QCF Level 3 Health and Social Care Units: A Complete Guide

Introduction

The QCF Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care was a widely respected vocational qualification aimed at care workers across adult, child, and specialist care settings in the UK. One of the most important aspects of this diploma was its unit-based structure, which allowed learners to tailor the course to their job roles and career goals.

Though the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) was replaced by the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in 2015, many learners and professionals still seek information on the QCF structure — especially its mandatory and optional units.

This article provides a full breakdown of the QCF Level 3 Health and Social Care units, their descriptions, purposes, and applications in the workplace.

What Are Units in a QCF Qualification?

In the QCF system, qualifications were broken down into units, with each unit carrying a set number of credits. Learners were required to complete a certain number of mandatory and optional units to achieve the full diploma.

Each unit covered specific knowledge, skills, and competencies that could be directly applied in the health and social care environment.

Qualification Requirements

To achieve the QCF Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, learners needed:

A total of 58 credits
Typically:
- 28 credits from mandatory units
- 30 credits from optional units

Some awarding bodies may have varied slightly in structure, but this was the general framework.

Mandatory Units (28 Credits Total)

These units were compulsory for all learners, regardless of their role or care setting. They formed the foundation of safe, effective, and ethical care.

1. Promote Communication in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings

Unit Reference: SHC 31
Credit Value: 3
Purpose: Develops communication strategies with service users, families, and colleagues, including verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.

2. Engage in Personal Development in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings

Unit Reference: SHC 32
Credit Value: 3
Purpose: Encourages reflective practice, goal setting, and continuous professional development.

3. Promote Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings

Unit Reference: SHC 33
Credit Value: 2
Purpose: Covers inclusive practices, anti-discriminatory approaches, and cultural sensitivity.

4. Principles for Implementing Duty of Care

Unit Reference: SHC 34
Credit Value: 1
Purpose: Focuses on legal and ethical responsibilities of care workers to protect service users.

5. Promote Person-Centred Approaches in Health and Social Care

Unit Reference: HSC 036
Credit Value: 6
Purpose: Encourages personalised support planning and respect for individual preferences.

6. Promote and Implement Health and Safety in Health and Social Care

Unit Reference: HSC 037
Credit Value: 6
Purpose: Covers risk assessments, infection control, and workplace safety practices.

7. Promote Good Practice in Handling Information in Health and Social Care Settings

Unit Reference: HSC 038
Credit Value: 2
Purpose: Teaches data protection, confidentiality, and secure handling of sensitive information.

8. Safeguarding and Protection in Health and Social Care

Unit Reference: HSC 024
Credit Value: 3
Purpose: Emphasises signs of abuse, whistleblowing, and safeguarding policies.

Optional Units (Minimum 30 Credits)

Optional units allowed learners to customise their qualification based on their job roles, interests, or future goals. They covered a wide range of specialisms and care settings.

Here are some of the most popular optional units:

1. The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control

Unit Reference: IC01
Credit Value: 3
Focus: Hygiene, PPE, cross-contamination, and outbreak response.

2. Causes and Spread of Infection

Unit Reference: IC02
Credit Value: 2
Focus: Microorganisms, infection chains, and reducing spread.

3. Support Individuals with Specific Communication Needs

Unit Reference: HSC 3029
Credit Value: 5
Focus: Communication aids, BSL, and supporting those with hearing or speech impairments.

4. Understand Mental Health Problems

Unit Reference: CMH 302
Credit Value: 3
Focus: Mental illness types, stigma, and support models.

5. Support Individuals at the End of Life

Unit Reference: HSC 3048
Credit Value: 7
Focus: Palliative care, emotional support, and legal considerations.

6. Administer Medication to Individuals

Unit Reference: HSC 3047
Credit Value: 5
Focus: Safe administration, record-keeping, and handling errors.

7. Move and Position Individuals in Accordance with Care Plans

Unit Reference: HSC 2028
Credit Value: 4
Focus: Safe moving and handling techniques, equipment, and care plans.

8. Support Individuals to Eat and Drink

Unit Reference: HSC 2016
Credit Value: 2
Focus: Nutritional needs, feeding aids, and hydration support.

9. Understand the Process and Experience of Dementia

Unit Reference: DEM 301
Credit Value: 3
Focus: Dementia progression, person-centred care, and family support.

10. Support Care Plan Activities

Unit Reference: HSC 2013
Credit Value: 2
Focus: Monitoring outcomes, reviewing care plans, and encouraging independence.

Unit Customisation by Pathway

The optional units you choose often depended on your chosen pathway within the qualification:

Adults Pathway
Children and Young People Pathway
Dementia Care Specialism
Learning Disabilities Support

Awarding bodies and training providers ensured that the unit choices matched the learner’s job role, and that all care settings were appropriately covered.

Assessment Method

Each unit was assessed through a range of methods including:

Workplace observation
Reflective accounts
Case studies and assignments
Professional discussions
Portfolio evidence

No formal written exam was required. All assessments were internally marked and externally verified by awarding bodies.

Awarding Bodies Offering QCF Level 3 Units

Recognised organisations that offered these qualifications included:

NCFE CACHE
City & Guilds
Pearson Edexcel (BTEC)
OCR
TQUK

While the QCF has been replaced by the RQF, these awarding bodies have continued delivering updated versions of the same core content under the new framework.

Relevance in Today’s Care Sector

Even though the QCF has been retired, the unit structure and learning content remain widely used in today’s RQF Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care or Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) qualifications.

Employers still:

Accept QCF Level 3 qualifications
Recognise the skills linked to each unit
Value unit-based evidence portfolios

Conclusion

The QCF Level 3 Health and Social Care units provided a flexible and robust foundation for care professionals across the UK. With a blend of mandatory and optional units, learners could gain specialist knowledge while fulfilling workplace needs.

Though the framework has changed, the legacy of QCF units lives on through RQF equivalents, keeping the core principles of safe, personalised, and competent care at the heart of training.