7 things to know about the Care Certificate

7 things you need to know about The Care Certificate

Are you thinking of doing The Care Certificate? Here are seven things you should probably know before you start.  We are going to look at the components of Care Certificate Standards but before then, let’s try to define the care standard certificate.

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What is the Care Certificate?

The Care Certificate is a must-have set of standards. It outlines the minimum knowledge, skills, and behaviors that healthcare support workers need before they start working with people in need of care and support.

It is a set of 15 standards that are grouped into five key areas:

1. Communication and interpersonal skills
2. Person-centred care
3. Managing challenging behaviour
4. Health, safety, and hygiene
5. Supporting people with complex needs

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, every healthcare support worker must finish the Care Certificate before starting work. In Scotland, while not mandatory, it is highly recommended for all healthcare support workers.

What is the care standard certificate?

The Care Standard Certificate is a set of standards that outlines the expected knowledge, skills, and behaviors for individuals working in care roles in England. Currently, it has 15 Care standards that are necessary for effective care.

The Care Certificate standards were introduced in 2015 by the UK Department of Health. It ensures health and social care workers have the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to provide high-quality care.

The certificate covers 15 core areas, promoting consistency and competence across care settings. Completing the Care Certificate demonstrates a commitment to safe and compassionate care, benefiting both care workers and the individuals they support.

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1. The Care Certificate is a set of standards

Social care and health workers use a set of standards set out in The Care Certificate throughout their day. These minimum standards are normally covered in the introduction when you become a care worker.

Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health developed The Care Certificate together and so these standards apply through social care and healthcare.

It also links to National Occupational Standards and units in qualifications and gives care workers an understanding of care, which they can build on in the future.

2. It’s mandatory in care, but…

The Care Certificate is mandatory to work in care, it covers essential topics that help carers throughout their working day, every day, for life and therefore it is a valuable and indispensable tool for anyone starting off on a career in health care.

In Scotland, it is only required but not mandatory. This mean for health workers to understand the basic knowledge of person-centred care, this would be the minimum requirement you can have to show you understand what to do.

3. The Certificate is designed with non-regulated workers in mind

If you are a non-regulated worker then The Care Certificate is perfect for you. It will give you confidence and piece of mind that all workers have gone through the introduction to care and have acquired the same skills, knowledge, and behaviours, which help you to deliver considerate, safe and superior care.

By studying The Care Certificate or Care Certification you can set off confidently on your career journey.

Although there are other training and education elements that will aid you in your specific line of care, The Care Certificate goes a long way to putting you on the right track to a successful future in care.

Although the Care Certificate is aimed at new carers, it can also refresh the skillset and knowledge of careers already in the sector.

 4. The Care Certificate workbook is a free downloadable resource

The Care Certificate workbook can be downloaded free here so you can review the contents of the course before you even start. This helps you to prepare and gather any questions before hand.

The workbook outlines the aims and outcomes for each section you will study. At the back of the workbook, you will find a glossary of terms.

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 5. There are 15 standards of the Care Certificate

There are 15 different standards that make up the Care Certificate that health workers need to get familiar with.

Meeting these care standards, healthcare support workers can ensure that they are providing high-quality care that respects the rights and dignity of the people they care for. These 15 standards are:

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Care Certificate Standard 1: Understand your role

The first standard of the Care Certificate, “Understand your role,” helps individuals understand their responsibilities and obligations when working in a care environment. It lays the foundation for providing safe, compassionate, and person-centered care to individuals.

Care Certificate Standard 2: Your personal development

This standard in care certification training helps healthcare professionals reflect on their practice and identify areas for improvement. This standard covers topics such as self-awareness, self-reflection, learning opportunities, and goal setting. Completing this standard can improve individuals’ skills and knowledge, enhancing the quality of care they provide to clients.

Care Certificate Standard 3: Duty of Care

The Care Certificate standard includes “Duty of care” which highlights an individual’s responsibility to protect and respect the safety and rights of those they care for. This standard emphasizes maintaining professional boundaries, identifying signs of harm or abuse. The standard emphasizes person-centered care and support, promoting the development of high-quality care skills.

Care Standard 4: Equality and diversity

The Care Certificate’s “Equality and diversity” standard promotes respect, inclusivity, and diversity in the workplace. It covers topics such as valuing differences, challenging discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities.

Care Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way

The “Work in a person-centered way” standard of the Care Certificate highlights the importance of providing individualized care. It focuses on skills such as active listening, effective communication, independence promotion, and empowerment.

Standard 6: Communication

“Communication” or ” Effective Communication” standard is one of the 15 standards in the Care Certificate, which underlines the crucial role of effective communication in delivering quality care. This standard covers adapting communication to individual needs, as well as listening skills, non-verbal communication, and communication aids.

Care Standard 7: Privacy and dignity

This standard in care certification covers topics such as confidentiality, personal space, consent. It also covers cultural sensitivity, highlighting the importance of providing care that upholds these values.

Care Standard 8: Fluid and Nutrition

The Care Certificate’s “Fluids and nutrition” standard stresses the importance of adequate hydration and nutrition for an individual’s well-being. It covers topics like balanced diets, effects of dehydration and malnutrition, and how to support individuals with their fluid and nutritional requirements.

