The aims of these qualifications are to develop knowledge, skills and understanding across a range of interrelated health & social care subjects and practices. Building on the core learning developed at Level 3, the Diploma qualification provides learners with a broad, practical foundation of both health and adult social care subjects. For learners seeking to further develop their occupational skills in adult social care, there is a specific Extended Diploma pathway to grow these skills; for learners looking for more of a bespoke/academic approach to the subject, the Extended Diploma offers a wide range of optional choices, and some more academically oriented units, to enable as broad an approach as possible to study.  The Diploma qualification is mapped to the knowledge and skill requirements for the Level 4 IfATE standard for Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (Home / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) and the Extended Diploma Adult Care pathway is mapped to the knowledge and skill requirements for Skills for Care’s Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care specification (Home – Skills for Care). In this way, learners can be assured that their learning and achievement is fully compatible with current health and social care sector expectations for learning and skills