Become a Manager in the Childcare Sector

Your career in childcare is going well so now you want to progress to management by taking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

To be eligible to take this exam you should already be working as a support worker a team leader and assistant or deputy manager or supervisor in either adult care or young people in children’s services.

Qualifying for the level 5 diploma will include workplace assessment. The aim of the diploma is to show that you understand and can demonstrate the knowledge and skill that is required for management
in young people and children services.

With this qualification, you will need to cover various mandatory modules which will assess your core skills, knowledge and your competency. Other specialised optional units can be
added to reflect the context of the learner and the work setting. To undertake this level 5 qualification you will need to be 19 years or over.

You will need to complete 15 modules and will require 57 credits to include:

• Demonstrating an understanding of young people and children’s development in the setting of residential childcare.
• Demonstrate understanding of how to support young people and children who are at a disadvantage or vulnerable.
• Demonstrating ability to lead and to manage a team in the setting of residential childcare.
• Take the lead in supporting safeguarding for children and young people as well as their protection
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate and to inform through management.
• Demonstrate an ability to anticipate and manage risk.
• Demonstrate ability to successfully manage living as a group within the setting of residential childcare.
• Demonstrate the ability to offer a service that will adequately support young people or children who have been subject to abuse or harm.
• Demonstrate the ability to achieve a positive outcome for the young people and children in your care, within the residential childcare setting.
• Demonstrate the ability to achieve Positive Relationship Policies within the setting of residential childcare.
• Demonstrate your ability to support the resilience and general well-being of the young people and children under your care.
• You will have to demonstrate your ability to lead safe practice in the use of Internet, digital and other mobile technologies in relation to young people and children in residential care.
• Undertake to further your professional development in the setting of residential childcare.
• You will be required to take the lead in promoting diversity, equality and the rights of children and young people.
• You will be required to demonstrate and to lead multi agency and network links to benefit young people and children in your care.

They will also be a requirement for a minimum of three extra modules achieving a minimum level of eight credits from the range of available optional units.

How long it takes to complete this qualification will very much depend on your own ability and the available time you have to study, however you will be given a target date and you
may be able to complete your qualification sooner if you can submit your work at a good pace.

Good luck, you are on your way!