ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills

The ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is a UK-regulated qualification at Level 2 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), regulated by Ofqual. It is intended for individuals entering or supporting roles in healthcare and social care settings, such as care assistants, support workers, and those in community-based services. The award is particularly relevant to beginners and practitioners in hospitals, care homes, domiciliary care, and social care providers offering vocational training.

The qualification emphasises core principles and practical application of healthcare and social care support skills, covering person-centred care, safeguarding, health and safety, basic clinical observations, and assisting with daily living activities. It supports the development of competence in delivering safe, effective support that aligns with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and sector regulations.

Assessment is based on evidence drawn from the learner’s practice or simulated workplace activities. Achieving the ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills provides formal recognition of foundational skills within UK health and social care environments. It aligns with professional expectations for entry-level roles maintaining care quality and resident well-being.

Why Choose ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills?

The ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is a UK-recognised qualification designed to develop essential practical skills for working in healthcare and social care settings. It focuses on building competence, confidence, and understanding of key care practices while promoting high standards of patient support and safety. The course supports professional development in the care sector and is ideal for individuals starting their careers or looking to enhance their skills in healthcare and social care environments.

ProQual Level 2 Syllabus Highlights

Module Focus	Skills Gained
Implement person centred approaches in health and social care	Learners promote individual choice, dignity, and independence by adapting care based on personal needs and preferences while applying principles of person-centred care in daily practice.
Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care	Learners identify signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, understand safeguarding policies and legal frameworks, and report concerns using correct procedures.
Assist in the administration of medication	Learners handle, store, and administer medication safely, recognize medication types, effects, and side effects, and monitor for adverse reactions.
Carry out personal hygiene for individuals unable to care for themselves	Learners assist with bathing, dressing, oral care, and grooming while promoting dignity, privacy, infection control, and hygiene best practices.
Support individuals with speech and language disorders to develop their communication skills	Learners understand types of speech and language disorders, implement communication techniques and tools, and help individuals express needs and feelings.
Perform the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures	Learners prepare the operating room, support the surgical team with equipment and supplies, manage a sterile environment, and follow safety protocols.
Minimise the risk of infection when transporting and storing healthcare waste	Learners identify healthcare waste types, follow waste management policies with PPE use, and reduce infection risks during handling and storage.
Assist in the issuing of prescribed items	Learners follow dispensing procedures and regulations, ensure prescription accuracy, and explain medication instructions to patients.
Assist in the manufacture and assembly of medicinal products	Learners prepare medicinal products safely, adhere to hygiene, safety, and documentation rules, and maintain accurate production records.
Assist in the preparation of documentation, materials and other items for manufacture and assembly of medicinal products	Learners organize pharmaceutical materials and documentation, ensure regulatory compliance, and conduct quality control checks during preparation.
Support individuals to carry out their own health care procedures	Learners encourage self-care and independence, assist individuals in following treatment plans, and provide emotional and physical support throughout the process.
Provide support for therapy sessions	Learners assist therapists with session preparation, support patients in performing therapy exercises, and monitor progress while providing constructive feedback.
Contribute to the discharge of individuals to carers	Learners understand discharge planning procedures, communicate detailed care instructions to carers and families, and ensure smooth transitions from hospital to home.
Paediatric Emergency First Aid	Learners master basic life-saving techniques for children, handle emergencies like choking, bleeding, and fractures, and follow established response protocols.
Introduction to communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings	Learners grasp the importance of communication in healthcare, apply effective verbal and non-verbal skills, and overcome common barriers in care settings.
Support individuals to meet personal care needs	Learners identify personal care needs and preferences, deliver safe support for toileting, hygiene, and appearance, and monitor while reporting on provided care.
Contribute to the safe use of medical devices in the perioperative environment	Learners adhere to health and safety standards for medical devices, check and handle equipment per procedures, verify instrument tray integrity, and dispose of items safely.
Causes and Spread of Infection	Learners understand the primary causes of infections and explain the various methods of infection transmission in care environments.
Prepare documentation, materials, components and other items for the preparation of aseptic products	Learners prepare and maintain aseptic working environments, complete accurate documentation, ready starting materials, and comply with legislation, policies, and professional codes within job role limits.
Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings	Learners understand duty of care implications, access support for addressing dilemmas, and respond appropriately to complaints in care settings.
Provide support for mobility	Learners understand the importance of mobility, prepare effectively for mobility activities, support individuals to remain mobile, and observe, record, and report on mobility support provided.
Assist others to plan presentations	Learners grasp planning techniques and resources for presentations and assist others effectively in developing structured presentation plans.
Order Routine Pharmaceutical Stock	Learners accurately order pharmaceutical stock, process orders correctly, complete the full ordering process, and comply with relevant legislation, policies, and job role limitations.
Dementia Awareness	Learners understand the nature of dementia, key features of theoretical models, and factors influencing an individual's dementia experience.
Move and position individuals in accordance with their plan of care	Learners apply anatomy knowledge for safe moving/positioning, follow legislation and protocols, minimize risks, prepare individuals appropriately, perform moves safely, and seek advice when necessary.
Support individuals to manage continence	Learners understand continence factors, support self-management, use equipment safely, provide continence support securely, and monitor while reporting on continence care.
Handle information in health and social care settings	Learners recognize needs for secure information handling, access appropriate support, and manage information according to established procedures and agreements.
The role of the health and social care worker	Learners understand working relationships in care settings, operate within employer guidelines, and collaborate effectively in partnerships with others.
Obtain and test specimens from individuals	Learners master specimen processes, prepare for collection, obtain and test specimens accurately, report outcomes clearly, and adhere to legislation for handling, testing, and storage.
Prepare individuals for healthcare activities	Learners understand relevant legislation and best practices, prepare individuals safely for activities, and maintain accurate records and reports of healthcare preparations.
