and Guidance

The certificate was piloted with a number of employers and an Impact Report has been published (see below) and Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice Guidance to support employers and learners has been developed (click on the links below to learn more).