The ProQual Level 3 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is an advanced vocational qualification designed for experienced care practitioners seeking to deepen their knowledge and enhance their professional capabilities within the sector. This comprehensive programme builds upon foundational understanding, exploring complex areas such as managing safeguarding concerns, leading person-centred care planning, and understanding mental capacity legislation. The curriculum covers specialist topics including supporting individuals with multiple conditions, end-of-life care coordination, and promoting professional development within care teams. Successful completion confirms that an individual possesses the advanced knowledge and supervisory competence required to work autonomously within diverse health and social care settings.
This qualification places strong emphasis on developing critical thinking, professional judgement, and ethical decision-making at an advanced support level. Participants will engage with topics such as implementing positive risk-taking, championing diversity and inclusion, and contributing to quality improvement initiatives. The content is designed to build confidence in managing complex care scenarios, supporting individuals with high support needs, and understanding organisational policy frameworks. Assessment is conducted through portfolio building, allowing candidates to demonstrate their knowledge through detailed reflective accounts, case studies, and work-based evidence that captures their advanced understanding and professional growth within real care environments.
The ProQual Level 3 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is specifically designed for experienced practitioners ready to enhance their expertise and progress into senior support worker or care coordinator roles. Upon achievement, learners may choose to pursue further specialised certifications in areas such as advanced dementia care, palliative care support, or mental health crisis intervention, as well as higher-level diplomas focusing on registered management and service development. This certificate stands alone as a significant professional achievement, validating both advanced theoretical knowledge and practical competence while opening doors to enhanced career progression and specialist roles across the health and social care sector.
Program Highlights
To achieve the ProQual Level 3 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills: Candidates must achieve a minimum of 13 credits: a minimum of 8 credits must be from the Level 3 units and the remaining 5 credits can be from any combination of units from the Level 2 or Level 3 or Level 4 units
Mandatory Units
| Sr# | Unit Title | Credit Value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Implement person centred approaches in health and social care | 5 | 33 |
| 2 | Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Assist in the administration of medication | 4 | 31 |
| 4 | Carry out personal hygiene for individuals unable to care for themselves | 3 | 30 |
| 5 | Support individuals with speech and language disorders to develop their communication skills | 4 | 27 |
| 6 | Perform the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures | 3 | 20 |
| 7 | Minimise the risk of infection when transporting and storing healthcare waste | 3 | 30 |
| 8 | Assist in the issuing of prescribed items | 3 | 30 |
| 9 | Assist in the manufacture and assembly of medicinal products | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | Assist in the preparation of documentation, materials and other items for manufacture and assembly of medicinal products | 10 | 32 |
| 11 | Support individuals to carry out their own health care procedures | 2 | 23 |
| 12 | Provide support for therapy sessions | 2 | 6 |
| 13 | Contribute to the discharge of individuals to carers | 2 | 45 |
| 14 | Paediatric Emergency First Aid | 1 | 23 |
| 15 | Introduction to communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 3 | 20 |
| 16 | Support individuals to meet personal care needs | 2 | 24 |
| 17 | Contribute to the safe use of medical devices in the perioperative environment | 4 | 25 |
| 18 | Causes and Spread of Infection | 2 | 20 |
