Description
Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings (RQF)
- £284
- *Prices shown are all-inclusive of VAT—no extra charges!
- Priority Track option available
Why Study with us?
- Priority-track assessments and workbook marking
- For adults aged 16+ who are new to care or considering a career in the sector
- Flexible, self-paced study – most learners finish in 4–6 months
- Courses designed and assessed by subject-qualified industry trainers and assessors
- One-to-one live sessions (if desired) with expert tutors
Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care Course Overview
The Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care from Focus Awards – full title Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings (RQF) – is an introductory qualification for people aged 16 and over who are new to the care sector or thinking about joining it. It explains how adult health and social care, early years and childcare, and services for children and young people are organised, the roles people do in them and the principles and values that underpin good practice.
Across nine units you will also learn the basics of safeguarding and protection, communication, equality and inclusion, health and safety, person-centred support, working with others and healthy eating and drinking for adults. The Certificate sits in the middle of the three Level 1 options: it goes further than our Level 1 Award in Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children and Young People Settings, while the NCFE CACHE Level 1 Diploma adds topics such as learning disability, sensory loss and mental health. It is knowledge-based, so you study entirely online with no placement – ideal if you have just started a care job or are weighing up a career change.
Career Opportunities and Progression after the Level 1 Certificate
This qualification builds knowledge and confidence rather than leading directly to a job. It does not, on its own, qualify you as a care worker, but it shows employers and colleges that you understand how care settings work and what good practice looks like. It can support applications for entry-level and volunteering roles, care apprenticeships and college courses, and it gives new starters useful background alongside the induction training their employer provides.
When you are ready to go further, you could take the NCFE CACHE Level 1 Diploma in Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings for a broader Level 1 qualification, or step up to Level 2. If you work in adult care, the Level 2 Diploma in Care builds the skills for a care worker role; if you work with children, the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or the Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner are natural next steps. These Level 2 courses need you to be working or on placement in a suitable setting.
Do I need a work placement to complete this course?
No. This is a knowledge-based qualification, so you do not need to be working in care or attend a placement. Everything is studied and assessed online. If you have recently started work in a care home, home care service, hospital, nursery or school, you can draw on that experience in your assignments, but it is not required.
There are no exams. For each unit you build a portfolio of evidence – mainly written assignments – showing that you have met all the learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Your portfolio is internally assessed by your tutor and externally quality assured by Focus Awards, and the qualification is graded Pass or Fail. Assignments are marked within 3–5 working days, or 1–3 working days on Priority Track.
The qualification is worth 25 credits. You complete all nine units below – two mandatory units and seven optional units – which together make up the 25 credits.
Mandatory units
Unit 01: Understand the Range of Service Provision and Roles within Health and Social Care Adults and Children and Young People, Early Years and Childcare
Unit 02: Understand the Principles and Values in Health and Social Care Adults and Children and Young People, Early Years and Childcare
Optional units
Unit 03: Awareness of Protection and Safeguarding in Health and Social Care Adults and Children and Young People, Early Years and Childcare
Unit 04: Introduction to Communication in Health and Social Care Adults and Children and Young People, Early Years and Childcare
Unit 05: Introductory Awareness of Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 06: Introductory Awareness of Health and Safety in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 07: Introductory Awareness of Person Centred Support in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 08: Introductory Awareness of Working with Others in Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young People’s Settings
Unit 09: Introductory Awareness of the Importance of Healthy Eating and Drinking for Adults
The qualification has 215 guided learning hours (GLH) and a total qualification time (TQT) of 250 hours. Study is self-paced, and most learners complete it in 4–6 months, depending on how much time they can give each week. Your enrolment includes 12 months’ access to the learning platform and tutor support from the date you enrol; if you need longer, you can extend your access for a re-enrolment fee.
Qualification Number: 601/6921/7
Focus Awards is an Awarding Organisation regulated by Ofqual, ensuring that all qualifications adhere to rigorous standards.
Vocational Courses we offer in Bundle
Pricing Plans
Standard One Time Purchase
Make a single payment, and you're all set to begin your learning journey.
£284*inc. VAT
- OfQual-approved qualification
- 24/7 access to LMS and unlimited tutor support
- Transparent pricing, no hidden charges
- Start when you're ready with a full year of access.
- Unlimited revisions
- Receive feedback within 3 – 5 working days
Standard Monthly
Spread the cost of £326.58 (inc. VAT) with convenient monthly payments over 6 months.
£54.43*inc. VAT
per month
Priority Track One Time Purchase
Make a single payment, and you're all set to begin your learning journey.
£327*inc. VAT
- OfQual-approved qualification
- 24/7 access to LMS and unlimited tutor support
- Transparent pricing, no hidden charges
- Start when you're ready with a full year of access.
- Unlimited revisions
- Receive feedback within 1 – 3 working days
Priority Track Monthly
Spread the cost of £376.02 (inc. VAT) with convenient monthly payments over 6 months.
£62.67*inc. VAT
per month
Discounted Business/Corporate Purchases
Enjoy Bulk Discounts
The following bulk discounts are applicable to our corporate clients:
5% for booking 3 learners
10% for booking 5 or more learners
15% for booking 10 or more learners
For enquiries, please contact our sales team at +44 20 8178 4802
Flexible Payment Options
Take advantage of a 30-day payment term when buying 5 or more courses. Please note that an upfront payment will be required unless you are a regular buyer.
Course reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
It is for people aged 16 or over who have just started work in health, social care or a children’s setting, or who are considering a career there – for example school leavers, people returning to work and career changers. No previous experience or qualifications are needed.
You will learn how adult care, early years and children’s services are organised and the roles within them, and the principles and values of good practice. You will also gain introductory awareness of safeguarding, communication, equality and inclusion, health and safety, person-centred support, working with others and healthy eating and drinking for adults.
The three qualifications share the same core units and differ in size. The Award is the shortest introduction. This Level 1 certificate in health and social care has 215 guided learning hours across nine units. The Level 1 Diploma (307 guided learning hours) covers the same topics and adds optional units such as learning disability, sensory loss, mental health and self-development. If you are unsure which suits you, our admissions team can help you choose.
Yes. You can complete this Level 1 health and social care certificate online: all learning materials and assignments are on our learning platform, so you can study at home and fit learning around work or family. You have unlimited tutor support throughout, plus optional one-to-one live sessions, and you can pay in full or over 6 monthly payments.
It can help, but it is not a job qualification on its own. It shows that you understand how care settings work, which can strengthen applications for entry-level roles, apprenticeships and college courses. Employers set their own requirements, and most care roles also include training on the job.
You must be aged 16 or over. There are no formal academic entry requirements, but you will need basic reading and writing skills to complete written assignments, and access to a computer or tablet with an internet connection.
No. There are no fixed deadlines for individual assignments, so you can study at your own pace as long as you complete the course within your access period.
This qualification is awarded by Focus Awards, an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual. On successful completion you will receive a Focus Awards certificate.
Qualification Number: 601/6921/7
If you still have any questions, please refer to our main FAQs page or contact us for further assistance.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.