Quality assured learning: raising standards in adult social care training

We look at what the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) mean for social care.

High-quality training and development is essential to building a skilled, confident and resilient adult social care workforce. To support this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) launched the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) - a service that reviews and benchmarks the quality of training providers, courses and qualifications across the sector.

QACLS helps employers identify learning opportunities they can trust, ensuring that training is accessible, relevant and genuinely improves outcomes for both staff and people who draw on care and support. Importantly, courses and qualifications that are quality assured through the QACLS are also eligible for funding through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). This means employers can invest with confidence, knowing the training they choose is of the highest standard.

Embedding quality and confidence

For many training providers, the QACLS process has been a chance to reflect, refine and strengthen their approach. Caroline Coleman, who leads Coleman Training, describes it as a natural extension of their commitment to excellence:

“We know how variable the quality of training in our sector can be, and QACLS offers a way for services to feel confident they’re investing in training that genuinely improves outcomes.”

Caroline and her team found that preparing for quality assurance had benefits beyond achieving approval.

“It gave us a great opportunity to focus as a team on how we manage quality. That alone has had lasting benefits for our business.”

Supporting providers of all sizes

The QACLS has been designed to work for both large and small providers. For Freebird Associates, a small consultancy in Cornwall, it provided reassurance and recognition without losing sight of their values-led approach.

“It helped me realise that I am good enough,” explains founder Anna Elwood. “It made me feel more confident in what I do, and why it works.”

Anna believes that quality assurance in learning and development is just as important as in frontline care services:

“Organisations commissioning learning need to feel confident that what they’re buying meets high standards. The same should apply to training providers too.”

Benchmarking and building trust

For larger organisations, QACLS has also acted as a valuable benchmarking tool. AASOG Education and Training, which delivers accredited qualifications across the UK and internationally, used the process to test and strengthen their internal systems.

“It was like a SWOT analysis,” says director Jeminiyi Ogunkoya. “It helped us make sure what we think is quality is actually seen as quality, not just from an awarding body perspective, but through the lens of external standards too.”

Achieving QACLS approval has boosted confidence not just within the team, but among employers and learners too.

“There’s an extra boost of trust in what we do,” Jeminiyi explains. “That pride and belief in us is growing.”

Raising standards across the sector

With care providers facing high levels of staff turnover and increasing demand for services, ensuring training is both effective and accessible is more important than ever. The Government is helping to make sure investment goes where it has the greatest impact - supporting retention, career progression and recognition for the workforce.

For training providers, the process is more than a tick-box exercise. It’s an opportunity to strengthen practice, embed quality, and demonstrate value to employers. For employers, it offers clarity and assurance that their investment in staff development will deliver meaningful results.

Find out more

If you're a training provider interested in becoming quality assured, or an employer looking to access funding through the LDSS, visit the Skills for Care website to explore guidance, resources, and the list of quality assured training courses and qualifications.

You can also explore our in-depth case studies on the QACLS webpage.

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