Have your say on the Care Certificate standards review

Developed jointly with Skills for Care and Health Education England (HEE), the Care Certificate launched in April 2015, providing a set of 15 standards that define the introductory minimum knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles across the health and social care sectors. Designed with the non-regulated workforce in mind, these standards over the past six years have given thousands of health and social care support workers the confidence to deliver compassionate, safe and high quality care.

Since the launch, some standards have been updated where there have been changes to legislation, for example, the introduction of GDPR and changes to the resuscitation guidelines. This year, however, it was agreed that a refresh of all the Care Certificate standards should be completed to ensure they continue to reflect current best practice.

Together with Skills for Care and HEE, and by consulting with subject matter experts, we have carried out a desk top review of all 15 standards, and we now want you to have your say on the proposed changes to make certain the revised standards are up-to-date and fit for purpose.

As partners in the development and maintenance of the Care Certificate, we remain committed to ensuring that it remains applicable to both health and social care and reduces any burden on organisations delivering the standards today and in the future. Endeavouring to keep the changes to a minimum, the standards affected are:

1. Understand your role
2. Your personal development
4. Equality and diversity
5. Work in a person-centred way
6. Communication
7. Privacy and dignity
8. Fluids and nutrition
9. Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability (includes an additional question on whether Autism should be included now or wait for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training to be rolled out next year)
10. Safeguarding adults
11. Safeguarding children
13. Health and safety
15. Infection prevention and control

We urge everyone who works in health and social care to get involved in the consultation below today and share your feedback and views to help keep our sectors delivering the highest quality training and subsequently consistent, first-rate care.