Our health and social care expertise
As a champion of health and social care, we understand the challenges created by change and reform. We work closely with employers, practitioners and sector bodies to ensure our approach reflects real practice and future workforce needs.
We design high-quality qualifications that meet national standards and sector expectations. Our offer is shaped by robust sector engagement, ensuring learning is relevant and trusted.
We provide an end‑to‑end learning offer which supports individuals at every stage of their career. From entry‑level routes to advanced pathways, our qualifications enable progression, skills development and workforce sustainability.
At the heart of our work is a strong focus on professionalisation. We promote quality and confidence to support a skilled and valued health and social care workforce.
Explore the Care Workforce Pathway
Our Adult Care Progression Map makes it easier for providers to align their programmes with the needs of the adult care sector.
Our Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in Social Care (Diploma)
We're standing by the social care sector with our new qualification eligible for funding until at least 2027/28.
Why NCFE?
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We are a market leader for health and social care qualifications. Our clear and visible career pathways support progression across the health and social care. This helps employers strengthen recruitment, retention and build a sustainable workforce for the future.
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Our qualifications are accessible by design. We remove barriers to learning through flexible, stackable and modular approaches. This allows learners to upskill around work and life commitments.
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We're future focused. We equip the workforce with the skills to respond to evolving care needs such as changing service models and increasing professional expectations.
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NCFE is impact driven. We empower individuals to choose a long‑term future in health and social care. One where they are recognised for their contribution, supported to develop, and encouraged to thrive as professionals.
0%
vacancies remain across 1.6 million adult social care workforce..
0
additional roles will be needed by 2030.
0%
of workers hold a relevant qualification. Skills gaps persist.
Source: The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England, 2025
Our collaborators
Latest sector insights
Why we must protect pathways into social work c...
David Rowley, our Product Manager for Technical Education, examines how a new Level 3 social care qualification can open routes into social work, address skills shortages, and strengthen the future workforce.
Learner stories: How education helped me to tur...
From a childhood marked by trauma to a life shaped by addiction, Andy has emerged as a powerful advocate for recovery and education. Andy's story is part of our Why Should I Care? campaign, which marks 80 years of CACHE qualifications.
Healthcare educator honoured with national awar...
Sara Louise Gilpin, a lead educator at Southern Regional College in Northern Ireland, has received the CACHE Outstanding Achievement Award at NCFE’s Aspiration Awards 2025.
Aspiration Awards 2025: CACHE Outstanding Achie...
Our CACHE Outstanding Achievement highly commended is Luca Filmer, who is being recognised at the age of 17 for his outstanding contribution to adult social care as a Level 3 apprentice with Access Skills Ltd.