A rigorous and thorough recruitment and selection process should ensure that only managers who have the appropriate knowledge and skills and who are suitable to provide and manage social care, are appointed to the workforce. Skills for Care has developed the Manager Induction Standards for use by all 'new' managers of adult social care, i.e. those new to management and those new in post who have previously managed other care services. The standards have been mapped to the core units of the National Occupational Standards for Leadership and Management for Care Services.

The current qualification
Managers are required by the regulations to have the 'necessary qualifications, skills and experience' to carry out the regulated activity. Skills for Care advise that the current, relevant qualification is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services choosing the pathway;

• Management of Adult Services or
• Management of Adult Residential Services

Managers taking the Level 5 Diploma should use the full breadth of QCF units available to ensure they achieve a qualification that is relevant to the role they are carrying out.

For an up to date list of Awarding Organisations that offer the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services please click here.

Earlier qualifications
The following earlier qualifications remain valid and relevant:

• Registered Manager's Award (RMA)
• An NVQ Level 4 in Leadership and Management for Care Services (LMCS)

Registered Managers should have the right skills, knowledge and experience relevant to their job role and care setting. In addition to the RMA or LMCS, this could include the following care qualifications:

• Level 4 NVQ in Health and Social Care
• Relevant nursing, physiotherapy or occupational therapy qualification and registration
• Relevant social work qualification and registration with the GSCC

The difference in levels between the L4 NVQ in Health and Social Care and L4 NVQ in Leadership and Management for Care Services with the L5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Services is due to the difference in frameworks. The Level 5 is equivalent to the Level 4 and is not a higher level qualification. It is the ultimate responsibility of the Care Quality Commission to determine but it is our advice and guidance that if you have already achieved your RMA or LMCS you do not need to take the L5 qualification as well.

When they apply to register with CQC, managers must have available documentary evidence of all relevant qualification/s and any professional registrations. If this documentation shows that a person applying to become a new registered manager does not have one of the above qualifications or is not registered on the Level 5 Diploma course then it would be reasonable to expect them to register on the level 5 course within three months of appointment and complete within 18 months to 2 years. The response of the CQC will be proportionate, taking into account the impact on outcomes for people who use services, the person's previous experience, existing qualifications and any steps they have taken to achieve a qualification listed above.

The qualifications listed above are the current, recommended qualifications, however there are other qualifications available. To establish whether other qualifications meet the requirements of the CQC, we recommend that you compare the learning outcomes of the units or speak to the relevant Awarding Organisation before applying to register.