The ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care is a 120 credit Ofqual Regulated Qualification at the same level as the first year of a university degree. The aims of these qualifications are to develop knowledge, skills and understanding across a range of interrelated health & social care subjects and practices. Building on the core learning developed at Level 3, the Diploma qualification provides learners with a broad, practical foundation of both health and adult social care subjects. For learners seeking to further develop their occupational skills in adult social care, there is a specific Extended Diploma pathway to grow these skills; for learners looking for more of a bespoke/academic approach to the subject, the Extended Diploma offers a wide range of optional choices, and some more academically oriented units, to enable as broad an approach as possible to study.

The Diploma qualification is mapped to the knowledge and skill requirements for the Level 4 IfATE standard for Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (Home / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) and the Extended Diploma Adult Care pathway is mapped to the knowledge and skill requirements for Skills for Care’s Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care specification (Home – Skills for Care). In this way, learners can be assured that their learning and achievement is fully compatible with current health and social care sector expectations for learning and skills.*

Unit content and skill areas are explored systematically. Learners are expected to demonstrate both what they know and understand of the unit content, and how they apply it to a practical problem or situation. The emphasis of the qualification is on developing the individual’s personal understanding of the knowledge and skill requirements necessary to undertake a health and social care role/activity, and not on broader corporate or business-related issues/requirements.