Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services
The senior leadership qualification for experienced early years professionals. Designed for supervisors and managers ready to step into or strengthen their leadership role, this diploma is recognised by Ofsted and local authorities across the UK.
12
Mand. units
102
Credits
Portfolio
Assessment
In person
Observation
19+
Minimum age
What you'll study
Understand partnership; be able to establish and maintain working relationships with colleagues; be able to establish and maintain working relationships with other professionals; and be able to work in partnership with others.
Unit ref A/602/3189 · Level 4
Be able to address the range of communication requirements in own role; be able to improve communication systems and practices that support positive outcomes for individuals; be able to improve communication systems to support partnership working; and be able to use systems for effective information management.
Unit ref F/602/2335 · Level 5
Understand diversity, equality and inclusion in own area of responsibility; be able to champion diversity, equality and inclusion; understand how to develop systems and processes that promote diversity, equality and inclusion; and be able to manage the risks presented when balancing individual rights and professional duty of care.
Unit ref Y/602/3183 · Level 5
Understand the current legislative framework and organisational health, safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices that are relevant to health and social care or children and young people's settings; be able to implement and monitor compliance with health, safety and risk management requirements; be able to lead the implementation of policies, procedures and practices to manage risk to individuals and others; be able to promote a culture where needs and risks are balanced with health and safety practice; and be able to improve health, safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices.
Unit ref K/602/3172 · Level 5
Understand principles of professional development; be able to prioritise goals and targets for own professional development; be able to prepare a professional development plan; and be able to improve performance through reflective practice.
Unit ref L/602/2578 · Level 4
Understand the impact of current legislation that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people; be able to support the review of policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people; be able to implement policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people; and be able to lead practice in supporting children and young people's wellbeing and resilience.
Unit ref A/601/9370 · Level 5
Understand the pattern of development that would normally be expected for children and young people from birth to 19 years; understand the factors that impact on children and young people's development; understand the benefits of early intervention to support their development; understand the potential effects of transitions on their development; and understand how assessing, monitoring and recording development informs the use of interventions.
Unit ref F/601/9449 · Level 5
Understand the features of effective team performance within a health and social care or children and young people's setting; be able to support a positive culture within the team; be able to support a shared vision within the team; be able to develop a plan with team members to meet agreed objectives; be able to support individual team members to work towards agreed objectives; and be able to manage team performance.
Unit ref H/602/3171 · Level 6
Understand theoretical approaches to child and young person development; be able to lead and support developmental assessment of children and young people; be able to develop and implement programmes with children or young people requiring developmental support; be able to evaluate those programmes; be able to lead and promote support for children experiencing transitions; and be able to lead positive behaviour support.
Unit ref J/601/9369 · Level 5
Understand how different approaches to promoting positive wellbeing and resilience in children and young people impact on practice; be able to lead practice in supporting children and young people's wellbeing and resilience; be able to lead practice in work with carers who are supporting children and young people; be able to lead practice in responding to their health needs; and be able to lead the development of practice to promote their wellbeing and resilience.
Unit ref J/602/2577 · Level 5
Understand the purpose of professional supervision in health and social care or children and young people's work settings; understand how the principles of professional supervision can be used to inform performance management; be able to undertake the preparation for professional supervision with supervisees; be able to provide professional supervision; be able to manage conflict situations during professional supervision; and be able to evaluate own practice when conducting professional supervision.
Unit ref M/602/3187 · Level 5
Be able to justify a topic for research within services for health and social care or children and young people; understand how the components of research are used; be able to conduct a research project; and be able to analyse research findings.
Unit ref J/602/3499 · Level 5
Optional units
We deliver the Children and Young People's Management pathway, including these optional management units.
Understand the regulatory requirements, codes of practice and relevant guidance for managing concerns and complaints; be able to develop procedures to address concerns and complaints; be able to lead the implementation of procedures and practice for addressing concerns and complaints; and be able to review those procedures and practices.
