New qualifications launched for health and social care in Northern Ireland

Social care is the largest registered workforce in the health and social care system in Northern Ireland, with around 75,000 individuals in 2025. The health and social care workforce has grown by about 22% since 2016, and with growing demands and population trends, it’s vital that robust learning and development opportunities are in place for those entering or progressing through the social care workforce.

One route for new entrants is the well-established level 2 and level 3 apprenticeship frameworks for health and social care. In addition to these the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) launched a new Care in Practice framework in 2024 to manage skills and development in the sector.

Having worked closely with social care providers in Northern Ireland, iCQ are pleased to announce the launch of three new qualifications aligned to the apprenticeship frameworks and the new Care in Practice framework – providing opportunities for the workforce to progress and learn essential skills. Due to being part of the apprenticeship frameworks, these new qualifications are funded by the Department for Economy (Northern Ireland).

What is the Care in Practice Framework?

The Care in Practice (CiP) Framework is a professional development and career progression structure designed by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) in partnership with the Department of Health. Launched in December 2024 as part of the 2025–2035 Social Care Workforce Strategy, it’s tailored to support registered social care practitioners at every career stage.

The framework has two interconnected parts – a continuous professional development (CPD) pathway and a qualification pathway.

• CPD pathway: an ongoing improvement on integration of values and practice skills, competencies, capabilities and knowledge through a social care practitioners career. This is set out in an individualised learning and development plan built by each practitioner and their employer. Learning is underpinned and supported by coaching and mentoring and can include reflective practice, in-house training and workshops, self-directed or digital learning, on and off the job experience or through completing qualifications.
• Qualification pathway: this sets out a range of qualifications that be achieved from level 2 upwards for social care practice, leadership and management. It uses regulated qualifications to support career progression and introduces a framework for level 6 and 7 qualifications. The options for social care specific qualifications at this level are currently limited.
  Our newest qualifications are aligned to the qualifications pathway, built upon the National Occupational Standards developed by the NISCC.

Our newest qualifications are aligned to the qualifications pathway, built upon the National Occupational Standards developed by the NISCC.

iCQ Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland

This qualification enables learners to gain knowledge and skills in four distinct themes:

1. Health and wellbeing
2. Principles and values
3. Communication and information sharing
4. Continuous professional development.

These themes are designed to support employers providing integrated services and the portability of skills and knowledge across the adult care workforce in Northern Ireland, and is specifically targeted at new social care practitioners registering with the NISCC.

This new qualification is the entry point on to the Care in Practice framework, providing foundational level skills for social care practitioners.

iCQ Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice in Northern Ireland

This qualification aims to provide knowledge of standards and values, safeguarding, safe moving and positioning of individuals, environmental health and safety, medication practice, food handling and dysphagia awareness, and emergency first aid.

The level 2 certificate is a knowledge-based qualification that can be used to progress to the level 2 or level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Northern Ireland. The diplomas form a core part of the qualification pathway for the Care in Practice framework.

Find out more about this qualification →

iCQ Level 3 Certificate in Induction into Adult Social Care in Northern Ireland

This knowledge-based certificate aims to provide specialist knowledge and skills for working within a range of health and social care settings in Northern Ireland. It can be used as progression towards the Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Northern Ireland, or as a progression to a level 3 vocational-based qualification.

Each unit provides the principles and understanding in core practitioner areas, including:

• Communication
• Diversity, equality and inclusion
• Personal development
• Safeguarding
• Duty of care
• Health and safety
• Data handling
• Person-centred approaches
• The role of a social care worker.

What comes next for qualification development for Northern Ireland?

We’re working closely with NISCC and health and social care providers – as well as the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) – to understand what qualifications will help achieve their ambitions. The core pathways for health and social care learning programmes mean that many qualifications for the sector are being reformed to meet the aspirations of the sector from entry to senior leadership level.

iCQ are actively working on developing entry-level qualifications to ensure that from the start of their care career, social care workers are equipped for success.