| 19 | Prepare documentation, materials, components and other items for the preparation of aseptic products | 6 | 38 |
| 20 | Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 1 | 28 |
| 21 | Provide support for mobility | 2 | 30 |
| 22 | Assist others to plan presentations | 2 | 38 |
| 23 | Order Routine Pharmaceutical Stock | 3 | 33 |
| 24 | Dementia Awareness | 2 | 13 |
| 25 | Support individuals to manage continence | 3 | 26 |
| 26 | Move and position individuals in accordance with their plan of care | 4 | 25 |
| 27 | Handle information in health and social care settings | 1 | 43 |
| 28 | The role of the health and social care worker | 2 | 40 |
| 29 | Obtain and test specimens from individuals | 2 | 14 |
| 30 | Prepare individuals for healthcare activities | 3 | 27 |
| 31 | Assist in planning and evaluating learning activities | 3 | 35 |
| 32 | Provide support to the surgical team when preparing individuals for operative and invasive procedures | 2 | 35 |
| 33 | Assist the practitioner to carry out health care activities | 2 | 32 |
| 34 | Assist the practitioner to carry out health care activities | 2 | 32 |
| 35 | Work in partnership with families to support individuals | 4 | 45 |
| 36 | Minimise the risk of infection during the removal of used linen | 2 | 27 |
| 37 | Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities | 3 | 24 |
| 38 | Select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment for work in health care settings | 4 | 20 |
| 39 | Monitor and maintain the environment and resources during and after clinical / therapeutic activities | 3 | 20 |
| 40 | Prepare and dress for scrubbed clinical roles | 3 | 26 |
| 41 | Care for individuals with naso-gastric tubes | 3 | 26 |
| 42 | The principles of Infection Prevention and Control | 3 | 24 |
| 43 | Assist with the provision of a pharmacy service to meet individuals’ needs | 3 | 25 |
| 44 | Contribute to the effectiveness of teams | 3 | 28 |
| 45 | Support individuals who are distressed | 3 | 10 |
| 46 | Support individuals undergoing healthcare activities | 4 | 26 |
| 47 | Assist in receiving, handling and dispatching clinical specimens | 2 | 20 |
| 48 | Assist in the sale of medicines and products | 8 | 22 |
| 49 | Prepare aseptic products | 10 | 22 |
| 50 | Prepare and apply dressings and drains to individuals in the perioperative environment | 2 | 25 |
| 51 | Planning and Monitoring Work | 2 | 28 |
| 52 | Cleaning, Decontamination and Waste Management | 2 | 16 |
| 53 | Ensure your own Actions Reduce risks to Health and Safety | 2 | 14 |
| 54 | Introduction to equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 2 | 30 |
| 55 | Provide agreed support for foot care | 3 | 25 |
| 56 | Contribute to health and safety in health and social care | 4 | 37 |
| 57 | Support independence in the tasks of daily living | 5 | 35 |
| 58 | Prepare equipment for intraoperative cell salvage blood collection | 2 | 30 |
| 59 | Maintaining quality standards in the health sector | 1 | 23 |
| 60 | Support participation in learning and development activities | 1 | 24 |
| 61 | Provide support for sleep | 3 | 30 |
| 62 | Remove wound closure materials | 3 | 23 |
| 63 | Support individuals to eat and drink | 2 | 25 |
| 64 | Undertake agreed pressure area care | 3 | 32 |
| 65 | Service improvement in the health sector | 2 | 43 |
| 66 | Meet food safety requirements when providing food and drink for individuals | 4 | 32 |
| 67 | Understand loss and grief in end of life care | 2 | 30 |
| 68 | Understand how to work in end of life care | 2 | 28 |
| 69 | Collection of used equipment | 3 | 35 |
| 70 | Sort used equipment and dispose of waste | 3 | 41 |
| 71 | Stroke awareness | 2 | 30 |
| 72 | Introductory awareness of sensory loss | 2 | 34 |
| 73 | Assist in the issuing of pharmaceutical stock | 3 | 38 |
| Sr# | Unit Title | Credit Value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Work with babies and young children to promote their development and learning | 6 | 45 |
| 2 | Engage in personal development in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Support individuals with multiple conditions and/or disabilities | 4 | 31 |
| 4 | Support individuals who are bereaved | 4 | 30 |
| 5 | Prepare for and carry out extended feeding techniques | 4 | 27 |
