Established jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health the Care Certificate is designed for individuals entering a health or adult social care organisation with no previous experience. In some cases, employers may require existing staff members to complete specific Care Certificate standards.

The Care Certificate for Social Care is applicable to professionals providing direct care in various settings, such as residential homes, nursing homes, hospices, domiciliary care, and supported living services. Roles encompassed by this certificate include Care Assistant, Care Support Worker, Care Worker, and Homecare Worker.

Regarding temporary workers, it is important to note that CQC-regulated providers are responsible for assessing the training needs of all new staff, including temporary employees. The employer bears the responsibility for ensuring the training and quality of care provided by temporary staff.

You can access this course online from your desktop, tablet or mobile device. If you are an employer, you will create user profiles for your staff and allocate the desired course to them. If you are not an employer and wanting to take the course as an individual, we will create your user profile for you, get you set up and allocate your course to you. If you wish to learn more or get set up today, Book a Demo call now.

Comprised within the 15 standards of the Care Certificate is knowledge learning, practical skills, and workplace assessments. The 15 standards are:

• Understand your role
• Your personal development
• Duty of care
• Equality and diversity
• Work in a person-centred way
• Communication
• Privacy and dignity
• Fluids and nutrition
• Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities
• Safeguarding adults
• Safeguarding children
• Basic life support
• Health & Safety
• Handling information
• Infection prevention and control.

The Care Certificate should not be considered a replacement for staff inductions; rather, it should be integrated into the overall induction process, complementing other training components. In addition to completing the certificate, staff members should undergo training tailored to their specific work environment, which includes topics like fire regulations and accident reporting.

The specific additional training provided during the induction process may vary depending on the employer’s policies and requirements.

It’s important to understand the distinction between mandatory training and the Care Certificate. Employers typically conduct a series of training sessions, some of which are categorised as “mandatory training.” While certain aspects covered in mandatory training may overlap with the content of the Care Certificate, it is essential for workers to complete both, as they serve different purposes and should be undertaken concurrently.