Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Adult Care (RQF)

The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Adult Care (RQF) is the qualification most commonly required for registered manager roles in CQC-regulated adult care services. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects registered managers of residential homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care agencies, and supported living services to hold a relevant Level 5 qualification. Skills for Care recommends it as the standard management qualification for the adult social care sector, and many private providers will not appoint a registered manager without it.

Most learners complete the Level 5 Diploma in 12 to 18 months, studying around 10 to 15 hours per week. Because the course is fully online and self-paced, you can progress faster with intensive study or spread it over up to 24 months if your management responsibilities require a slower pace. There are no fixed deadlines between units — you submit evidence when you are ready, and your tutor provides feedback promptly.

You need to be working in a management or senior supervisory role with sufficient leadership responsibilities to generate the portfolio evidence required by the units. Typical roles include deputy manager, service manager, senior care coordinator, or a senior care worker with team leadership responsibilities. Your role must allow you to undertake tasks such as staff supervision, involvement in quality assurance, and leading on aspects of care delivery. If you are unsure whether your current role is suitable, speak to our admissions team before you enrol.

Yes — the TQUK Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management for Adult Care (RQF) is an Ofqual-regulated qualification aligned with the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Leadership and Management in Care Services. The CQC expects registered managers to hold a relevant Level 5 qualification, and this diploma meets that expectation. TQUK is a nationally recognised awarding organisation with a strong track record in the adult care and health sector.

The Level 5 Diploma is the standard management qualification for most registered manager, service manager, and operations roles in adult care. A Level 7 qualification — typically an MBA, MA, or senior leadership programme — is aimed at strategic and executive leaders managing multiple services, organisations, or systems. Most registered managers and area managers will not require a Level 7. However, if you aspire to head of operations, director of care, or regional director roles in large organisations, a Level 7 can be beneficial and is often funded by employers.

Assessment is entirely portfolio and competency based — there are no written exams. You compile a portfolio of evidence from your real leadership and management practice, including reflective accounts, work products (such as policies, supervision records, and quality audit reports), written assignments, and professional discussions. A TQUK-registered assessor will also observe your practice in your workplace setting. All learning outcomes must be met to achieve a Pass; there is no grading scale.

Registered managers in adult care typically earn between £33,000 and £42,000 per year, with salaries varying by service type, size, and location. Skills for Care and sector recruitment data suggest that registered managers in London and the South East often earn above £40,000, while those in the North and Midlands typically earn in the £33,000–£38,000 range. Deputy managers typically earn £28,000–£35,000. Area and regional managers can earn £40,000–£55,000 or more.

Yes — the qualification is specifically designed for working professionals. All study is online, self-paced, and completed around your management responsibilities. Many learners complete the diploma while working full-time as deputy managers, using their day-to-day leadership activities — supervising staff, managing quality, implementing safeguarding procedures — as the real-world evidence for their portfolio. Your personal tutor will help you identify how your existing work maps to the unit requirements.

The Level 5 Diploma covers leadership and management theory applied to adult care settings, governance and regulatory compliance (including CQC inspection frameworks), person-centred practice at a leadership level, effective decision-making, business and resource management, team leadership and development, safeguarding and mental capacity, quality improvement and change management, equality and inclusion, communication, and handling information. Optional units allow you to specialise in dementia care leadership, end of life care management, infection prevention and control, or staff performance appraisal.

Many adult care employers — particularly larger providers and NHS trusts — will fund the Level 5 Diploma for deputy managers and managers they wish to develop. Skills for Care’s Workforce Development Fund (WDF) may also provide grant funding to eligible employers to cover training costs. We can provide invoices and documentation to support employer-funded enrolments. If your employer is not able to fund the full cost, our monthly payment plan from £89 per month allows you to spread the cost with no credit check required.