| 6 | Provide support to continue recommended therapie | 3 | 20 |
| 7 | Insert and secure nasogastric tubes | 4 | 30 |
| 8 | Develop positive relationships with children and young people | 4 | 30 |
| 9 | Provide advice and information to enable parents to promote the health and well-being of their newborn babies | 3 | 22 |
| 10 | Facilitate and monitor housing and accommodation services to support individuals with mental health needs | 5 | 32 |
| 11 | Collaborate in the assessment of environmental and social support in the community | 4 | 23 |
| 12 | Influencing Others at Work | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Care for the physical and nutritional needs of babies and young children | 6 | 45 |
| 14 | Support families who have a child with a disability | 3 | 23 |
| 15 | Support individuals to manage their finances | 3 | 20 |
| 16 | Obtain venous blood samples | 3 | 24 |
| 17 | Implement therapeutic group activities | 3 | 25 |
| 18 | Collate and communicate health information to individuals | 3 | 20 |
| 19 | Provide information and advice to individuals on eating to maintain optimum nutritional status | 5 | 38 |
| 20 | Assist in the implementation of programmes to increase mobility, movement and functional independence | 4 | 28 |
| 21 | Receive and handle clinical specimens within the sterile field | 4 | 30 |
| 22 | Prepare anaesthetic environment and provide support for pre and post-operative anaesthesia and recovery | 5 | 38 |
| 23 | Make recommendations for the use of physical resources in a health setting | 5 | 33 |
| 24 | Maintaining quality standards in the health sector | 2 | 13 |
| 25 | Understand Models of Disability | 3 | 26 |
| 26 | Support individuals to access and use services and facilities | 4 | 25 |
| 27 | Promote and implement health and safety in health and social care | 6 | 43 |
| 28 | Support young people with a disability to make the transition into adulthood | 5 | 40 |
| 29 | Understand mental well-being and mental health promotion | 3 | 14 |
| 30 | Carry out vision screening | 4 | 27 |
| 31 | Assist professionals to support individuals from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to access speech and language therapy services | 5 | 35 |
| 32 | Implement hydrotherapy programmes for individuals and groups | 5 | 35 |
| 33 | Deliver exercise sessions to improve individuals’ health and wellbeing | 5 | 32 |
| 34 | Provide support to the surgical team when preparing individuals for operative and invasive procedures | 4 | 32 |
| 35 | Facilitate person centred assessment, planning, implementation and review | 6 | 45 |
| 36 | Work in partnership with families to support individuals | 4 | 27 |
| 37 | Support individuals to develop and run support groups | 3 | 24 |
| 38 | Monitor own work practice in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 3 | 20 |
| 39 | Perform first line calibration on clinical equipment to ensure it is fit for use | 3 | 20 |
| 40 | Monitor and review individuals progress in relation to maintaining optimum nutritional status | 3 | 26 |
| 41 | Give presentations to groups | 4 | 26 |
| 42 | Support individuals in undertaking their chosen activities | 4 | 24 |
| 43 | Control the use of physical resources in a health setting | 3 | 25 |
| 44 | Support children and young people experiencing transitions | 3 | 28 |
| 45 | Promote communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 3 | 10 |
| 46 | Contribute to the prevention of aggressive and abusive behaviour of people | 4 | 26 |
| 47 | Service improvement in the health sector | 3 | 20 |
| 48 | Understand the process and experience of dementia | 3 | 22 |
| 49 | Understand Physical Disability | 3 | 22 |
| 50 | Support individuals with a learning disability to access healthcare | 3 | 25 |
| 51 | Undertake urethral catheterisation processes | 4 | 28 |
| 52 | Promote good practice in handling information in health and social care settings | 2 | 16 |
| 53 | Understand mental health problems | 3 | 14 |
| 54 | Perform routine Electrocardiograph (ECG) Procedures | 4 | 30 |
| 55 | Undertake treatments and dressings of lesions and wounds | 4 | 25 |
| 56 | Adapt and fit healthcare equipment, medical devices, assistive technology, or products, to meet individuals’ needs | 6 | 37 |
