CMI Level 7 · Level 6 Service Designer
Develop the strategic leaders your care organisation needs
From operational management to strategic service design: an executive pathway built to elevate leadership capability, regulatory confidence, and long-term care quality. Delivered flexibly around active care roles.
Level 6 Service Designer
Service transformation in regulated care settings
CMI Level 7 Diploma
Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
Chartered Manager Pathway
Progression to Chartered Manager (CMgr) status
Executive Post-Nominals
Recognised letters: CMgr MCMI or CMgr FCMI
Why care providers are investing in leadership development
Care providers face increasing pressure to:
- Demonstrate continuous improvement
- Retain and develop managers
- Strengthen governance and oversight
- Use digital systems and data effectively
- Improve inspection outcomes
- Build succession plans for future Registered Managers
Why it matters
Better-led services are felt by residents and families
Governance, retention and resource decisions are not back-office concerns. They determine how much time staff can spend with residents, and how consistently a service performs under inspection.
- Recover hours of direct care time from administration
- Evidence continuous improvement against the CQC framework
- Reduce turnover by building accountable, supported teams
CQC alignment
Supporting better CQC outcomes
Capability mapped to all five key questions of the Single Assessment Framework, not just Well-Led.
Safe
Governance, risk management and accountability.
Effective
Data, performance and outcomes.
Caring
Human-centred service design.
Responsive
Improvement and transformation.
Well-Led
Strategic leadership and continuous improvement.
Organisational impact
Five areas of organisational impact
Each area maps to assessed programme modules, so capability is evidenced rather than assumed.
Well-Led & CQC Regulatory Excellence
Demonstrate evidence of continuous improvement, governance, outcomes and leadership aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework.
Strategic Service Design & Innovation
Transform care models through human-centred service design, co-designing with families, residents and multidisciplinary teams to reduce service bottlenecks.
Resilient Culture & Workforce Retention
Build compassionate, accountable workplace cultures that combat high turnover, leading organisational change with emotional intelligence and clear accountability.
Integrated Partnerships & System Influence
Strengthen cross-sector collaboration with local authorities, ICBs and NHS trusts, positioning your service as a preferred, trusted partner.
Operational Performance & Resource Optimisation
Develop mastery over financial metrics, KPI tracking and resource allocation to ensure long-term sustainability without compromising care ethics.
In practice
Service design and transformation in action
The Level 6 Service Designer apprenticeship complements the CMI Level 7 Diploma with practical tools to identify opportunities, redesign services and deliver measurable improvements across care services.
Participants learn how to
- Understand resident, family and staff needs
- Analyse services and care journeys
- Identify opportunities for improvement
- Design and implement practical solutions
- Use evidence and insight to support decision-making
- Lead service improvement and digital transformation initiatives
Typical workplace projects
- Improving resident admissions and onboarding
- Enhancing family communication and engagement
- Strengthening governance and quality assurance processes
- Improving staff retention and workforce experience
- Supporting digital transformation initiatives
- Streamlining care planning and review processes
Delivery
How the programme runs
Delivered flexibly around active care roles, with structured employer checkpoints so the organisation can see the return while the programme is still running.
Enrolment & diagnostic scan
Tailoring the learning plan to your organisation's strategic priorities and the learner's existing experience.
Monthly 1:1 executive coaching
Dedicated monthly remote sessions, scheduled flexibly around shifts and management responsibilities.
Workplace transformation project
A live, high-impact improvement project addressing a real challenge within your care service.
Employer tripartite reviews
Structured reviews every 10–12 weeks with leadership sponsors, to track measurable return on investment.
End-point assessment & gateway
Portfolio consolidation, mock panel interviews and executive presentation coaching.
Chartered professional progression
Graduation with dual Level 6 and 7 credentials, and eligibility for full Chartered Manager (CMgr) recognition.
Delivered around the day job
Capability built inside the service, not away from it
Managers stay in post throughout. Learning is scheduled around shifts and applied directly to the service they already run, so the organisation sees the benefit while the programme is still running.
- Monthly 1:1 executive coaching scheduled around shifts
- A live improvement project inside your own service
- Employer reviews every 10–12 weeks with leadership sponsors
Return on investment
Organisational return on investment
What the organisation gets back, beyond the individual's qualification.
- Stronger inspection readiness
- Better strategic decision-making
- Reduced process inefficiencies
- Improved governance and accountability
- Increased staff engagement and retention
- Stronger succession planning for future Registered Managers
- Improved resident and family outcomes
Who is eligible
Checking these before you enquire saves a conversation. We confirm eligibility during the funding audit.
- Ambitious managers, clinical leads or senior leaders in an operational care role
- Contracted for 30+ hours per week in England
- UK/EEA resident for the past 3 years, with the right to work
- Not actively enrolled on another government-funded apprenticeship
This programme develops the strategic capability needed to address these systemic challenges.
Funding
Government Co-Investment & Enrolment
How the programme is funded depends on whether your organisation pays the Apprenticeship Levy. Both routes are assessed during your funding audit.
Levy-supported organisations
Fully funded
Funded in full through established workforce development frameworks, with no cost to the learner.
Non-levy and LDSS-supported
Government funded
Substantial government funding applies. Your exact position is confirmed during a short eligibility check.
Funding levels, eligibility and levy transfer arrangements are subject to applicable apprenticeship funding rules and employer eligibility. Confirm the current funding position with the training provider before enrolment.
Enrolment
Book a funding audit
We confirm the funding your organisation qualifies for and which cohort fits your service.
- No obligation: the audit establishes what you qualify for
- Your details are used to respond to this enquiry
- A senior adviser replies directly, not an automated sequence
Build the leaders behind outstanding care
Identify high-potential leaders across your homes and services today, and we will handle the funding route.