Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care

An Introduction to Healthcare Policy and Sociology Concepts in Health and Ill Health are the two units that give this diploma its distinctive character; neither appears in the OTHM management equivalent. They ask why services are organised as they are and why health outcomes differ between groups, which is the kind of question a good practitioner asks and rarely gets time to pursue. Communication for Health and Social Care, Reflective Practice and Managing People in Health and Social Care make up the practice core, and Academic Study Skills opens the programme.

We tend to recommend this to support workers, healthcare assistants and care staff who want to understand health and social care as a field before deciding whether to move into management, nursing, social work or something else. The assignments are essay-based more often than report-based, reflecting the sociological and policy content, and each connects back to your own practice through the reflective unit. Qualifi does not itemise unit credits in our material; the diploma is 120 credits at Level 4, and it does not confer any registration or clinical status.

Qualifi sets the entry requirements for this qualification and LSPM, as the approved centre, applies them when it assesses your application. As published by the awarding body:

• Learners who have demonstrated some ability and possess Qualifications at Level 3, for example ‘A’ Levels or vocational awards;
• Learners who have spent some time in an organisational role and shown they have capability and drive to develop
• Learners seeking further professional development and gain work related skills and know-how.

Source: the Qualifi specification. If you are not sure whether your qualification counts as equivalent, send us the details and we will put the question to LSPM's admissions team, who make the decision.

Qualifi frames entry broadly: a Level 3, or experience in a working role, or simply a professional reason to study. A Level 3 in health and social care or a couple of years in a care role is typical; we discuss anything else with you individually before LSPM decides.

Written essays and reports for each unit, plus a reflective journal that builds across the programme. There are no examinations. Ask LSPM whether draft feedback is offered on every assignment.

Assignments are set and marked by LSPM's tutors, moderated within LSPM and sampled by Qualifi before LSPM claims certificates. Draft feedback and resubmission arrangements are LSPM's own practice; confirm them at enrolment. How assessment works in full.

Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care from Qualifi, continuing the same route.

Application to a university for advanced entry to a health and social care or public health degree, decided by the university.

Senior support, care coordination or health promotion roles; also a considered next step towards nursing or social work applications, which have their own entry rules.