| 57 | Administer oral nutritional products to individuals | 5 | 35 |
| 58 | Promote effective communication with individuals with sensory loss | 4 | 30 |
| 59 | Work with other professionals and agencies to support individuals with physical disability | 3 | 23 |
| 60 | Support individuals to access housing and accommodation services | 4 | 24 |
| 61 | Identify information requirements in a health context | 4 | 30 |
| 62 | Prepare and reproduce permanent radiographic images | 4 | 23 |
| 63 | Develop and prepare speech and language therapy resources for alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) use | 4 | 25 |
| 64 | Carry out wound drainage care | 4 | 32 |
| 65 | Prepare and provide surgical instrumentation and supplementary items for the surgical team | 6 | 43 |
| 66 | Care for a newly born baby when the mother is unable to do so | 4 | 32 |
| 67 | Understand Child and Young Person Development | 4 | 30 |
| 68 | Provide support to maintain and develop skills for everyday life | 4 | 28 |
| 69 | Facilitate learning and development activities to meet individual needs and preferences | 5 | 35 |
| 70 | Enable individuals with behavioural difficulties to develop strategies to change their behaviour | 8 | 41 |
| 71 | Reprocess endoscopy equipment | 4 | 30 |
| 72 | Support individuals with cognition and learning difficulties | 5 | 34 |
| 73 | Assist in testing individuals’ abilities prior to planning physical activities | 5 | 38 |
| 74 | Support individuals to manage dysphagia | 5 | 35 |
| 75 | Provide advice on foot care for individuals with diabetes | 3 | 23 |
| 76 | Transport, transfer and position individuals and equipment within the perioperative environment | 5 | 32 |
| 77 | Understand Sensory Loss | 3 | 21 |
| 78 | Support families who are affected by Acquired Brain Injury | 3 | 30 |
| 79 | Support individuals during a period of change | 4 | 29 |
| 80 | Perform intravenous cannulation | 4 | 34 |
| 81 | Care for individuals with urethral catheters | 4 | 30 |
| 82 | Conduct routine maintenance on clinical equipment | 4 | 30 |
| 83 | Assist and support individuals to use alternative and augmentative communication systems (AAC) | 5 | 35 |
| 84 | Measure and record individuals’ body fluid balance in a perioperative environment | 4 | 23 |
| 85 | Support parents/carers to interact with and care for their newborn baby | 4 | 30 |
| 86 | Deliver training through demonstration and instruction | 3 | 21 |
| 87 | Principles for implementing duty of care in health social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 1 | 5 |
| 88 | Promote Child and Young Person Development | 3 | 25 |
| 89 | Develop and sustain effective working relationships with staff in other agencies | 4 | 24 |
| 90 | Undertake physiological measurements | 3 | 23 |
| 91 | Undertake stoma care | 4 | 30 |
| 92 | Assure the effective functioning of radiographic image processing equipment | 4 | 25 |
| 93 | Operate equipment for intraoperative cell salvage blood collection | 5 | 40 |
| 94 | Advise and inform individuals on managing their condition | 5 | 31 |
| 95 | Assist others to monitor individuals’ progress in managing dysphagia | 5 | 38 |
| 96 | Support carers to meet the care needs of individuals | 5 | 30 |
| 97 | Maintain pharmaceutical stock | 3 | 4 |
| 98 | Anatomy and Physiology for Maternity Support Workers | 2 | 20 |
| 99 | Receive prescriptions from individuals | 3 | 15 |
| 100 | Understand how to support individuals with autistic spectrum conditions | 3 | 28 |
| 101 | Support Individuals with Specific Communication Needs | 5 | 35 |
| 102 | Obtain and test capillary blood samples | 4 | 30 |
| 103 | Support individuals at the end of life | 7 | 53 |
| 104 | Contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working | 3 | 20 |
| 105 | Analyse and present health related data and information | 4 | 30 |
| 106 | Remove wound drains | 4 | 27 |
| 107 | Develop activities and materials to enable individuals to reach specific communication goals | 5 | 38 |
| 108 | Operate equipment for intraoperative cell salvage blood processing and complete intraoperative cell salvage blood process | 5 | 39 |
| 109 | Support parents/carers and those in a parental role to care for babies during their first year | 5 | 36 |
| 110 | Obtain a client history | 3 | 22 |
