Care Staff Refresher Training

How Often Should Care Staff Refresh Their Training?

Refresher training for care workers is essential for maintaining competence and meeting CQC expectations.

CQC‑regulated care providers — including care homes, domiciliary care services and supported living organisations — commonly refresh key areas such as safeguarding, medication and moving and handling annually.

However, Skills for Care recommends a competence‑led approach, with most statutory topics refreshed at least every three years unless risks or roles change.

Annual Refresher Training for Care Staff

Common Training That Requires Regular Refresher Updates

Depending on the care worker’s role, the care setting, and the needs of the people they support, the frequency of refresher training will vary.

Some courses typically require refreshing every 1 to 3 years, depending on risk level, legislation, and organisational policy:

Refresher Courses Infographic

Table Shows: Training topic, Frequency and Notes

Training Topic Typical Refresh Cycle Notes
Moving and Assisting People 2–3 years Annual competency checks recommended.
Basic Life Support / First Aid Annual Sector standard; high‑risk area.
Fire Safety Annual Strongly expected for CQC compliance.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Annual Required due to high infection risk.
Medication Administration 2–3 years Role‑dependent; competence must be maintained.
Food Safety and Hygiene Annual (high‑risk) No fixed legal interval; risk‑based.
Safeguarding Adults (and Children) 1–3 years Many providers refresh annually for safety.
Mental Capacity Act (MCA) & DoLS 2–3 years Competence‑led; updates needed when legislation changes.
Health and Safety Awareness 3 years Competence‑led; refresh sooner if risks change.
Data Protection / GDPR Annual Best practice due to regulatory changes.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 3 years Competence‑led; organisational culture dependent.
The Oliver McGowan Training (Learning Disability and Autism) Competence‑led Legal requirement for CQC‑registered providers.
Dementia Care 2–3 years Refresh sooner in dementia‑specialist settings.
Challenging Behaviour / Conflict Resolution 1–2 years High‑risk area; annual refresh common.

Which types of care workers need refresher training

All care workers need refresher training, but the frequency and type depend on their role, responsibilities, and the risks involved in their day‑to‑day work.

The following groups typically require regular refreshers to maintain safe, competent practice:

  • Care assistants and support workers: They deliver hands‑on care, so skills like moving and assisting, IPC, safeguarding, and basic life support must stay current.
  • Senior carers and team leaders: They oversee care delivery, administer medication, and support junior staff, so they need up‑to‑date knowledge in medication, MCA/DoLS, and incident management.
  • Nurses and clinical staff: Clinical roles require regular refreshers in resuscitation, medication competency, wound care, and clinical risk management.
  • Domiciliary and community care workers: Lone working increases risk, so refreshers in first aid, safeguarding, and risk assessment are essential.
  • Supported living staff: Often support people with learning disabilities, autism, or complex needs, so refreshers in PBS, challenging behaviour, and the Oliver McGowan Training are key.
  • Specialist care workers (e.g., dementia, mental health, palliative care): They need ongoing updates in condition‑specific best practice and communication approaches.
  • Managers and supervisors: They require refreshers in safeguarding, MCA/DoLS, health and safety, data protection, and leadership responsibilities under CQC regulations.
  • New starters after induction: After their first year, they move into the regular refresher cycle to maintain competence.
  • Staff returning from long‑term absence: Skills fade quickly, so they often need targeted refreshers before resuming full duties.


health and social care public courses

Summary Checklist for Care Managers for Scheduling Refresher Courses

Before scheduling refresher training, managers should consider the following:

  • Does the staff member demonstrate safe and competent practice?
  • Has the staff member missed this training within the last 1–3 years?
  • Has any new risk been identified in the past month?
  • Has there been a recent incident, complaint, or audit finding?
  • Has the care plan for the individual changed recently?
  • Is the staff member returning to work after absence?
  • Have there been changes in policy, procedure, or legislation?
  • Has the staff member requested additional support or refresher training?
  • Are you anticipating staffing shortages or skill gaps?

Why each training area matters when assessing refresher needs

Refresher needs vary by topic, so it helps to understand why each training area is essential for safe, compliant care.

Each training topic carries specific risks and responsibilities, so understanding why they matter helps managers judge when a refresher is genuinely needed.

  • Moving and Assisting People: To prevent injuries to staff and service users; unsafe technique is one of the most common causes of workplace harm.
  • Basic Life Support / First Aid: Skills fade quickly; staff must respond confidently and correctly in time‑critical emergencies.
  • Fire Safety: Evacuation procedures, equipment use, and risk awareness must stay sharp to protect vulnerable people.
  • Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): New pathogens, outbreaks, and changing guidance mean staff must stay up to date to prevent avoidable harm.
  • Medication Administration: Errors can be life‑threatening; competence must be maintained and checked regularly.
  • Food Safety and Hygiene: Poor practice can cause illness, choking risks, or cross‑contamination — especially in high‑risk groups.
  • Safeguarding Adults (and Children): Staff must recognise abuse, respond correctly, and follow current reporting pathways.
  • Mental Capacity Act (MCA) & DoLS: Legal responsibilities change; staff must apply the principles correctly to protect people’s rights.
  • Health and Safety Awareness: Ensures staff understand workplace risks, safe systems of work, and their legal duties.
  • Data Protection / GDPR: Protects sensitive personal information and prevents breaches that can harm individuals and organisations.
  • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Promotes fair, person‑centred care and reduces discriminatory practice.
  • The Oliver McGowan Training (Learning Disability and Autism): Ensures staff understand how to support people with learning disabilities and autism safely and respectfully.
  • Dementia Care: Staff need up‑to‑date strategies for communication, behaviour, and person‑centred support.
  • Challenging Behaviour / Conflict Resolution: Reduces risk of harm, improves de‑escalation skills, and supports safer working environments.
Annual refresher training usually covers high‑risk areas where skills fade quickly or procedures change. Care staff typically update Basic Life Support, IPC, Fire Safety, Moving and Assisting, Medication competency, Safeguarding, and Food Safety each year to maintain safe practice and meet CQC expectations under Regulations 12 and 18.

Delivery methods

Refresher training is designed for staff who already have experience and baseline knowledge. The focus is on updates, competency checks, and safe practice, rather than teaching everything from scratch.

The delivery method depends on the type of skill being refreshed:

  • Theory‑based topics (such as GDPR, Equality & Diversity, MCA, or Food Safety) can be completed through flexible online eLearning, where staff can revisit legislation, frameworks, and best‑practice guidance at their own pace. 
  • Virtual Session with Live Trainer: It’s also perfectly acceptable to use a virtual session with an expert trainer, especially when you want live Q&As, scenario discussions, or content tailored to your service.
  • Practical or high‑risk skills (such as moving and assisting, resuscitation, or medication competency) require face‑to‑face or blended assessments to verify that staff can perform tasks safely and confidently in real‑world situations.

This approach ensures that refresher training remains proportionate, efficient, and aligned with CQC expectations for maintaining competence.


mandatory training for carers, nurses and hca

Ready to refresh your team’s training?

If you’d like support choosing the right refresher courses or planning training for your staff, our team can help you identify exactly what you need and when.

Explore our courses or speak with us for guidance.

Note:

The UK does not require every training course to be refreshed annually. Skills for Care’s current position is that refreshers should be competence‑led, not automatically repeated every year.

However, several high‑risk subjects are commonly refreshed annually across the sector to support safe practice and meet CQC expectations under Regulation 18 (Staffing) and Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment).

These include areas where skills fade quickly, risks are higher, or procedures change more frequently.

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