Ready to step up
A senior carer or team leader preparing for a deputy or manager role.
The care manager's qualification
Level 5 Health & Social Care Leadership & Management Diploma
The Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service for registered, deputy and assistant managers. Ofqual-regulated, portfolio-assessed, no exams — from about £46/month, £9 to start.
From ~£46/mo·£9 deposit· £1,100 total
Highfield
Ofqual-regulated (RQF)
Listed by Skills for Care
Highfield qualification
QN 610/7047/6
90 credits
Portfolio assessment
No exams
The outcome
What the Level 5 Adult Care Service diploma covers
Step into a registered or deputy manager role with the qualification employers and CQC expect — earned from the job you already do, evidenced as you work. No exams, no classroom, no career break.
Regulated on the RQF — qualification number 610/7047/6.
Who it is for
Is this you?
Need the qualification
A deputy manager who needs the Level 5 to progress towards registration.
Already doing the job
An experienced manager who wants relevant prior learning and experience assessed.
Why this course
Built for people who work full-time in care
A named destination
You will know the roles this qualification is designed to unlock.
Ask before you apply
Message the Riseladder Admissions Team on WhatsApp to check the course against your current role.
The whole price up front
Total price, deposit and monthly illustration are shown without hidden extras.
Awarding body and regulation
Check the qualification registerRecognised — and you can check it yourself
This is the Highfield Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (RQF), qualification number 610/7047/6. It is regulated on the RQF, supported by Skills for Care and designed to support workplace roles including registered, deputy and assistant managers.
Learning outcomes
What you will be able to do
Lead and manage a safe, person-centred adult care service. The 90-credit diploma is assessed through a portfolio of evidence, with no exams.
Lead people
Build capable teams, communicate clearly and lead a positive care culture.
Manage quality and risk
Strengthen governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and service improvement.
Meet standards
Use evidence and professional judgement to support safe, compliant services.
Career outcomes
See the care career ladder
How to become a registered care manager
Progress towards registered manager, deputy manager and care or service manager roles across care homes, domiciliary care and supported-living services.
Registered managerLead a regulated adult care service.
Deputy managerTake greater responsibility for teams and service delivery.
Care/service managerLead quality, people and operations across a care setting.
Entry requirements
What you need to start
Your starting point
- A Level 3 in adult care, or relevant experience in a care role.
- Access to appropriate workplace responsibilities and evidence.
- An eligibility check before enrolment.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Relevant prior learning can be reviewed before registration. If Highfield approves it, RPL may reduce preparation time, but it does not normally remove or change the assessment requirements. Supporting evidence must be valid, authentic, reliable, current and sufficient.
Check your eligibility in one messageStudy around 12-hour shifts
Fully online and self-paced — plan for about 6–8 hours a week around your rota. Evidence comes from your real work, so studying and working pull in the same direction.
Finish at your pace
Most learners complete in around 12–18 months. Your individual plan depends on your role, workplace evidence and assessment needs. Planned starts are available on Mondays.
Fees and payment
The whole price, in plain English
£1,100 total (was £1,500). Start with £9, then choose an illustrative 6-, 12-, 18- or 24-month payment schedule. Nothing else is due upfront.
- Total course price shown before you apply.
- Choose an illustration over 6, 12, 18 or 24 months.
- No fake countdown or manufactured deadline.
Progression routeFoundation You are here Next
This is a rung, not a ceiling
Level 3 Adult Care
Build the occupational foundation for senior care work.
Level 5 Care Leadership
Develop and evidence the skills to lead an adult care service.
Senior leadership
Progress towards advanced leadership and management routes.
Why Riseladder
Recognition, clarity, and straightforward support
- Ofqual-regulated Highfield qualification you can verify yourself.
- The whole price shown, with £9 to start.
- Direct WhatsApp access to the Riseladder Admissions Team.
- Prior learning is considered under Highfield's published RPL policy.
Frequently asked questions
What learners ask before they start
Is the Highfield Level 5 recognised?
Yes. The Highfield Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service (RQF), qualification number 610/7047/6, is regulated on the RQF and supported by Skills for Care.
Do I need it to be a registered manager?
It is the qualification employers and CQC expect registered managers in adult social care in England to hold or be working towards. We do not describe it as “CQC-approved” or legally mandatory in every circumstance.
How long does it take around full-time work?
Most learners complete in around 12–18 months with approximately 6–8 hours of study a week. Your individual plan depends on your role, workplace evidence and assessment needs.
Are there exams?
No. Assessment is through a portfolio of evidence. The qualification has a credit value of 90, a minimum of 599 guided learning hours and 900 total qualification time.
Does my experience count?
It may. Under Highfield's Recognition of Prior Learning policy, relevant learning can be reviewed before registration and may reduce preparation time. It does not normally remove or change assessment requirements, and evidence must be valid, authentic, reliable, current and sufficient.
What is the total cost?
The total price is £1,100. The approved payment illustration is £9 to start, followed by approximately £46 a month over 24 months.
Is the £9 deposit refundable?
Yes. The £9 deposit is refundable if you cancel within the 14-day online cooling-off period. Your statutory rights are unaffected.
Can I start anytime?
Planned starts are available on Mondays, subject to eligibility and enrolment confirmation.
Your next rung
Your Level 5 can start this Monday
£9 starts you after eligibility and application. The deposit is refundable during the 14-day online cooling-off period. Ask a question or apply without pressure.