| 111 | Manage the availability of physical resources to meet service delivery needs in a health setting | 5 | 33 |
| 112 | Administer medication to individuals, and monitor the effects | 5 | 30 |
| 113 | Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items prior to the final accuracy check | 4 | 11 |
| 114 | Promote equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings | 2 | 8 |
| 115 | Understand the impact of Acquired Brain Injury on individuals | 3 | 28 |
| 116 | Support individuals to live at home | 4 | 25 |
| 117 | Promote person centred approaches in health and social care | 6 | 41 |
| 118 | interact with and support individuals using telecommunications | 5 | 36 |
| 119 | Undertake tissue viability risk assessments | 3 | 26 |
| 120 | Manufacture equipment or medical devices for individuals within healthcare | 4 | 30 |
| 121 | Provide support for individuals with communication and interaction difficulties | 5 | 39 |
| 122 | Monitor individuals’ progress in relation to managing their body weight and nutrition | 3 | 26 |
| 123 | Assist in implementing treatment programmes for individuals with severely reduced movement/mobility | 5 | 29 |
| 124 | Assist in the delivery of perioperative care and support to individuals | 4 | 31 |
| 125 | Examine the feet of individuals with diabetes | 4 | 32 |
| 126 | Communicate with individuals about promoting their health and wellbeing while working as a Health Trainer | 3 | 15 |
| 127 | Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People | 3 | 25 |
| 128 | Support Children and Young People’s Health and Safety | 2 | 15 |
| 129 | Develop Positive Relationship with Children, Young People and Others Involved in Their Care | 1 | 8 |
| 130 | Working Together for the Benefit of Children and Young People | 2 | 15 |
| 131 | Understand How to Support Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People | 3 | 25 |
| 132 | Assessment and planning with children and young people | 5 | 35 |
| 133 | Promote the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people | 4 | 30 |
| 134 | Professional practice in children and young people’s social care | 4 | 30 |
| 135 | Support individuals to prepare for and settle in to new home environments | 3 | 23 |
| 136 | Promote positive behaviour | 6 | 44 |
| 137 | Support use of medication in social care settings | 5 | 40 |
| 138 | Provide information and advice to children and young people | 3 | 22 |
| 139 | Support young people to move towards independence and manage their lives | 3 | 20 |
| 140 | Work with children and young people in a residential care setting | 5 | 35 |
| 141 | Support positive practice with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs | 4 | 28 |
| 142 | Support children or young people in their own home | 4 | 30 |
| 143 | Support positive attachments for children and young people | 7 | 55 |
| 144 | Support individuals with autistic spectrum conditions | 4 | 33 |
| 145 | Prepare, load and operate decontamination equipment | 3 | 23 |
| 146 | Carry out sterilisation and product release of reuseable medical devices | 3 | 24 |
| 147 | Understand how to monitor the decontamination process | 2 | 19 |
| 148 | Monitor and solve customer service problems | 1 | 8 |
| 149 | Plan, allocate and monitor work of a team | 6 | 40 |
| 150 | Understand Stroke Care Management | 5 | 25 |
| 151 | Conduct hearing assessments | 4 | 36 |
| 152 | Conduct External Ear Examinations | 5 | 38 |
| 153 | Carry out intravenous infusion | 4 | 28 |
| 154 | Carry out blood collection from fixed or central lines | 4 | 30 |
| 155 | Diabetes Awareness | 4 | 30 |
| 156 | Introduction to the role and responsibilities of a Health Trainer | 6 | 46 |
| 157 | Establishing and developing relationships with communities while working as a Health Trainer | 4 | 20 |
| 158 | Enable individuals to change their behaviour to improve their health and wellbeing while working as a Health Trainer | 3 | 10 |
| 159 | Clinical Imaging Support Worker: Anatomy and Terminology | 5 | 25 |
| 160 | Clinical Imaging Support Worker: Fundamentals of Care | 3 | 24 |
| 161 | Clinical Imaging Support Worker: Radiation Protection and Awareness | 6 | 48 |
| 162 | The Use of Contrast Media in Clinical Imaging | 3 | 24 |
