Understanding Personal Care Needs - Level 2

Summary

Are you passionate about delivering compassionate, person-centred care? This course is your gateway to gaining the specialist knowledge needed to support individuals with dignity, empathy and professionalism in a care setting. Whether you're already working in health and social care or looking to start your journey, this qualification will deepen your understanding of personal care needs and enhance your ability to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Through this course, you’ll explore the principles of personal care, including hygiene, nutrition, mobility, and emotional wellbeing. You’ll learn how to tailor care to individual needs, promote independence, and uphold the highest standards of dignity and respect. With a strong focus on real-world application, this qualification empowers you to support vulnerable individuals more effectively—whether in residential care, domiciliary services, or healthcare environments.

By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a nationally recognised qualification but also the confidence and insight to progress in your career or take the next step into further study in health and social care.

Next course dates

Start date	Location	Duration
10 Sep 2025	Bispham Campus	8 Weeks	Apply now
10 Sep 2026	Bispham Campus	8 Weeks	Apply now

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

This qualification is an ideal starting point for anyone looking to build a meaningful career in the health and social care sector. Whether you're just beginning your journey or already working in a care role, this course provides the foundational knowledge needed to support individuals with personal care needs in a variety of settings.

Upon completion, you’ll be well-prepared for roles such as:

Care Assistant

Support Worker

Home Care Worker

Healthcare Assistant

Residential Care Worker

These roles span across residential care homes, domiciliary care services, supported living environments, and healthcare settings such as hospitals and clinics.

This course is also a stepping stone to further qualifications and career advancement. Learners can progress to:

Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

Level 3 Award or Certificate in Health and Social Care

These higher-level qualifications open doors to more senior roles, including Senior Care Worker, Team Leader, or even Care Coordinator positions. With experience and continued study, learners can also explore pathways into nursing, social work, or occupational therapy.

Whether your goal is to enhance your current role or to climb the ladder in the care profession, this course sets you on the right path.

Next steps at B&FC

This qualification is part of the Working in Health and Social Care pathway at Blackpool and The Fylde College. Upon successful completion of the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Personal Care Needs, students can progress to the following B&FC course:

NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care

This progression route is designed to build on the knowledge gained at Level 2, further developing your skills and preparing you for more advanced roles within the health and social care sector. It’s the ideal next step for those looking to take on greater responsibility, move into supervisory roles, or continue towards higher education in health and social care.

Employment Opportunities

After completing this qualification, learners will be equipped with the essential knowledge and understanding to pursue entry-level roles within the health and social care sector. If you choose to move directly into employment, you could apply for roles such as:

Care Assistant

Support Worker

Home Care Worker

Healthcare Assistant

Residential Care Worker

Personal Care Assistant

Domiciliary Care Worker

Community Support Worker

These roles are available across a wide range of settings, including care homes, hospitals, supported living environments, and private home care services. This qualification demonstrates your commitment to high-quality, person-centred care something highly valued by employers in the sector.

Key information

Entry Requirements

Technical Entry Requirements:

Age: 19 years or over (19+)

Additional Non-Qualification-Based Entry Requirements:

DBS Check: A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is not required for enrolment on this course. However, it is essential for those seeking employment or voluntary work involving vulnerable adults. This check is typically arranged through your employer or placement provider.
English and Maths: A basic level of proficiency in English and Maths is recommended to support your learning and understanding of the course content.

These entry requirements ensure that learners are prepared to engage fully with the course and are aware of the expectations for future employment in health and social care settings.

Qualification obtained

Certificate in Understanding Personal Care Needs

Fees and funding

As per course file / funding rules

Extra costs and equipment

There are no additional costs associated with this course.

Terms and conditions

Read our full terms and conditions for more information.

What will I learn?

This course is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and understanding needed to support individuals with their personal care needs in a safe, respectful, and person-centred way. You’ll study six mandatory units, each focusing on a key aspect of care:

Understand Person-Centred Care

Explore the principles of person-centred approaches and how to apply them in practice, ensuring that care is tailored to the unique needs, preferences, and values of each individual.

Understand How to Support Personal Hygiene

Learn how to assist individuals with personal hygiene routines such as bathing, grooming, and dressing, while promoting dignity and independence.

Understand Foot Care for Individuals

Gain insight into the importance of foot health, common foot conditions, and how to support individuals with basic foot care in line with best practice.

Understand How to Support Individuals to Maintain Oral Health

Discover how to promote and support good oral hygiene, including brushing, denture care, and recognising signs of oral health issues.

Understand Pressure Area Care

Learn how to identify individuals at risk of developing pressure ulcers and how to implement preventative care strategies to maintain skin integrity.

Understand Sepsis

Understand what sepsis is, how to recognise early warning signs, and the importance of timely intervention in preventing serious health outcomes.

Each unit is designed to build your confidence and competence in delivering high-quality care, preparing you for both immediate employment and further study in the health and social care sector.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

While there is no mandatory work placement required for this course, students are strongly encouraged to gain voluntary or part-time experience in a care setting to enhance their learning and employability.

At Blackpool and The Fylde College, we enrich your classroom experience with regular guest speakers and events featuring industry experts from across the health and social care sector. These sessions offer valuable insights into real-world practice, current challenges in care, and emerging trends in the industry.

Recent guest speakers have included professionals from local care providers, NHS representatives, and adult social care specialists, all sharing their experiences and advice on delivering high-quality, person-centred care. These engagements not only bring the curriculum to life but also help you build connections and gain a clearer understanding of the career paths available to you.

How will I learn?

Our courses are delivered through a blended learning approach, combining the flexibility of digital resources with the benefits of face-to-face teaching. While some elements of the course may be accessed online, this is not an online-only course—you will be required to attend in-person sessions at scheduled times throughout the programme.

Teaching takes place in hybrid classrooms, allowing for interactive, tutor-led sessions that support both classroom-based and remote participation when appropriate. The programme primarily focuses on developing your theoretical knowledge, supported by practical, hands-on activities that help you apply what you’ve learned to real-world care scenarios.

Teaching methods include:

Interactive Lectures: Engaging lectures that encourage student participation and discussion.

Group Work: Collaborative projects and activities that foster teamwork and communication skills.

Practical Workshops: Hands-on sessions where students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.

Online Resources: Access to a wealth of online materials, including videos, articles, and interactive modules.

This flexible yet structured approach ensures that you receive the guidance, peer interaction, and practical experience needed to succeed in the health and social care sector.

Expert tutors

All staff involved in the delivery of adult education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed through a combination of methods designed to evaluate their understanding and practical application of the course material. The assessment process is structured to ensure that students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills effectively.