This qualification contains the following 6 mandatory units:

• Unit 01 Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities
  This unit explores the meaning of learning disability and considers issues closely linked with learning disability support. These include an awareness of how the attitudes and beliefs of others affect individuals who have learning disabilities. This unit introduces themes of inclusion, human rights, advocacy, empowerment and active participation, and also considers the central place of communication in working with individuals who have learning disabilities.
• Unit 02 Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care
  This unit introduces the important area of safeguarding individuals from abuse. It identifies different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms that might indicate abuse is occurring. It considers when individuals might be particularly vulnerable to abuse and what a learner must do if abuse is suspected or alleged.
• Unit 03 Introduction to personalisation in social care
  This unit is aimed at those working in a wide range of settings. It introduces an understanding of how personalisation affects the provision of social care services, with a focus on the systems, skills and support needed to implement personalised provision.
• Unit 04 Principles of positive risk-taking for individuals with disabilities
  This unit provides the knowledge behind positive risk-taking. It highlights the importance of positive risk-taking for individuals with disabilities. It explores how to take a person-centred approach to enabling individuals to take risks and how to balance risk-taking with duty of care. The legislative context is also covered.
• Unit 05 Introductory awareness of autistic spectrum conditions
  The unit provides introductory awareness of autistic spectrum conditions. It provides learners with key areas of knowledge and explores important themes such as individuality, communication, behaviour and person-centred support.
• Unit 06 Principles of supporting individuals with a learning disability to access health care
  This unit provides the learner with the knowledge required to contribute to supporting an individual to access and use healthcare services.

To complete this distance learning course at no charge you will need to match the following entry criteria:

• Are a resident of the EEU (European Economic Area) and have been for at least 3 years
• Will be undertaking your learning within England
• Are aged 19 or above
• There are no formal entry requirements for this course but you will need to have a good standard of English and maths

• Studying via distance learning means you can choose when and where you study.
• We recommended allowing a minimum of 5 to 6 hours per week to study this course in your own time.
• You will be given submission dates for each unit to help you stay on track and complete within the allocated timeframe of 6 months.  
• This course is delivered through online assessments and online learning materials.
• You are required to study the learning materials online and then answer the knowledge-based assessments confirming your understanding of the topics.
• We encourage learners to reflect on their own experiences, work-based or personal and include these within their answers where relevant and suitable.
• This is a level 2 qualification, answers should be formed in paragraphs and learners will be required to write in detail, using structured sentences demonstrating knowledge.

Knowing how to support people with learning disabilities to access health care ensures you can support them to remain healthy and obtain the health care they need.

Successful completion will help support a number of job roles within the Health and Social Care sector, where you may be working with people with learning disabilities in your day-to-day role:

• healthcare support service worker
• clinical healthcare support worker
• healthcare assistant
• nursing assistant
• health education/health promotion worker
• care assistants/assistants/support workers in residential settings
• health care assistants/support workers in community and primary care environments
• health care assistants/support workers in acute health environments
• care assistants/support workers/key workers in domiciliary services
• care assistants/support workers/key workers in day services
• personal assistants employed directly by the individual they support or their families.

Completion of the qualification may enable you to progress into the above job roles within the Health and Social Care sector, as a new entrant or as part of your ongoing career development.

You could also progress to the following Apprenticeships:

• Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care
• Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Health (Clinical Healthcare Support)
• Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Health (Healthcare Support Services)

If you’re interested in progressing to further study at the next level of vocational learning the following qualifications are also available:

• NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
• Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities
• Level 3 Certificate for Working in the Health Sector
• Level 3 Certificate in Working with Individuals with Diabetes
• Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support Services