Care Standard 9: Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disabilities

This standard in care certification covers recognizing signs and symptoms, person-centered care, and promoting independence and well-being. The standard helps care workers provide specialized care for those with mental health issues, dementia, or learning disabilities.

Care Standard 10: Safeguarding Adults

The “Safeguarding Adults” standard in the care certificate helps care workers protect vulnerable adults by recognising abuse types, responding to concerns, and promoting safety.

Care Standard 11: Safeguarding Children (as per Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health 2014 guidelines)

This standard “Safeguarding Children” assists social care workers in protecting children from harm or abuse. It covers topics such as recognizing signs of abuse, responding to safeguarding concerns, and promoting a safe and nurturing environment for children.

Care Standard 12: Basic Life Support (as per current UK Resuscitation Council guidelines)

The Basic Life Support standard in the Care Certificate equips care workers to respond to emergency situations and provide life support. It covers topics such as CPR, defibrillator usage, and responding to choking.

Care Certificate Standard 13: Health & Safety

The Health & Safety standard of the Care Certificate prioritizes putting in place a secure and healthy environment for both care workers and individuals. It covers topics such as risk assessment, infection control, equipment handling, and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Care Certificate Standard 14: Handling Information

The Care Certificate’s “Handling Information” being one of the 15 standards in the Care Certificate aims to help care workers understand their responsibility to securely and confidentially handle information. It also promotes individuals’ rights to manage their own information.

Standard 15 in the Care Certificate: Infection prevention and control

The “Infection Prevention and Control” standard of the Care Certificate aims to equip care workers with knowledge and skills to prevent infection spread and maintain a healthy environment.

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6. Complete the knowledge competency sections of each workbook

At the end of each section of the workbook, there is a knowledge competency section which you can fill in.

This allows you to review what you have learned and how well you have learned it. Plus, you can review your work in the future to see how you have progressed.

 7. You don’t need to use the Care Certificate Workbook, but…

Although it is not essential, it is highly recommended that you use the workbook.

The layout has been designed for easy use and has a knowledge competency section to better help you understand what you’ve learned as you go through.

Additionally, they have not printed it as a hardback. The resource can be used for free, as costs have been kept to an absolute minimum.

Aside from this, you can keep all your work that you have done, and refer back to it in years to come.

What does CQC say about the Care Certificate

The Care Certificate and Care Certificate standard were created to align training with guidelines from oversight bodies like CQC, NHS, public health, and local authorities.

Here are some key points about what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) says regarding the Care Certificate:

• The Care Certificate is the minimum standards for induction training of new health and social care workers in the UK.
• It was introduced in 2015 and sets out common learning outcomes and standards for care roles.
• The CQC supports and endorses the Care Certificate as an appropriate induction benchmark across health and adult social care.
• The Care Certificate covers 15 key standards, including dignity, safeguarding, duty of care, communication, safety, infection control, person-centred care, and more.
• It aims to equip staff with skills, knowledge, and behaviours to provide compassionate, high-quality care.
• The CQC expects providers to train staff in the principles of the Care Certificate and assess their competency.
• During inspections, the CQC may review an organisation’s Care Certificate training and assessment processes.
• Implementation of Care Certificate training is viewed favourably as it shows commitment to essential skills development.
• The CQC acknowledges the Care Certificate as a positive step towards professionalising the care workforce.

In summary, the Care Quality Commission recognises the importance of the Care Certificate as a standardised induction programme for healthcare support workers to improve care quality and safety.

Why the Care Certificate Matters

The Care Certificate was launched in 2015 as an industry-wide induction standard for healthcare support workers in the UK. But why was it introduced in the first place and why does it matter?

A History of Inconsistent Standards

Prior to the Care Certificate, training standards varied widely for care assistants, home care workers and other support roles across both health and social care settings.

There was no consistency or portability. Poor training left many underprepared to properly handle the growing responsibilities and challenges of frontline care work.

Meanwhile, a series of tragic failings in institutions like Mid Staffs Hospital highlighted how lack of oversight, underinvestment in staff development and variability in training standards could severely impact quality of care and put patients at risk. It was clear sweeping reforms were needed.

The Making of a Unified Standard

In response to alarming lapses in care, the Cavendish Review proposed development of a common induction program covering core skills for healthcare assistants and social care support workers.

After extensive consultation with employers, workers, regulators and the public, the Care Certificate emerged as the first national standard.

Why It Matters

The Care Certificate matters because it:

• Provides assurance to the public that staff possess the fundamentals needed for safe, ethical, compassionate care.
• Sets a competency baseline for regulators like CQC to fairly and objectively inspect training practices.
• Allows workers to demonstrate their capabilities, gain recognition, and advance their careers.
• Promotes mobility for staff to more easily transition between health and social care roles.
• Instills a consistent values-based culture across care settings, centered on dignity and respect.
• Represents a shift towards professionalization and validation of care roles through certified qualifications.

The Care Certificate demonstrates a dedication to providing patients and service users with the most skilled and empowered support workforce possible. That benefits everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions