MCA COURSE OUTLINE · 610/7279/5
iCQ Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (England)
Adult care practitioners with responsibility for delivering care and support, including senior or lead care workers.
Qualification at a glance
- Qualification number
- 610/7279/5
- Awarding organisation
- iCQ Awards (iCan Qualifications Limited)
- Minimum credits
- 58
- Guided learning hours
- 440
- Total qualification time
- 580 hours
Entry requirements and assessment access
Applicants must be at least 16 and working, volunteering or on a practical placement that enables assessment with adults. MCA checks role suitability, employer permissions and support needs.
What you will learn
- Deliver person-centred support, choice and independence
- Apply safeguarding, communication, equality and duty of care
- Manage information, health and safety, professional development and wellbeing
Qualification structure and unit choices
Structure: achieve a minimum of 58 credits overall. 40 credits must be achieved from the 15 mandatory units. Learners must also complete a minimum of 18 credits from the optional units.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D/652/0591 | Health and Safety (General ) in adult care | 3 | 3 |
| D/652/1030 | Choice and independence | 3 | 3 |
| F/652/0592 | Health and Safety (Topics) in adult care | 3 | 3 |
| F/652/1031 | Health and wellbeing in adult care | 3 | 3 |
| H/652/0593 | Infection prevention and control in adult care | 3 | 2 |
| H/652/1023 | Ways of working in an adult care setting | 2 | 2 |
| H/652/1032 | Equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights | 3 | 2 |
| J/652/0594 | Continuous development | 3 | 3 |
| J/652/1024 | Safeguarding individuals in adult care | 2 | 3 |
| K/652/0595 | Personal wellbeing | 3 | 3 |
| K/652/1025 | Mental capacity and restrictive practice | 2 | 3 |
| L/652/1026 | Duty of care | 3 | 3 |
| M/652/1027 | Effective communication in adult care | 3 | 3 |
| R/652/1028 | Handling Information in adult care | 3 | 2 |
| T/652/1029 | Promote Person-centred practice | 3 | 2 |
Group O Optional Units (45 units)
| Unit code | Unit title | Level | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A/652/0608 | Understand how to Provide Support in End-of-Life Care. | 3 | 3 |
| A/652/0617 | Supporting Individuals with Multiple Conditions and/or Disabilities | 3 | 4 |
| A/652/0626 | Supporting Individuals to Access and Use Services and Facilities | 3 | 4 |
| A/652/0635 | Supporting Individuals to Negotiate Different Environments | 3 | 5 |
| D/652/0609 | Understand Substance Use and Referring Individuals to Specialists | 3 | 3 |
| D/652/0618 | Supporting Young People with a Disability in Transitioning to Adulthood | 3 | 5 |
| D/652/0627 | Supporting Individuals in Their Relationships | 3 | 4 |
| D/652/0636 | Promoting Nutrition and Hydration in Health and Social Care Settings | 3 | 5 |
| F/652/0619 | Supporting Parents with Disabilities | 3 | 6 |
| F/652/0628 | Promoting Positive Behaviour | 3 | 4 |
| F/652/0637 | Performing Intravenous Cannulation | 3 | 4 |
| H/652/0600 | Understand Principles of Supporting Individuals in Relation to Sexuality and Sexual Health | 3 | 3 |
| H/652/0629 | Preparing for and Carrying Out Extended Feeding Techniques | 3 | 4 |
| H/652/0638 | Obtaining and Testing Capillary Blood Samples | 3 | 4 |
| J/652/0601 | Understand Mental Health | 3 | 3 |
| J/652/0610 | Understand Reablement in Health and Social Care Services | 3 | 3 |
| J/652/0639 | Obtaining and Handling Venous Blood Samples | 3 | 4 |
| K/652/0602 | Understand Dementia | 3 | 3 |
| K/652/0611 | Supporting Individuals to Participate in Group Activity Provision in Health and Social Care | 3 | 4 |
| K/652/0620 | Supporting Individuals with Specific Communication Needs | 3 | 4 |
| L/652/0596 | Understand the Context of Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities | 3 | 3 |
| L/652/0603 | Understand the Nature and Impact of Acquired Brain Injury | 3 | 3 |
| L/652/0612 | Supporting Individuals with Personal Care in Accordance with their Care Plan | 2 | 3 |
| L/652/0621 | Supporting Individuals Who Are Substance Users | 3 | 4 |
| L/652/0630 | Undertaking Physiological Measurements | 3 | 3 |
| M/652/0597 | Neurodiversity in adult care | 3 | 3 |
| M/652/0604 | Understand Physical Disability | 3 | 3 |
| M/652/0613 | Moving and Positioning Individuals in Accordance with their Care Plan | 2 | 3 |
| M/652/0622 | Supporting Individuals to use Medication in Health and Social Care | 3 | 4 |
| M/652/0631 | Undertaking Stoma Care | 3 | 4 |
| M/652/0640 | Supporting Individuals in the Use of Assistive Technologies | 3 | 4 |
| R/652/0598 | Promote Trauma Informed Practice | 3 | 3 |
| R/652/0605 | Understand Person-Centred Approaches to Supporting Older People | 3 | 3 |
| R/652/0614 | Undertaking Agreed Pressure Area Care | 2 | 4 |
| R/652/0623 | Administering Medication to Individuals in Health and Social Care | 3 | 5 |
| R/652/0632 | Performing Routine Electrocardiograph Procedures | 3 | 4 |
| T/652/0599 | Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | 3 | 3 |
| T/652/0606 | Understand Personalisation through Self-Directed Support | 3 | 3 |
| T/652/0615 | Providing Support to Manage Pain and Discomfort | 2 | 2 |
| T/652/0624 | Contributing to Awareness Raising of Health Issues | 3 | 4 |
| T/652/0633 | Supporting Individuals to Manage Dysphagia | 3 | 4 |
| Y/652/0607 | Understand Sensory Loss | 3 | 3 |
| Y/652/0616 | Supporting individuals who are distressed | 2 | 3 |
| Y/652/0625 | Supporting Individuals to Maintain and Develop Skills for Everyday Life | 3 | 4 |
| Y/652/0634 | Supporting Individuals Using Telecommunications Technologies | 3 | 5 |
How you are assessed
A competence portfolio with direct observation in real adult care practice, supported by discussion, reflective accounts, questions and work products. Optional units must fit your responsibilities.
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
Progress towards advanced practitioner or management pathways where your role provides the required evidence.
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.