MCA COURSE OUTLINE · 603/3181/1
iCQ Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care
Experienced adult care workers taking on greater autonomy or responsibility.
Qualification at a glance
- Qualification number
- 603/3181/1
- Awarding organisation
- iCQ Awards (iCan Qualifications Limited)
- Minimum credits
- 70
- Guided learning hours
- 410
- Total qualification time
- 700 hours
Entry requirements and assessment access
Access to a suitable adult care role and opportunities to demonstrate advanced practice are needed. MCA checks entry suitability and current registration availability before enrolment.
What you will learn
- Develop partnership working and advanced person-centred practice
- Lead communication, records, safeguarding and health and safety
- Select specialist units relevant to your adult care role
Qualification structure and unit choices
Structure: To achieve this qualification the learner must achieve 44 credits from the mandatory group A and 26 credits from optional group B, 11 of which must be at level 4 or above.
Mandatory units form the core. Optional units, where available, are selected with your assessor to match your role and the rules of combination; the full optional list is not a requirement to complete every unit.
| Unit code | Unit title | Level | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A/616/9382 | Working in partnership with others in adult care settings | 4 | 4 |
| D/616/9388 | Lead practice for managing and disseminating records and reports | 4 | 3 |
| D/616/9391 | Equality diversity and inclusion in health, social care or children's and young people's settings | 4 | 3 |
| F/616/9383 | Understand safeguarding and protection in adult care settings | 4 | 3 |
| H/616/9389 | Lead Communication in adult care settings | 4 | 4 |
| H/616/9392 | Facilitate support planning to ensure positive outcomes for individuals and to support wellbeing | 4 | 3 |
| J/616/9384 | Understand personalisation in care and support services | 4 | 4 |
| K/616/9393 | Facilitate person centred assessment to support wellbeing | 4 | 3 |
| L/616/9385 | Safeguard children and young people who are present in the adult care sector | 4 | 3 |
| M/616/9394 | Develop, maintain and use records and reports | 4 | 3 |
| R/616/9386 | Professional practice in adult care settings | 4 | 4 |
| Y/616/9387 | Personal development in adult care settings | 4 | 4 |
| Y/616/9390 | Lead health and safety in adult care settings | 4 | 3 |
Group O Optional Units (33 units)
| Unit code | Unit title | Level | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A/616/4554 | Support individuals to develop and run support groups | 3 | 3 |
| A/616/4618 | Obtain a client history | 3 | 3 |
| D/602/3170 | Understand how to manage a team | 4 | 3 |
| D/616/4532 | Collate and communicate health information to individuals | 3 | 2 |
| F/616/3972 | Awareness of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 | 3 | 3 |
| F/616/3986 | Effective communication and building relationships in mental health work | 3 | 5 |
| F/616/4541 | Support individuals to access and use services and facilities | 3 | 4 |
| H/602/3171 | Lead and manage a team within a health and social care or children and young peoples setting | 6 | 7 |
| H/616/4550 | Support individuals to access education, training or employment | 4 | 4 |
| H/616/4578 | Understanding Suicide Interventions | 4 | 6 |
| H/616/4581 | Facilitate learning and development activities to meet individual needs and preferences | 3 | 5 |
| J/616/4539 | Support individuals during the last days of life | 4 | 5 |
| J/616/4556 | Monitor and review individuals progress in relation to maintaining optimum nutritional status | 3 | 3 |
| J/616/4590 | Provide advice on foot care for individuals with diabetes | 4 | 4 |
| K/600/9711 | Manage physical resources | 4 | 3 |
| K/616/3982 | Enable individuals with mental health problems to develop alternative coping strategies | 4 | 4 |
| K/616/4551 | Support individuals to access and manage direct payments | 4 | 4 |
| L/616/3943 | Understand Advance Care Planning | 3 | 3 |
| L/616/4557 | Give presentations to groups | 3 | 3 |
| M/602/2850 | Manage health and social care practice to ensure positive outcomes for individuals | 5 | 5 |
| M/616/3904 | Understand mental well-being and mental health promotion | 3 | 3 |
| M/616/3983 | Duty of care in care settings | 3 | 1 |
| M/616/4003 | Promote personal development in care settings | 3 | 3 |
| M/616/4552 | Work in partnership with families to support individuals | 3 | 3 |
| M/616/7712 | Support individuals in the use of assistive technology | 4 | 4 |
| R/602/2338 | Recruitment and selection within health and social care or children and young peoples settings | 4 | 3 |
| R/616/3958 | Understand mental health and behaviour management of children and young people | 3 | 4 |
| R/616/4589 | Support individuals to manage dysphagia | 4 | 5 |
| T/602/2574 | Manage induction in health and social care or children and young peoples settings | 4 | 3 |
| T/602/2753 | Manage finance within own area of responsibility in health and social care or children and young people's setting | 4 | 4 |
| T/602/3174 | Lead and manage group living for adults | 5 | 5 |
| T/616/3953 | Collaborate in the assessment of environmental and social support in the community | 3 | 4 |
| T/616/7654 | Work with families, carers and individuals during times of crisis | 4 | 5 |
How you are assessed
Knowledge and practice portfolio, observation and professional discussion; optional units must match workplace opportunities.
Your assessor records decisions against the unit criteria. All required outcomes must be achieved; assessment evidence is reviewed through internal and awarding-body quality assurance. Prior learning may be considered where permitted and supported by valid evidence.
Delivery and learner support
MCA offers tutor-supported online and blended learning. Your agreed study plan sets the tutorial format, workplace visits or teaching observations, independent study and review arrangements. Practical assessment cannot be replaced by online study alone.
Discuss accessibility needs, reasonable adjustments and learning support with MCA at the application stage.
Duration, start dates and fees
Start dates, fees, payment options and the planned completion period are confirmed in writing before enrolment. Qualification learning hours describe the study requirement; they are not a promise of a fixed calendar duration. Ask MCA for a personalised quotation and timetable.
Progression
Consider Level 5 management where you hold appropriate leadership responsibilities.
Apply or ask a question
Tell us your chosen qualification, experience and current role so we can check the right pathway.
Request your course planUnit titles, credits and qualification structure checked against the published iCQ specification on 3 October 2026. This MCA outline explains the learner journey; the registered assessment plan controls the exact unit selection and assessment criteria.