The LICQual Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Law and Ethics is a specialised qualification designed for professionals working within healthcare, social care, and allied sectors who wish to advance their understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks that guide professional practice. This programme is not intended for fresh candidates; it is specifically developed for individuals who already have professional experience and aim to enhance their career prospects, broaden their expertise, and strengthen their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Healthcare delivery is governed by a complex mix of legal responsibilities and ethical considerations. This diploma equips learners with the knowledge and skills to navigate issues such as patient rights, consent, confidentiality, duty of care, and professional accountability. By exploring the principles of healthcare law and ethical decision-making, learners will develop the ability to respond effectively to real-world challenges, ensuring safe, fair, and professional standards of care.
Centres delivering this qualification must demonstrate their capacity to provide high-quality training by employing competent and qualified staff with relevant subject expertise. Additionally, centres are required to maintain access to suitable learning resources, materials, and facilities to fully support learner achievement.
By completing this diploma, learners will gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of law and ethics in shaping healthcare practice. The knowledge and skills acquired will enable them to take on greater responsibilities, influence policy and practice, and contribute to raising professional standards across the healthcare and social care sectors.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Law and Ethics
Total Units
6
Total Credits
60
GLH
240
Qualification #
LICQ2200754
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Law and Ethics, applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2200754-1 |
Principles of Healthcare Law |
10 |
40 |
|
LICQ2200754-2 |
Ethical Theories and Principles in Healthcare |
10 |
40 |
|
LICQ2200754-3 |
Patient Rights, Consent, and Confidentiality |
10 |
40 |
|
LICQ2200754-4 |
Duty of Care, Professional Accountability, and Legal Obligations |
10 |
40 |
|
LICQ2200754-5 |
Safeguarding, Risk Management, and Regulatory Compliance |
10 |
40 |
|
LICQ2200754-6 |
Ethical Decision-Making and Case Studies in Healthcare Practice |
10 |
40 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Principles of Healthcare Law
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Explain the fundamental principles of healthcare law and their relevance to professional practice.
- Analyse the legal framework governing healthcare delivery, including legislation and regulations.
- Identify key legal concepts such as liability, negligence, and patient protection.
- Evaluate how legal requirements influence decision-making in healthcare settings.
Unit 2: Ethical Theories and Principles in Healthcare
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Describe major ethical theories and their application in healthcare practice.
- Apply ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice to professional situations.
- Critically evaluate ethical dilemmas in healthcare and social care contexts.
- Demonstrate understanding of professional codes of ethics and conduct.
Unit 3: Patient Rights, Consent, and Confidentiality
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Explain the legal and ethical requirements related to patient rights and informed consent.
- Demonstrate knowledge of confidentiality, data protection, and privacy in healthcare.
- Assess situations to ensure patients’ autonomy and rights are respected.
- Apply procedures to maintain ethical and legal compliance in patient care.
Unit 4: Duty of Care, Professional Accountability, and Legal Obligations
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Explain the concept of duty of care and its importance in healthcare practice.
- Identify professional responsibilities and legal obligations of healthcare practitioners.
- Evaluate accountability mechanisms, including professional regulation and reporting systems.
- Apply legal and professional standards to ensure safe and ethical care delivery.
Unit 5: Safeguarding, Risk Management, and Regulatory Compliance
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Recognise safeguarding principles and procedures for vulnerable patients.
- Apply risk management strategies to prevent harm and ensure patient safety.
- Interpret healthcare regulations and compliance requirements relevant to practice.
- Develop strategies to promote a safe, ethical, and legally compliant environment.
Unit 6: Ethical Decision-Making and Case Studies in Healthcare Practice
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Apply ethical and legal knowledge to resolve complex healthcare scenarios.
- Analyse case studies to identify ethical dilemmas and propose solutions.
- Demonstrate decision-making skills based on professional, ethical, and legal standards.
- Evaluate outcomes of decisions to improve quality of care and adherence to law.
This qualification is designed for professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of healthcare law and ethics and enhance their career prospects. It is ideal for:
- Healthcare Practitioners such as nurses, care workers, and allied health professionals seeking to strengthen legal and ethical knowledge.
- Social Care Professionals working with vulnerable populations who want to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.
- Care Home Managers and Supervisors aiming to improve leadership, risk management, and ethical decision-making in their teams.
- Healthcare Administrators and Policy Makers looking to enhance understanding of legislation, regulatory requirements, and patient rights.
- Professional Development-focused Practitioners who want to advance their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and take on senior roles.
- Compliance and Quality Assurance Officers responsible for monitoring and enforcing ethical and legal standards within healthcare settings.
- Professionals in Community and Support Services who interact with patients or clients and need to ensure legal and ethical practice in all interventions.
Centres wishing to deliver this qualification must meet the following requirements to ensure high-quality training, learning, and assessment:
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Centres must employ trainers, tutors, and assessors with relevant qualifications, experience, and expertise in healthcare law, ethics, or related professional practice.
- Access to Appropriate Learning Resources: Centres must provide learners with up-to-date study materials, case studies, legal and ethical guidance, and access to professional standards and legislation.
- Facilities and Equipment: Adequate learning environments, including classrooms, ICT support, and where applicable, simulated or practical settings, must be available to support effective learning.
- Assessment and Quality Assurance: Centres must implement robust systems for fair assessment, internal verification, and quality assurance to maintain the integrity and consistency of the qualification.
- Learner Support Services: Centres must offer academic guidance, mentoring, and career support to assist learners throughout their studies.
- Compliance with Professional Standards: Centres must align delivery with recognised ethical, legal, and professional standards to ensure learners are prepared for practical application in healthcare settings.
- Staff CPD: Teaching and assessing staff should engage in ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain subject knowledge and stay up-to-date with legal and ethical developments in healthcare.
These requirements ensure that centres provide a professional, structured, and supportive learning environment, enabling learners to achieve their goals and confidently apply knowledge in healthcare and social care practice.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