Unit ref J/602/2336 · Level 5
Understand the benefits of coaching and mentoring practitioners in health and social care or children and young people's settings; be able to promote coaching and mentoring of practitioners; be able to identify their coaching and mentoring needs; be able to implement coaching and mentoring activities; and be able to review the outcomes of coaching and mentoring.
Unit ref L/602/2547 · Level 5
Be able to align objectives of own area of responsibility with those of own organisation; be able to implement operational plans in own area of responsibility; and be able to monitor and evaluate operational plans in own area of responsibility.
Unit ref Y/600/9588 · Level 5
Understand financial management in own work setting; be able to plan budget requirement for own area of responsibility; be able to manage a budget; and be able to evaluate financial expenditure within own area of responsibility.
Unit ref T/602/2753 · Level 4
Understand how groups develop and function in health and social care or children and young people's work settings; be able to create a climate that facilitates effective groups; be able to facilitate a group; be able to enhance learning through the constructive use of power, authority and influence in group work; and be able to monitor and review the work of a group.
Unit ref Y/602/2339 · Level 5
Understand theories of management and leadership and their application to health and social care or children and young people's settings; understand the relationship between professional management and leadership; understand the skills of professional management and leadership; and understand the impact of policy drivers on professional management and leadership in health and social care or children and young people's services.
Unit ref F/504/2218 · Level 5
68 credits from 12 mandatory units, plus your optional units
Unit details taken from the iCQ qualification specification for 601/4453/1 (generated 17 June 2026). Check the latest version on the ICQ website
Assessment & Requirements
How you'll be assessed
Portfolio of evidence and work-based learning in the early years setting
Teaching methods
Online personal tutoring & face-to-face observation
Entry requirements
Level 3 EYE qualification
Who this is for
Early years supervisors and managers
Career Outcomes
With this qualification you'll be eligible for roles including:
Nursery Manager
£28,000–£38,000
per year
Deputy Manager
£25,000–£32,000
per year
Children's Services Manager
£32,000–£42,000
per year
Career Ladder
See where this qualification fits in your career journey.
Level 2
Diploma for the Early Years Practitioneras Nursery Assistant, Early Years Practitioner, Childminder's Assistant
Level 3
Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator)as Early Years Educator, Room Leader, Key Person
Level 5
Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services
as Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Children's Services Manager
What's included
Everything included, whichever pace you choose
Every course comes with full assessor support, materials, and a money-back guarantee — no matter your pace. Choose Fast Track and you also get quicker feedback turnaround, priority support, and flexible pacing.
Fees & Payments
However you'd rather pay
Pay in full, or spread the cost across 18 months — whichever suits you best. No interest, no credit check, and every session with your assessor is included.
September Sale — prices below end 28 September
£1,679 £1,799
Pay in full
£103.33/mo £110
for 18 months
£100
Registration fee
14 days
Money back guarantee
- No interest and no credit check, whichever way you pay.
- The registration fee is paid directly to ICQ, not to us — it's included in the total above.
- All support sessions with your assessor are included — no extra charge.
- Your course includes in-person observation. There's no travel fee if you're under 2 hours from London Paddington (one way); beyond that it's £100–£250 per visit, added to your first payment. See how fees work →
- Not sure? You have a full 14-day money-back guarantee from the date of enrolment, no questions asked. See our refund policy →
- Need longer than the standard duration? Extensions are available at an additional cost. Learn more in our Terms & Conditions →
Work out your price
1. Choose your pace
2. Choose how you'd like to pay
3. How far are you from London Paddington?
Your assessor visits you in person. Work out the one-way journey by public transport, travelling in the daytime (10am–4pm). Journeys under 2 hours carry no travel fee. Check your shortest journey on Google Maps →
4. Your price
Ready to get started?
Apply in 4 minutes — your qualification starts here.
14-day risk-free guarantee. Full refund if it's not right for you.