Assist in planning and evaluating learning activities	Learners know legislation, guidelines, and adult learning styles for planning activities, understand roles in implementation, assist effectively in planning, and evaluate learning outcomes.
Assist the practitioner to carry out health care activities	Learners understand current legislation, guidelines, policies, and protocols, and assist practitioners competently in performing healthcare activities.
Minimise the risk of infection during the removal of used linen	Learners follow infection control guidelines, prepare for linen removal safely, remove used linen while reducing infection risk, and minimize contamination after handling.
Inform an individual of discharge arrangements	Learners understand discharge information needs and communicate arrangements clearly to individuals.
Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities	Learners grasp legislation for human rights and inclusion, characteristics of learning disabilities, historical context, advocacy principles, attitude impacts, and communication promotion strategies.
Select and wear appropriate personal protective equipment for work in health care settings	Learners understand legislation and protocols for PPE, and select/use appropriate PPE correctly in healthcare settings.
Monitor and maintain the environment and resources during and after clinical / therapeutic activities	Learners know monitoring procedures, operate equipment safely, maintain environments/resources, and clean work areas effectively.
Prepare and dress for scrubbed clinical roles	Learners follow safe preparation procedures, work within competence limits, dress appropriately for scrubbed roles, and perform within clinical responsibilities.
Care for individuals with naso-gastric tubes	Learners understand legislation/guidelines/anatomy for NG tubes, prepare for procedures, and support individuals during nasogastric care.
The principles of Infection Prevention and Control	Learners understand roles/responsibilities, legislation/policies, systems/procedures, risk assessment, PPE importance, and personal hygiene for preventing infections.
Assist with the provision of a pharmacy service to meet individuals’ needs	Learners identify individual needs, provide tailored information, resolve concerns effectively, comply with organizational procedures, and work within job role limitations.
Contribute to the effectiveness of teams	Learners explain their role's impact on team performance, use feedback for improvement, manage time effectively, build working relationships, and comply with legislation.
Introduction to personal development in health, social care or children's and young people’s settings	Learners understand competence requirements, reflect on work activities, agree personal development plans, and actively develop knowledge, skills, and understanding.
Support individuals who are distressed	Learners understand distress causes/effects, prepare for support, assist through distress periods, help reduce distress, and record/report on individual distress accurately.
Support individuals undergoing healthcare activities	Learners understand healthcare activities, prepare individuals appropriately, provide support during procedures, and follow up effectively post-activities.
Prepare equipment for intraoperative cell salvage blood processing	Learners grasp legislation/guidelines, blood transfusion issues, cell salvage rationale, decision-making processes, swab washing, equipment functions, and prepare equipment competently.
Assist in receiving, handling and dispatching clinical specimens	Learners implement health/safety measures, understand container/transport requirements, and assist effectively in receiving, handling, labeling, and dispatching specimens.
Assist in the sale of medicines and products	Learners identify customer needs, refer appropriately, recognize sales restrictions, complete medicine/product sales, and follow local policy/legislation/good practice.
Receive Pharmaceutical Stock	Learners receive stock correctly, store it properly, complete receipt processes, understand legislation/good practice, comply with standards, and operate within job limits.
Prepare aseptic products	Learners monitor/maintain aseptic environments, prepare diverse aseptic products, and comply with legislation, policies, professional codes, and job role boundaries.
Prepare and apply dressings and drains to individuals in the perioperative environment	Learners understand health/safety measures to prevent contamination/cross-infection, know medical device usage for dressings/drains, select/prepare items per individual needs, and apply dressings/attach drains appropriately.
Planning and Monitoring Work	Learners understand organizational policies/procedures/priorities, plan/allocate work effectively, and monitor team performance systematically.
Cleaning, Decontamination and Waste Management	Learners maintain clean environments to prevent infection spread, apply decontamination principles/steps, and follow waste management practices for infection control.
Ensure your own Actions Reduce risks to Health and Safety	Learners identify workplace hazards, take action on hazards, and implement measures to reduce health/safety risks.
Introduction to equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings	Learners understand equality/inclusion importance, work inclusively, and access information/advice/support on diversity/equality/inclusion.
Provide agreed support for foot care	Learners recognize foot/toenail abnormality signs/causes, prepare for assessed foot care, promote individual engagement, provide safe foot care, and record/report outcomes.
Contribute to health and safety in health and social care	Learners know responsibilities for health/safety/risk assessments/accidents/illness/infection control/moving/handling/hazardous substances/fire/security/stress management.
Support independence in the tasks of daily living	Learners apply independence principles, establish daily living support needs, assist with meals/shopping/household items/home cleaning/security, and respond to support changes.
Prepare equipment for intraoperative cell salvage blood collection	Learners know legislation/guidelines/transfusion issues/equipment functions for cell salvage and prepare equipment competently.
Maintaining quality standards in the health sector	Learners understand how legislation/policies/procedures set quality standards, recognize expertise limits for referrals, and use resources efficiently for quality.
Emergency First Aid Skills	Learners understand first aider roles/responsibilities, assess incidents safely, manage unresponsive casualties (breathing/not breathing), assist choking casualties, treat wounds/bleeding/shock, and handle minor injuries appropriately.
Assemble prescribed items	Learners prepare for assembly, select correct items, label/package accurately, complete processes fully, and comply with legal/ethical requirements, SOPs, and guidelines.
Support participation in learning and development activities	Learners consider factors for participation, prepare individuals/environment/resources, support activity engagement, and contribute to evaluation of learning outcomes.
Provide support for sleep	Learners understand sleep importance, establish suitable conditions, assist individuals to sleep, monitor sleep patterns, and access advice on sleep difficulties.
Remove wound closure materials	Learners know skin anatomy/physiology, wound healing/contamination principles, approved removal procedures, prepare effectively, remove materials safely, and record/report outcomes.
Support individuals to eat and drink	Learners support food/drink choices, prepare/provide/clear away safely, monitor intake and support provided effectively.
Undertake agreed pressure area care	Learners understand skin anatomy/good practice/care plans/equipment, prepare appropriately, and perform pressure area care per agreements.
Meet food safety requirements when providing food and drink for individuals	Learners maintain hygiene, meet safety standards for preparation/serving/clearing/storage, understand food safety importance, and access additional support/advice.
Understand loss and grief in end of life care	Learners know loss/grief processes, contextual support in end-of-life care, bereavement assistance strategies, and manage personal feelings of loss/grief.
Understand how to work in end of life care	Learners understand death/dying perspectives, end-of-life care aims/principles/policies, communication factors, and available support services.

