OTHM LEVEL 6 DIPLOMA IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE MANAGEMENT Assignment Briefs 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUALIFICATION OBJECTIVES 
QUALITY, STANDARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
REGULATORY INFORMATION
EQUIVALENCIES
QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE
DEFINITIONS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
PROGRESSION
DELIVERY OF OTHM QUALIFICATIONS
ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS TO PASS
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
UNIT SPECIFICATION
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 
MANAGING QUALITY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SETTINGS
PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SETTINGS
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
RESEARCH METHODS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
IMPORTANT NOTE

QUALIFICATION OBJECTIVES

The objective of the OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management qualification is to equip learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills required for a career in the health and social care sector at a managerial level.  
 
The programme enables learners to demonstrate their skills by producing evidence from their work activities, to meet national occupational standards.  
Learners will acquire care management skills in the Health and Social Care sector. 
 
QUALITY, STANDARDS AND RECOGNITIONS 
 
OTHM Qualifications are approved and regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). Visit register of Regulated Qualifications.  
 
OTHM has progression arrangement with several UK universities that acknowledges the ability of learners after studying Level 3-7 qualifications to be considered for advanced entry into corresponding degree year/top up and Master’s/top-up programmes. 

QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE 

The OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management consists of 6 mandatory units for a combined total of 120 credits, 1200 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and 480 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the completed qualification. 

DEFINITIONS

Total Qualification Time (TQT) is the number of notional hours which represents an estimate of the total amount of time that could reasonably be expected to be required in order for a Learner to achieve and demonstrate the achievement of the level of attainment necessary for the award of a qualification.  
 
Total Qualification Time is comprised of the following two elements –

a)    the number of hours which an awarding organisation has assigned to a qualification for Guided Learning, and  
b)    an estimate of the number of hours a Learner will reasonably be likely to spend in preparation, study or any other form of participation in education or training, including assessment, which takes place as directed by – but, unlike Guided Learning, not under the Immediate Guidance or Supervision of – a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training. 
 
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) is defined as the hours that a teacher, lecturer or other member of staff is available to provide immediate teaching support or supervision to a student working towards a qualification. 
 
Credit value is defined as being the number of credits that may be awarded to a Learner for the successful achievement of the learning outcomes of a unit.  One credit is equal to 10 hours of TQT. 

DELIVERY OF OTHM QUALIFICATIONS

OTHM do not specify the mode of delivery for its qualifications, therefore OTHM Centres are free to deliver this qualification using any mode of delivery that meets the needs of their Learners. However, OTHM Centres should consider the Learners’ complete learning experience when designing the delivery of programmes. 
 
OTHM Centres must ensure that the chosen mode of delivery does not unlawfully or unfairly discriminate, whether directly or indirectly, and that equality of opportunity is promoted.  Where it is reasonable and practicable to do so, it will take steps to address identified inequalities or barriers that may arise. 
 
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) which are listed in each unit gives the Centres the number of hours of teacher-supervised or direct study time likely to be required to teach that unit.

ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION 

All units within this qualification are internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes.  

To achieve a ‘pass’ for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Judgement that the learners have successfully fulfilled the assessment criteria is made by the Assessor.

The Assessor should provide an audit trail showing how the judgement of the learners’ overall achievement has been arrived at. 

Specific assessment guidance and relevant marking criteria for each unit are made available in the Assignment Brief document. These are made available to centres immediately after registration of one or more learners. 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS TO PASS

Centres are responsible for managing learners who have not achieved a Pass for the qualification having completed the assessment. However, OTHM expects at a minimum, that centres must have in place a clear feedback mechanism to learners by which they can effectively retrain the learner in all the areas required before re-assessing the learner. 

OTHM Level 6 UNIT SPECIFICATION

Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social Care  

Unit Aims 

The aim of this unit is to introduce learners to the principles of reflective practice and personal and professional development in relation to their role as a health and social care manager. The unit also enables learners to apply these principles to develop their career as health and social care managers. 

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content 

Managing Quality in Health and Social Care Settings 

Unit Aims 

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of different perspectives of quality in relation to health and social care service provision. The unit also addresses how this is evaluated in order to improve services and empower and involve service users.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content 

Principles of Leadership and Management 

Unit Aims 

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ leadership and management knowledge and skills, underpinning their practice as effective health care professionals. The unit introduces the management of teams and approaches to dealing with complex situations, providing quality service outcomes through effective practice and policy implementation.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content 

Health and Safety in Health and Social Care Settings 

Unit Aims 

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of management responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of the health and social care workplace and the people within it.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content 

Resource Management in Health and Social Care 

Unit Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of the processes involved in the management of human and financial resources. The unit explores recruitment, and the management and development of people in the health and social care workplace. Key financial concepts and tools used by managers in health and social care organisations are also looked at.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content 

Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals 

Unit Aims 

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ research skills,  to include understanding different research approaches, formulation of research proposals, planning research activity, analysing and interpreting data, and the relationship between research and evidence based practice.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content