| 163 | Speech and Language Support for 11-16s: From Theory into Practice | 2 | 15 |
| 164 | Speech and Language Support for 5-11s: From Theory into Practice | 9 | 63 |
| 165 | Communication Support for 0-25s with Severe and Complex Needs: From Theory into Practice | 9 | 63 |
| 166 | Speech and language support for under 5s: From theory into practice | 9 | 63 |
| 167 | Receive pharmaceutical stock | 3 | 9 |
| Sr# | Unit Title | Credit Value | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Support disabled children and young people and those with specific requirements | 6 | 45 |
| 2 | Enable children and young people to understand their health and well-being | 5 | 38 |
| 3 | Develop and agree individualised care plans for babies and families | 5 | 38 |
| 4 | Understand the needs of children and young people who are vulnerable and experiencing poverty and disadvantage | 5 | 40 |
| 5 | Support individuals to access education, training or employment | 4 | 31 |
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for this advanced qualification are designed to ensure that learners possess the necessary experience, foundational knowledge, and personal maturity to engage successfully with complex care topics and demonstrate advanced understanding within health and social care settings.
- Age Requirements: Learners must be at least 18 years of age. This minimum age reflects the level of personal maturity, professional responsibility, and emotional resilience required to engage with complex care situations, safeguarding matters, and ethical decision-making within regulated care environments.
- Educational Background: Learners should ideally hold a relevant Level 2 qualification in health and social care or a related field. This may include the ProQual Level 2 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills, Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or equivalent certifications. Related diplomas in subjects such as childcare, early years, supporting individuals with disabilities, or introductory mental health qualifications also provide a helpful foundation. GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in English and mathematics are beneficial but not mandatory.
- Language Proficiency: Learners must possess a strong command of written and spoken English. The qualification requires completion of detailed reflective accounts, case studies, care plans, risk assessments, and written evidence for the portfolio. A minimum equivalent to GCSE grade C/4 in English is strongly recommended to enable learners to meet the written demands of the programme effectively.
These entry criteria ensure that every learner undertaking this certificate possesses the practical experience, foundational qualifications, and professional readiness required to succeed at an advanced level. Whether you are progressing from a Level 2 Certificate or Diploma, bringing related qualifications from childcare or health-related fields, or seeking formal recognition for your established experience as a support worker, this programme demands genuine commitment and a proven foundation in delivering quality care. It is designed for those who are ready to move beyond foundational knowledge and into advanced understanding, specialist practice, and increased responsibility within the health and social care sector.
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding of Healthcare and Social Care:
- Explain the principles and values underpinning healthcare and social care practice.
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of healthcare and social care workers.
- Effective Communication:
- Demonstrate effective communication skills when interacting with service users, their families, and colleagues.
- Show an understanding of the importance of confidentiality in healthcare and social care settings.
- Safeguarding and Welfare:
- Identify signs of abuse and neglect and understand the procedures for reporting such incidents.
- Promote the welfare and well-being of service users, ensuring their safety and dignity.
- Person-Centered Care:
- Implement person-centered care approaches that respect individual needs and preferences.
- Recognize and respond to the diverse needs of service users, including those with specific health conditions or disabilities.
