OTMA’s Level 5 Leader In Adult Care Apprenticeship is designed for experienced care professionals who are ready to lead services, manage teams, and drive high-quality, person-centred care. This adult care apprenticeship supports employers in developing confident leaders who can guide teams, manage operational responsibilities, and create positive outcomes for individuals receiving care and support.
The Leader In Adult Care apprenticeship prepares learners to lead care services in a safe, effective, and compassionate way. Apprentices develop the leadership capability, professional knowledge, and operational understanding needed to manage care environments, support colleagues, and ensure services meet regulatory and organisational standards.
Leaders in adult care play a vital role in shaping workplace culture, supporting professional development, and ensuring individuals receive respectful, responsive, and high-quality care. They are responsible for creating environments where dignity, independence, wellbeing, and inclusion remain central to every aspect of care delivery.
What the Adult Care Apprenticeship covers
The adult care apprenticeship focuses on developing leadership, operational, and care management skills required to lead teams and manage adult care services effectively. Through structured learning, workplace application, and expert support, apprentices build confidence in both frontline leadership and strategic service management.
Learners gain knowledge and practical capability in areas such as:
- Leading teams within adult care settings
- Managing risk, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance
- Developing and reviewing care plans and service delivery
- Promoting dignity, inclusion, equality, and person-centred care
- Supporting staff development, supervision, and reflective practice
- Managing resources, quality standards, and operational processes
- Implementing organisational policies and procedures
- Supporting health, wellbeing, and safe care environments
- Leading change and continuous improvement within services
Apprentices also develop leadership behaviours that help them guide others confidently, support team performance, and create positive care cultures built on compassion, professionalism, and accountability.
Who the apprenticeship is for
The Leader In Adult Care apprenticeship is ideal for experienced care staff progressing into management and leadership responsibilities within adult social care settings.
Typical job roles include:
- Registered Manager
- Deputy Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Unit Manager
- Service Manager
- Lead Personal Assistant
This apprenticeship is suitable across residential care, domiciliary care, supported living, community care, nursing homes, and clinical healthcare environments.
For employers, the programme provides a structured way to develop capable care leaders who can manage teams effectively, maintain compliance, and support the delivery of high-quality care services.
Developing confident care leaders
Strong leadership is essential in adult social care. This adult care apprenticeship helps learners develop the confidence, resilience, and professionalism needed to lead teams and manage complex care environments successfully.
Apprentices explore leadership theories, communication strategies, change management, and approaches to supporting staff performance and wellbeing. They also learn how to create positive workplace cultures that encourage learning, innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
A strong focus is placed on professional judgement, ethical decision-making, and leading by example, ensuring learners can balance operational responsibilities with compassionate care leadership.
Supporting safe, effective, and person-centred care
Leaders in adult care are responsible for ensuring services are safe, responsive, effective, and well-led. The apprenticeship develops a strong understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, risk management, confidentiality, and regulatory responsibilities.
Learners build the capability to monitor quality standards, respond to changing care needs, and support teams in delivering safe, person-centred care. They also develop the skills to work collaboratively with families, healthcare professionals, and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes for individuals receiving support.
By combining leadership development with practical care knowledge, apprentices are equipped to manage services confidently while maintaining high professional standards.
Career progression in adult social care
On completion, apprentices achieve the Level 5 Diploma in Leading and Managing an Adult Care Service, a recognised qualification within the adult social care sector.
Many learners progress into senior leadership or registered management roles, while others continue their professional development through specialist leadership, management, or healthcare qualifications.
For organisations, investing in the Leader In Adult Care apprenticeship helps build resilient, highly skilled leadership teams capable of delivering safe, effective, and compassionate care services.
Funding
The Leader In Adult Care Level 5 Apprenticeship has a maximum funding band of £7,000.
For levy-paying employers, apprenticeship levy funds can usually be used to cover the full cost of training and assessment. Employers who do not pay the levy may only need to contribute 5% of the training cost, with government funding covering the remaining 95%, subject to eligibility.
Find out more about apprenticeship funding and support here.
