Care Certificate Standards
The Care Certificate consists of 15 standards that health and social care workers across the country must adhere to throughout every step of their working life. With a set of care standards that are clear and thorough, the Care Certificate offers confidence that the standards of care across the sector are regulated to the same level, allowing all care staff to provide the same outstanding quality of care and support.
This blog covers the 15 Care Certificate standards, if you are looking for information on other Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, see our guides on the CQC 5 Standards or CQC Fundamental Standards?
What are the 15 standards of the care certificate?
There are 15 Care Certificate standards that practitioners must adhere to:
- 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 disability
- Safeguarding adults
- Safeguarding children
- Basic life support
- Health and safety
- Handling information
- Infection prevention and control
Providing high quality, person-centred care is difficult. Social care workers are challenged on a daily basis and constantly learning and re-learning the best approaches to care.
With such busy schedules it’s not always easy to engage people with learning and development, which is why we at Access have worked with experts to create a detailed guide on how to overcome the major challenges.
Discover the top 7 challenges to learning and development and how to overcome them.
Understand your role
The first care standard outlines the importance that each individual understands their responsibilities and areas of accountability within their role. Care workers must consider their job descriptions alongside company policies and procedures, as well as the role ethos and values.
Your personal development
The second care standard is aimed at helping the individual’s professional development and creating a personal development plan that includes answers to questions such as ‘who will support you?’ and ‘what opportunities are there for development?’
Duty of care
The third care standard addresses the care the individual has for those receiving the support. They must understand the expectation of considering how to assess and reduce risks in confrontational situations.
Equality and diversity
The fourth standard encompasses the need to treat people fairly and to include everyone as a part of society, whilst celebrating differences and valuing each individual. As a whole, diversity includes visible and non-visible differences and it’s about respecting these.
Work in a person-centred way
The fifth care standard is about focusing on person-centred care, promoting values that help an individual to support those in their care well. These values include individuality, independence, privacy, partnership, choice, dignity, respect and rights.
Communication
The sixth standard outlines the importance of communication in health and social care, whether it's communication with patients, clients and with colleagues and families. Communication covers three main areas: our words, paraphrasing and our body language.
Privacy and dignity
The seventh care standard comprises two values that should be promoted and upheld throughout every step of caregiving, to avoid a loss in self-esteem. The individual should be able to identify situations where a patient’s privacy and dignity could be compromised.
Fluids and nutrition
The eighth standard highlights the principles of hydration, nutrition and food safety in care. Caregivers should understand the need to support patients to have access to fluids, food and nutrition in accordance with their care plan.
Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability
The ninth care standard explores the needs of those living with mental health conditions, dementia and learning disability. Individuals should comprehend the importance of promoting positive health and well-being for someone who may have a mental health condition, dementia or a learning disability.
Safeguarding Adults
The tenth standard requires the individual to have an understanding of the principles of safeguarding adults and their best interests. The individual should be able to explain what to do if there is suspected abuse towards an adult, as well as an understanding of how to minimise the risks of abuse.
Safeguarding children
The eleventh care standard outlines the principles of safeguarding children and protecting their best interests. If the individual is a care worker, they must have completed the most up-to-date national minimum training standards for Level 1. Whereas an individual who is social care worker must be able to explain what they must do if they suspect a child is being neglected or abused.
Basic life support
The twelfth standard identifies the need for an individual to complete training in basic life support, in order to meet the UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines.
Health and safety
The thirteenth care standard involves risk assessment, moving and assisting people and objects safely, understanding procedures for responding to sudden illnesses and accidents, handling hazardous substances, administering medication and managing stress and potential causes of stress.
Handling information
The fourteenth standard covers the principles of handling information including receiving, recording and storing of accurate and legal documentation.
Infection prevention and control
The fifteenth care standard demonstrates the main ways an infection enters the body. Individuals will gain an understanding of how their own health or hygiene might pose a risk to others they support or work with. Further details are given about the principles of the safe handling of clinical waste.
How we can help you
Our professional trainers offer a comprehensive Care Certificate course for individuals in the health and social care industry. The course provides you with the knowledge and qualifications you need to progress and succeed in a career within the care industry, by providing a caregiving service that meets the requirements outlined by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Care Certificate FAQs
Is the Care Certificate a compulsory requirement?
Although the Care Certificate is not mandatory for individuals wanting to work in health and social care, there is an expectation that new staff achieve the set of competencies that it outlines as part of the induction process.
How is the Care Certificate assessed?
The Care Certificate must be assessed in your place of work. Completing an e-learning course from a suitable provider will prepare you to excel when taking the assessment, but it is important to note that this does not count as you have passed the Certificate.
How long does the Care Certificate take to complete?
On average, it takes around 12 weeks to complete the Care Certificate in your place of work. This can vary depending on your role as well as your previous experience and education.
Who developed the Care Certificate?
The Care Certificate was jointly developed by Health Education England, Skills for Care, and Skills for Health.
Why was the Care Certificate developed?
The Care Certificate was designed to meet the requirements set out in the Cavendish Review, which recommended changes to improve the quality of care and avoid failings such as those identified at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Visit our Care Certificate courses page to learn more about the training our experts can provide. Ready to enquire about a course? Get in touch today.