- Health and Safety:
- Maintain a safe and hygienic working environment in compliance with relevant health and safety regulations.
- Recognize and manage potential risks to service users, colleagues, and oneself.
- Infection Control:
- Apply effective infection control measures to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare and social care settings.
- Follow appropriate hygiene practices and maintain cleanliness.
- Medication Administration:
- Administer medications accurately and safely, adhering to best practices and protocols.
- Understand the importance of accurate record-keeping in medication management.
- Teamwork and Collaboration:
- Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care to service users.
- Communicate and share information with colleagues to ensure coordinated care delivery.
- Professional Development:
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and staying up-to-date with best practices and industry standards.
- Reflect on personal performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Ethical and Legal Considerations:
- Adhere to ethical principles and legal requirements in healthcare and social care practice.
- Respect the rights and choices of service users, including issues related to consent and confidentiality.
- Equality and Diversity:
- Promote equality and diversity in all aspects of care provision.
- Challenge discrimination and support inclusion for all service users.
- End of Life Care:
- Provide sensitive and compassionate care to individuals approaching the end of life and their families.
- Understand the principles of palliative and hospice care.
- These learning outcomes encompass a wide range of skills and knowledge areas necessary for professionals in advanced healthcare and social care support roles, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to make a positive impact on the well-being of individuals and communities they serve.
Target Audiences
The ProQual Level 3 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is designed for experienced care practitioners who have established a solid foundation in care delivery and are now ready to deepen their knowledge, develop advanced understanding, and prepare for increased responsibility within their roles. This qualification is ideal for those who wish to specialise in complex support areas, enhance their professional credibility, and demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of person-centred care principles without necessarily moving into full management or supervisory positions. It offers a balanced blend of theoretical depth and practical application for those committed to excellence in care practice.
- Experienced Care Assistants and Support Workers – Practitioners with at least one year of experience working in residential care homes, domiciliary care services, day centres, or supported living environments who wish to formalise their advanced knowledge and enhance their professional standing.
- Holders of Level 2 Health and Social Care Qualifications – Learners who have successfully completed the ProQual Level 2 Certificate in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills, Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or equivalent foundational qualifications and are now ready to build upon that foundation with advanced study.
- Specialist Support Workers – Individuals working with specific client groups such as older people, individuals with dementia, adults with learning disabilities, or those requiring palliative care who wish to develop deeper theoretical knowledge within their specialist area.
- Care Coordinators and Junior Supervisors – Those already undertaking informal leadership responsibilities, such as inducting new staff, supporting junior colleagues, or contributing to care plan reviews, who require a formal qualification that reflects their advanced practice level.
- Individuals with Related Diplomas or Certificates – Learners who hold qualifications in allied fields such as Level 2 or Level 3 Certificates in Supporting Individuals with Mental Health Needs, Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia, Level 2 Certificate in Understanding End of Life Care, or diplomas in childcare and early years, and wish to specialise within adult health and social care.
- Experienced Care Workers without Formal Qualifications – Long-serving care assistants or support workers who have developed significant practical competence through years of experience but lack a formal qualification at Level 3, and now seek recognition of their advanced knowledge and capabilities.
- Volunteers with Substantial Experience – Unpaid carers or community volunteers who have accumulated extensive practical experience within hospice, charity, or community settings and now require a formal certificate to validate their advanced understanding and access paid employment opportunities.
This qualification is for the care worker who consistently goes above and beyond, the support worker who seeks to understand the why behind the what, and the experienced assistant who is ready to specialise and excel. It is for those who understand that excellent care requires not only compassion but also deep theoretical knowledge, critical reflection, and a commitment to continuous professional development. Whether you are building upon a Level 2 Diploma, bringing related qualifications from mental health or dementia care, or seeking formal recognition for years of dedicated service, this certificate is designed for those who are ready to deepen their expertise, enhance their practice, and demonstrate that they are truly specialists within their chosen field of care.
