we help to improve social care standards Care Certificate Last updated 10th November 2014 we help to improve social care standards Care Certificate

Partnership

Background Failings of Mid Staffordshire Hospital Sir Robert Francis QC's report made 290 recommendations Camilla Cavendish review of healthcare assistants and social care support workers Cavendish proposed a ‘Certificate of Fundamental Care’

The Care Certificate is: Start of a journey A key component of the total induction A step to meeting the essential standards set out by Care Quality Commission

Standards Understand your role Your personal development Duty of care Equality and diversity Work in a person centred way

Standards continued… 6. Communication 7. Privacy and dignity 8. Fluids and nutrition 9. Dementia and cognitive issues 10. Safeguarding adults

Standards continued… 11. Safeguarding children 12. Basic life support 13. Health and safety 14. Handling information 15. Infection prevention and control

Care Certificate principles The Care Certificate has been designed to meet the requirements set out by Camilla Cavendish in her report: Be applicable across health and social care Be portable between roles, and transferable between employers Content builds on the existing and tested Common Induction Standards (CIS) and National Minimum Training Standards (NMTS) Builds in quality and consistency of delivery through observation and assessment in the work place Maps to existing qualifications Equips people with the skills and knowledge to provide quality care

Assessment must be: Skills assessed primarily within the care setting unless simulation allowed with people who use services/patients completed face to face by an occupationally competent assessor

Quality assurance The employer is responsible for assuring the quality of the teaching and assessment of the Care Certificate Certification should be recorded by the employer and where possible made accessible

Feedback The formal pilot_Ekosgen Additional testing of the Care Certificate Comments through generic inbox Skills for Care online survey Employers and staff were very engaged with the testing of the Care Certificate, and think it is a ‘good thing’.

Care Certificate in terms of content and process was about right. Requests for clarity on delivery- observe and assess staff in practice. Clear guidance “The Care Certificate will be a robust response to ensure that organisations establish that their staff are competent and safe to basic deliver care”

Recommendations Health Education England, Skills for Care and Skills for Health, made a number of recommendations which were agreed by the DH Governance Assurance Board: The 15 standards should remain, subject to some amendments  individuals will need to complete all 15 standards to be awarded the Care Certificate the Certificate should be prioritised by employers for “new staff, new to care” 12 weeks will remain as the guidance timeframe for a full-time individual to complete the Care Certificate the minimum level for quality assurance of the Care Certificate, and the certification itself, will be the responsibility of employers in addition to events and workshops, a suite of materials will be made freely available for employers to download and use to support them in implementing the Care Certificate

Time line Early November Early communication to employers, via a multitude of channels, on the outcome of the field testing/evaluation, the standards of the Care Certificate the assessment process, quality assurance, certification, the implementation plan and planned national and regional events, and the expected role of CQC. Acknowledgement and information to all those who contributed feedback. Standard presentation pack developed for use by partners and stakeholders if talking about the Care Certificate. November Final revisions and testing of Care Certificate content. Discussions with CQC on guidance for them, and to employers, on their role in assuring the delivery and quality of the Care Certificate. Final Care Certificate framework to November GAB. December Readying final documentation for publication. January 2015 Publication of final documentation, and soft launch of Care Certificate enabling employers to start developing/delivering. February to April 2015 National and regional events for employers – exhibitions/shared learning from employers involved in the field testing, and workshops on specific aspects. March 2015 Official launch of Care Certificate.

How to find out more… Visit our website www.skillsforcare.org.uk/carecertificate For regular updates sign up to our enews: marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk

www.skillsforcare.org.uk