Skills for Care has developed two series of Learning Disability Knowledge Sets

Knowledge sets are collections of key learning outcomes for specific areas of work within adult social care. They are designed to improve consistency in the underpinning knowledge learnt by the adult social care workforce in England and are based on wide consultation across social care. It is intended that the key learning outcomes within each knowledge set should be used by employers to develop in-house learning and by training providers, publishers and awarding bodies to produce learning programmes, resources (CD-ROMs, videos, workbooks) and, potentially, qualifications. Knowledge sets are also among the sources being used by Skills for Care in the development of new units for the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
The key learning outcomes provide minimum standardised outcomes that employers may use either to produce their own in-house learning or learning packages or as a benchmark when buying in learning provision or learning packages. These knowledge sets are designed to be used separately or alongside the Learning Disability Induction Award and as part of a worker's continuing professional development. Their aim is to provide specific standardised knowledge and understanding to help social care workers undertake their role. The knowledge sets are provided as Word files so employers and trainers can copy and paste extracts into their own materials and copyright permission for this is given, provided the source is acknowledged and the new materials are not for commercial distribution (commercial publishers should contact Skills for Care for reproduction rights).
Please click on the links below to download the learning disability knowledge sets.
Series 1 (2008):
History and Context of Learning Disability Services (word doc)
Communication (word doc)
Relationships (word doc)
Accessing and using information (word doc)
Independence and well being (word doc)
Series 2 (2009):
Supporting people with autistic spectrum condition (ASC) (word doc)
Supporting people to be part of their community (word doc)
Supporting people positively with their behaviour (word doc)
Working in partnership with family carers (word doc)


statement for LDQ S4C VP Skills for Care and Valuing People statement regarding LDQ, Knowledge Sets and the proposed new QCF qualifications (Oct 09)