The CiP Framework is for everyone who is a registered social care practitioner. Social care practitioners provide high quality, safe and effective social care practice, supporting people of all ages with a range of diverse and complex needs. This is however dependent upon a valued and supported workforce, who are appropriately trained, skilled and rewarded for their work and the vital impact that has on people’s lives.
CiP Framework Journey
Key:
Entrance Level Social Care Practitioner
Learning & developing new skills
Social Care Practitioner
Developing & consolidating new skills
Enhanced Social Care Practitioner
Developing & Enhancing skills
Social Care Manager/Leader
Helping others achieve their goals
Qualifications Pathway
Continuous Learning Pathway
Guide:
Supported by your employer the CiP Framework has been designed to help you progress through two interlinked parts: a continuous professional learning pathway (see continuous line) and/or a qualification pathway (see broken line). The CIP Framework is underpinned by coaching and mentoring supporting you to learn and develop through your career.
Continuous Learning Pathway
The continuous professional learning pathway is the ongoing learning and development every social care practitioner is required to do to enable them to be competent and effective in their work. The type and focus of this learning and development will vary depending on the work setting, nature of the role, learning needs and experience of the practitioner. The details should be agreed in an individualised learning and development plan that is reviewed and updated by the social care practitioner and their employer at regular intervals.
Learning is underpinned and supported by coaching and mentoring (this can be self-directed, with peers and/or mangers and this can include:
- Induction – this is your employer induction and required training.
- Life, work and learned experience.
- Having conversations, listening, observing, reading, questioning and reflecting.
- Attending in-house training including refresher and developmental training, and other service specific training and workshops.
- Self-directed learning and research.
- Completing digital learning relevant to practice to supplement and complement employer training and development, for example, the Social Care Council’s Learning Zone or the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) resources.
- Supervision/one-to-ones.
- Completing qualifications.
Qualification Pathway
The health and social care qualification pathway for social care practitioners offers a structured approach to career development, equipping you with the necessary skills for high-quality service delivery from entry level to senior management roles.
The level of competence or type of qualification required to be a social care practitioner is determined by the following:
The level of competence or type of qualification required to be a social care practitioner is determined by the following:
- Your role or job function
- The nature of the care and/ or support required by the individual or family
- The level of responsibility vested in the worker
The health and social care qualification pathways aim to outline a range of competence-based qualifications that can be achieved from Level 2 upwards for health and social care practice, leadership and management depending on your role and level of responsibilities.
It includes the following:
It includes the following:
- Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice*
- Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland).
- Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland).
- Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management in Adult Care.
- Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care (Northern Ireland).
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health and Social Care (Adult Management or Adult Residential Management) Northern Ireland.
- Level 6 and 7 Higher Leadership/Management/Professional Qualifications.
* To support social care practitioners and the implementation of the CiP Framework a new entrance qualification the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice has been accredited by CCEA and is now available. This is an entrance level qualification for all new social care practitioners.
NB: Please note you do not need to complete each qualification in order of level. (See FAQs for more information)
NB: Your employer will be able to offer you advice about whether you are in a role that will enable you to gather the 'naturally occurring evidence' (inclusive of direct observations of practice) to complete a work-based qualification i.e. that the tasks you undertake, as part of your job role, will enable you to meet all of the evidence requirements for the level of qualification that you are studying.
NB: Your employer will be able to offer you advice about whether you are in a role that will enable you to gather the 'naturally occurring evidence' (inclusive of direct observations of practice) to complete a work-based qualification i.e. that the tasks you undertake, as part of your job role, will enable you to meet all of the evidence requirements for the level of qualification that you are studying.