Care Certificate Programme

Course content

The course is made up of two units. The first unit covers all of the knowledge-based elements of the Care Certificate and is divided into 15 sections: one section to cover each standard. The second unit is made up of one small section and focuses on the competency elements of the Care Certificate.

Standard 1: Understand your role

Within this standard, your employees will describe the responsibilities of their roles, and demonstrate an understanding of codes of conduct and agreed ways of working within the workplace. They will also learn about working relationships within health and social care and the benefits of working in partnership with others.

Standard 2: Your personal development

Here your employees will identify areas where they may need to develop and contribute to the creation of their own personal development plan. Learners will also consider the importance of feedback and reflection when developing their knowledge, skills and understanding.

Standard 3: Duty of care

Throughout this standard, your employees will explore how ‘duty of care’ contributes to safe practices within the workplace and how this affects their own roles. They will also discover where to find support to deal with dilemmas regarding duty of care and individuals’ rights, and how to respond to complaints, incidents, near misses and confrontation in line with workplace agreed ways of working.

Standard 4: Equality and diversity

In this standard, your employees will consider the importance of equality and inclusion, identify ways in which discrimination may occur, and explore how it can be challenged within the workplace. Learners will demonstrate how to work in ways which respect the beliefs, culture, values and preferences of individuals in their care, and identify legislation regarding equality, diversity and discrimination that applies to their role.

Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way

Here your employees will discover the importance of using a person-centred approach to care and how to promote dignity when providing support to individuals. They will consider how to take the history, preferences, wishes and needs of individuals into account when planning their present and future care, and how to support an individual to maintain their self-esteem and personal identity. This standard also covers how to respond when others act in a way that causes discomfort or distress to an individual.

Standard 6: Communication

Throughout this standard, your employees will gain an understanding of the importance of communication within the care setting, and how this can affect individuals in their care. They will consider how to observe and be receptive to both verbal and non-verbal communication from individuals, identify barriers to communication and ways of overcoming them. This standard also covers confidentiality and how this relates to their role.

Standard 7: Privacy and dignity

Within this standard, your employees will identify different situations which may compromise an individual’s privacy and dignity within the care setting, and how to ensure these values are maintained for each person in their care at all times. They will learn about facilitating individuals to make their own choices and supporting them to actively participate in decisions about their own care. This standard also covers how to report any concerns regarding privacy and dignity within the workplace.

Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition

Here your employees will discover the importance of hydration, nutrition and food safety. They will identify symptoms which indicate poor hydration and nutrition, and how to encourage individuals to meet their fluid and nutritional needs as set out in their care plan.

Standard 9: Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability

Within this standard, your employees will consider how it can feel to live with mental conditions such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, dementia and learning disabilities. They will consider how these conditions impact on the support required for individuals, and how to report concerns regarding unmet needs which arise from mental health conditions in line with agreed ways of working. This standard also explores how positive attitudes to those with mental health conditions can improve the care and support they receive, and the legal frameworks that are in place to support this.

Standard 10: Safeguarding adults

Here your employees will identify what constitutes abuse and harm as well as their role in safeguarding individuals in their care. They will consider how multi-agency working, promotion of individualised care and risk management can reduce the likelihood of abuse, and how to respond to suspected or disclosed abuse.

Standard 11: Safeguarding children

This standard specifies how the safeguarding of children must be carried out within both health and social care settings, including up-to-date training standards. Your employees will learn how to respond if they suspect a child or young person, whether or not they are under their care, is being abused or neglected.

Standard 12: Basic life support

Within this standard, your employees will demonstrate that they are trained to provide basic life support that is relevant to the individuals in their care and meets current UK guidelines.

Standard 13: Health and safety

Here your employees will identify the different legislation that relates to health and safety within a health or social care setting, including policies and procedures set out with the employer. They will demonstrate an understanding of their responsibilities in relation to health and safety, and identify how to report risks within the workplace. This standard also covers specific health and safety issues and requirements, including how to move and assist safely, respond to accidents and sudden illness, handle hazardous substances and identify agreed ways of working relating to medication and healthcare tasks. Learners will also consider how to manage their own health and safety with regard to working securely, and recognising and managing stress.

Standard 14: Handling information

Within this standard, your employees will describe legislation and agreed ways of working regarding the recording, storing and sharing of information, and explain the importance of using and maintaining secure systems. They will explain how to keep accurate and up-to-date records and identify how to respond if they find agreed ways of working have not been followed with regard to handling information.

Standard 15: Infection prevention and control

In this final standard, your employees will describe the ways in which infection can enter the body and how common types of personal protective clothing, equipment and procedures can help to prevent this. They will consider how their own health or hygiene can pose a risk to individuals in their care, and explain how to handle infected or soiled linen and clinical waste in line with the principles of safe waste management.