Entry Requirements

• Minimum Age: 16+years.
• Educational Background : No formal qualifications needed.
• Work Experience: None required.
• Prior Knowledge: No prior knowledge needed in Entry-level course.

Who Is It For?

The ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills is designed for individuals who are passionate about helping others and want to build a strong foundation in the care sector. It is suitable for both beginners and those already working in entry-level roles who wish to enhance their knowledge, skills, and confidence in delivering quality care.

Ideal Candidates Include:

• Individuals looking to start a career in healthcare or social care
• Care assistants or support workers seeking formal recognition
• School leavers interested in entering the care profession
• Individuals planning to progress to higher-level health and social care qualifications
• Volunteers or caregivers wanting to improve their practical care skills
• Anyone aiming to develop a better understanding of patient care and safety

Overall, this course is ideal for anyone committed to making a positive impact in people’s lives while gaining the essential skills needed to succeed in healthcare and social care roles.

Career Benefits & Progression

The ProQual Level 2 Award in Healthcare and Social Care Support Skills equips learners for entry-level healthcare assistant and support worker roles across hospitals, nursing homes, and community care.

Key Benefits:

• Recognised Level 2 qualification for healthcare employers
• Entry-level jobs: Healthcare Assistant, Support Worker (£11-13/hr)
• Practical care skills: Personal care, first aid, infection control
• Fast-track to Level 3 Senior Care roles

Progression Pathways:

• Advance to ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care (Senior Care roles)
• Complete Care Certificate for NHS healthcare assistant positions
• Progress to Level 3/4 Leadership qualifications (Team Leader/Supervisor)
• Pathway to Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner apprenticeships
• Step into specialised roles: Theatre Support, Pharmacy Assistant, End-of-Life Care

Overall Clear progression from entry-level support worker to senior care professional, with multiple pathways in NHS, private care, and specialised healthcare services.