The Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in Social Care Diploma is designed to equip learners with the essential skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to enter the social care workforce. With adult social care identified as a national priority area for skills development, this qualification responds directly to the growing demand for well-trained, compassionate, and professional social care workers.
The course prepares students to work effectively in a range of social care support settings, developing the competence, values, and behaviours required for a successful career in the sector. It is an ideal pathway for those who are passionate about supporting individuals and communities and wish to progress into employment or higher education in health and social care.
This qualification includes a range of mandatory units that develop the core knowledge and practical skills required for working in social care settings. Areas of study include:
Assessment is continuous and ongoing throughout the course, with learners building a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and competence. Assessment methods include:
This approach ensures learners are well prepared for real-world social care environments.
Learners who successfully achieve this qualification can progress to employment, including (but not limited to):
Learners may also progress to further and higher education, including:
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in Social Care (Diploma)
If you are aged between 16 and 18 on 31st August (the year you start your studies) and received free school meals when you were at school, you may be eligible to receive a free meal at College. For more information on free school meals, click here.
All our Further Education (FE) courses (Entry to Level 3) are free to EU residents who are under 19 years old on the 31st August (the year you start your studies). For a few courses you may be expected to contribute towards the cost of specialist materials and resources. However, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial help from the College’s Learner Support Fund. You should apply for any such financial support as soon as you have been offered a place.
Care to learn - childcare support for young people aged 16-20
If you are aged under 20 at the beginning of your course, or moving to the 2nd year of a level 3 course, and are caring for your own child you may be entitled to £175.00 maximum per week, per child through Care to Learn.
Please ensure you register on the Care to Learn website even if you haven’t chosen your childcare provider or the course you want to study. Once you have registered Care to Learn will confirm financial support in principle.
For further details and help with making an application please visit https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or speak to a Student Advisor.
If you are aged 20+ when you start a course and need financial support to help with the cost of childcare while you study the college may be able to help.
You will be required to make use of any government NEF or 2+ Funding before requesting any financial support from the college.
It is essential that you speak to a Student Advisor prior to enrolling on a course to discuss your personal circumstances, childcare needs and to find out if there are funds available.
Eligibility for help with childcare costs is based on your personal circumstances.
You need to have evidence that you meet general discretionary Learner Support Funds or 19+ Advanced Learning Loan bursary fund criteria:
All childcare applicants approved for funding will be required to sign our Terms & Conditions and MUST inform the College immediately should they stop attending lessons for any reason.
Email learner.services@cwc.ac.uk to put your name on the childcare waiting list. You MUST speak to a member of the Student Advice or Learner Services team before you enrol on a course.The Education Funding Authority has allocated money to colleges to support students who are on low incomes or the dependent of parents on a low income, and need support towards their course-related costs or essential living costs or are facing financial difficulty.
For further information click here.
For further information on financial support for Looked after Children, Care Leavers and estranged young people, click here.