A major step forward for the social care workforce in Northern Ireland has been achieved with the introduction of a new, streamlined Level 5 qualification for social care managers.
Following a detailed review led by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council), previous Level 5 Health and Social Care qualifications have now been replaced by a single Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care Services (Northern Ireland).
The new qualification has received approval from CCEA Regulation and is now available on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. As a result, the Department of Health and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) have written to employers to inform them of the change.
This qualification has now been added as an accepted registered social care manager qualification within the minimum standards for the following regulated services:
- Adult Day Care Minimum Standards
- Domiciliary Care Minimum Standards
- Residential Care Homes Minimum Standards
This Level 5 Diploma replaces two existing Level 5 qualifications and represents a significant development for the social care sector, enabling those qualified to manage across the range of adult health and social care services, rather than being limited to a specific service setting.
This approach supports greater workforce flexibility, facilitates career progression, and strengthens retention and transition arrangements for managers moving between service areas.
Tracy Reid, Chief Executive of the Social Care Council said:
“This represents a significant step forward for the social care reform agenda in Northern Ireland. By introducing a single Level 5 qualification that can be applied across multiple service areas, we are supporting the ambitions of the Care in Practice Framework and the Department of Health’s Social Care Workforce Strategy.
“I would like to thank everyone across the social care sector who contributed to the review of the Level 5 qualifications. Their input was essential in shaping a qualification that reflects the needs of a modern, flexible workforce and supports the delivery of high-quality care now and into the future.”
The Level 5 qualification will be available to undertake from September 2026, to find out more visit here.