Health & Social Care Sector

Care careers, built one shift at a time.

From the first day on the floor to the office of a registered manager, our care apprenticeships develop the practical skill, professional judgement and confidence to deliver person-centred care every single day.

  • 3Levels offered
  • 12–15 mo+ EPA
  • Learn Care ExcelExpert partner in care
A care worker with a resident

Why train with TLC

Apprenticeships rooted in real care settings.

Care happens in living rooms, dining halls, day rooms and corridors. Our coaches teach where care is delivered, so what apprentices learn on programme is what they use on shift.

01

Care-experienced coaches

Our coaches have worked frontline care, supervised teams and registered services. They speak the language of the sector.

02

Aligned to the published standard

Every programme is mapped to the live Skills England apprenticeship standard and the Care Certificate, with EPA via an approved EPAO.

03

CQC-aware from day one

Safeguarding, dignity, infection control and consent are taught against current CQC expectations, ready for inspection.

04

A clear progression path

From Adult Care Worker through to Registered Manager: the full Level 2 to Level 5 ladder under one provider.

Specialist partner · Care

Learn Care Excel

Promoting excellence, supporting people

Our specialist care-learning offer connects knowledge with the reality of supporting people. Alongside the apprenticeship standard, learners draw on resources and professional learning that treat food, personal presentation, meaningful activity, movement, wellbeing, safeguarding and leadership as one experience of care, because the purpose is to improve people’s lives.

About Learn Care Excel

Your career, mapped

From frontline care to registered manager.

Three apprenticeships, one continuous pathway. Promote from within and keep your most caring people growing.

  1. L2

    Adult Care Worker

    Frontline care & the Care Certificate. 12 months + EPA.

  2. L3

    Lead Adult Care Worker

    Lead a shift & mentor the team. 12 months + EPA.

  3. L5

    Leader in Adult Care

    Manage a service & meet CQC standards. 15 months + EPA.

Meaningful activity
Meaningful activity
Food is care
Food is care
A walk in the garden
A walk in the garden
Learning together
Learning together

A learner’s story

What it changes.

One person, and the moment it turned.

Amira, a care worker
Amira

A learner’s story · Health & Social Care

Amira, from care assistant to team leader

Where it started
Nights on a dementia unit, good at the job and certain she was not the kind of person who did qualifications. Her manager disagreed and signed her up for Adult Care Worker at Level 2.
The turn
Her coach turned up at seven in the morning, at the end of a night shift, because that was when Amira could talk. The reviews happened on the unit, around the work. She stopped waiting to be found out and started asking for more.
Now
Lead Adult Care Worker at Level 3, leading a team of twelve, and the person new starters are sent to shadow. Leader in Adult Care at Level 5 is planned for next year.

“My coach knew my shifts before I did. That is the difference between a course and someone actually being in your corner.”

Names and details are illustrative while we gather our learners’ and employers’ own stories, in their own words.

Programmes

The three levels we offer

Every TLC care apprenticeship is delivered to the published Skills England standard. Choose the level that matches the role.

2 Level

Standard ST0005 · 12 months + 3-month EPA · Apprenticeship

Adult Care Worker

The foundation. Step into frontline care and learn to support vulnerable adults with skill, dignity and confidence.

Adult care workers provide frontline care for vulnerable adults across residential homes, supported living, domiciliary care and day services. This Level 2 programme covers the Care Certificate and builds the practical skills your apprentices need on day one.

What apprentices will learn

  • Person-centred care delivery with dignity and respect
  • Safe moving, handling and personal care techniques
  • Recognising abuse and applying safeguarding procedures
  • Infection prevention and control in care environments
  • Communicating with people who have varied needs
  • Care Certificate standards, all 15 of them

Typical job titles

  • Care Assistant / Care Worker
  • Support Worker
  • Personal Assistant
  • Home Care Support Worker
  • Learning Disability / Mental Health Support Worker

Entry requirements

Enhanced DBS clearance before starting. Apprentices under 19 need English and maths at Level 1 (with Level 2 attempted) before end-point assessment; for adults this is at the employer's discretion. The Care Certificate is achieved as part of the apprenticeship.

3 Level

Standard ST0006 · 12 months + 3-month EPA · Advanced Apprenticeship

Lead Adult Care Worker

The step into seniority. Lead a shift, mentor newer staff and own the quality of care delivered.

Lead adult care workers are senior frontline staff supporting vulnerable adults to live as independently as possible. This Level 3 programme prepares apprentices to lead shifts, coordinate person-centred care planning and act as a positive role model.

What apprentices will learn

  • Planning, monitoring and reviewing person-centred care
  • Recognising and acting on safeguarding concerns
  • Promoting health, wellbeing and active participation
  • Professional communication and confidentiality boundaries
  • Mentoring and supporting colleagues on shift
  • Infection control, medication and fire safety procedures

Typical job titles

  • Senior Care Worker / Care Officer
  • Care Supervisor
  • Senior Support Worker
  • Relief Team Leader
  • Community / Family Support Worker

Entry requirements

Enhanced DBS clearance and a current Care Certificate. Apprentices under 19 need Level 2 English and maths (Entry Level 3 with an EHCP) before end-point assessment; for adults this is at the employer's discretion. The Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is achieved as part of the apprenticeship.

5 Level

Standard ST0008 · 15 months + 3-month EPA · Higher Apprenticeship

Leader in Adult Care

The service leader. Run a registered service, lead a workforce and keep your service inspection-ready.

Leaders in adult care guide and inspire teams to make positive differences in community or residential services. This Level 5 higher apprenticeship is the route to registered manager, assistant and deputy manager roles, with accountability for compliance, quality and people.

What apprentices will learn

  • Developing systems for regulatory and policy compliance
  • Balancing individual rights with the organisation's duty of care
  • Leading person-centred service delivery and quality monitoring
  • Championing dignity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Establishing safeguarding systems and training protocols
  • Modelling values-based leadership and team innovation

Typical job titles

  • Registered Manager
  • Assistant Manager
  • Deputy Manager
  • Unit Manager
  • Service Manager

Entry requirements

Enhanced DBS clearance. Apprentices under 19 need Level 2 English and maths (Entry Level 3 with an EHCP) before end-point assessment; for adults this is at the employer's discretion. The Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care is achieved as part of the apprenticeship.

For employers

Ready to invest in your team?

Whether you're hiring your first apprentice or growing a whole cohort, our team will guide you through funding, recruitment, on-programme training and end-point assessment.