In this world, millions of people cannot lead their lives on their own. Being a carer is one of the most rewarding jobs, as you can make a difference in other’s lives and get appreciated so much. Luckily, a care certificate sets out the required skills to work competently in health and social care. But is the care certificate mandatory to enter the healthcare sector? In this blog, we will explore what a care certificate is and whether it’s essential for a career in care.

Table of Contents

Similar Job Roles

What is a Care Certificate?

Is the Care Certificate Mandatory?

How Long Does the Care Certificate Take to Complete?

Benefits of Obtaining the Care Certificate

What are the Care Certificate Standards? 

• 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 Disabilities
• Safeguarding Adults
• Safeguarding Children
• Basic Life Support
• Health and Safety
• Handling Information
• Infection Prevention and Control

How Long Does a Care Certificate Last? 

Conclusion

Similar Job Roles

• Child Support Worker
• Healthcare Assistant
• Social Worker
• Care Worker
• Care workers
• Nurses
• Social Care Worker
• Health care assistants
• Assistant practitioners
• Care support workers

What is a Care Certificate?

A care certificate is a set of standards that healthcare providers should follow in their workplace. Overall, it was created to ensure all non-regulated workforce of caregivers in the UK have the same level of skills and expertise to provide compassionate care. Again, the certificate is used by social care providers to induct and assess staff members. 

But, you must receive training and practice specific skills to achieve the certification. Then, to prove your knowledge, skills and behaviour, you’ll be assessed by a certificate assessor. Remember that you will only receive the certificate if you are competent in all the 15 care certificate standards.  

Is the Care Certificate Mandatory?

Is the care certificate mandatory? Generally, earning a certification in care is not compulsory for all healthcare professionals. For instance, regulated professions such as doctors, nurses and social workers don’t need to get care certificates. They’ll learn similar skills during their professional training. But, even if earning a care certificate is not a legal requirement, you can use it as part of your induction. It sets out the introductory skills to build a health and social care career. 

According to the Care Quality Commission, new carers should get a care certificate to work competently in health and social care. After all, it covers various topics that help care providers throughout their working day. So, it’s an essential tool for those starting their careers.  Furthermore, the certification acts as a refresher for existing workers. 

The CQC highly recommends employers ensure new staff members have achieved the necessary competencies outlined in the Care Certificate as part of their induction.  It enforces regulations for staff training. This regulation aims to ensure providers only employ healthcare and adult support workers who have or are working to achieve the required skills in the care certificate. The CQC’s guidance for providers refers to the care certificate under Regulation 18 on staffing and Regulation 19 on fit and proper persons employed. 

So, you need to complete a care certificate if you fall into one of these three categories:

• You are a new care provider
• You are working as an adult social worker
• You are offering care services in residential homes, nursing homes or other healthcare facilities

Benefits of Obtaining the Care Certificate

Is the care certificate mandatory? Well, it may only be essential for some healthcare professionals. Yet, there are several advantages to completing the certificate. For instance, the care certificate covers communication, safeguarding, mental health awareness, infection prevention etc. Thus, earning the certificate will develop your expertise in these areas. It will result in improved care quality and patient safety. Again, it will show your professionalism and dedication to providing exceptional care. Overall, it will add credibility to your expertise and open doors for various career opportunities. 

By joining Apex Learning, you can achieve high-quality education from the comfort of your home. Since the courses are much more flexible, they’re perfect for care workers with busy work schedules. On top of that, the courses are fully online. As a result, you can access the course materials from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet-connected device and the willingness to learn. 

Another advantage of taking an online course from Apex Learning is that there are no entry requirements. So, you can start studying right away! Moreover, they offer 24/7 student support to help you with all your queries. Finally, upon successful course completion, you will receive accredited certificates. These certificates will boost your resume and improve your career prospects. 

CTA: Care Certificate. Sign Up Now!

What are the Care Certificate Standards? 

The care certificate consists of 15 standards. Everyone working in health and social care must follow them to provide compassionate care. The 15 standards are: 

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 Disabilities

Safeguarding Adults

Safeguarding Children

Basic Life Support

Health and Safety

Handling Information

Infection Prevention and Control

1. Understand your Role

The first standard requires individuals to know their responsibilities in the caring role. Likewise, they must understand their rights as care workers. Care workers must also keep up with the professional boundaries, standards, legislation, and agreed ways of working.

2. Your Personal Development

This standard focuses on supporting an individual’s professional development. It involves creating a personal development plan with questions like ‘Who will support you in your care role?’ and ‘What opportunities are available for development?’ 

3. Duty of Care

As a health or social care worker, you have a duty of care to all the patients you support. The third standard defines what is meant by the duty of care. Moreover, it involves assessing risks, dealing with accidents and injuries and managing confrontations. 

4. Equality and Diversity 

The fourth care certificate standard involves treating everyone fairly and equally. Care workers should know that diversity includes visible and invisible differences. It’s important to respect and value them. Again, they should know how to promote diversity and equality in care. 

5. Work in a Person-centred Way

Person-centred care lays the foundation for safe, high-quality care. The fifth standard covers the main principles of person-centred care. In the first place, care workers should be familiar with the essential values when involving patients in their care. The values include choice, independence, privacy, dignity, partnership, respect and rights.

6. Communication

The fifth standard explores the importance of communication in health and social care. It covers the elements of communication and its different forms. Again, the standard outlines the importance of maintaining confidentiality in care.

7. Privacy and Dignity

This standard encompasses privacy and dignity, the two important values all individuals should promote and maintain while providing care. Respecting patients’ privacy and dignity will help boost their self-esteem and well-being. Hence, caregivers should be able to identify and handle situations when a patient’s privacy and dignity could be compromised. 

8. Fluids and Nutrition

The eighth standard outlines the principles of nutrition, hydration and food safety in care. Altogether, it ensures all care receivers have access to fluids, food and nutrition per the care plan.

9. Awareness of Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disability 

This standard gives individuals a basic awareness of the challenges associated with mental health issues, dementia and learning disabilities. It starts by looking into the needs of patients with those conditions. Then, it explains the importance of early detection and how to assess and manage them. 

10. Safeguarding Adults

The tenth standard requires individuals to understand adult safeguarding and how to protect their interests. In the first place. individuals should know how to take prompt action after identifying a case of abuse or neglect. Then, they must take measures to reduce the chances of abuse and violation. 

11. Safeguarding children

This standard explores the principles of child safeguarding. Individuals must be able to explain what to do when a child is being abused and neglected. By the same token, they should be able to ensure children grow up in a safe environment. 

12. Basic Life Support

This standard requires care workers to complete training in basic life support that meets the UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines. 

13. Health and Safety

The thirteenth standard demonstrates the various health and safety tasks expected by care workers. The duties include risk assessments, handling hazardous substances, and administering medications. Again, the standard covers the principles for safely moving and managing people and objects to prevent injuries. 

14. Handling Information

This standard explores the principles for handling client information. By all means, individuals must be capable of receiving, recording and storing official and legal documentation.

15. Infection Prevention and Control

The final standard of the care certificate reveals the various ways infection can enter the body. Care workers will better understand how their health and hygiene can pose a risk to those under their care. Again, information about the principles and procedures for safely handling clinical waste is also available.

How Long Does the Care Certificate Take to Complete?

The duration to complete the care certificate varies depending on a person’s progress and experience. However, completing the certificate should take no more than 12 weeks for someone with no prior care work experience. Usually, a learner can achieve the certification in less than 12 weeks. Yet, completion may be delayed for many due to shift patterns, other responsibilities and additional assessment fees. 

How Long Does a Care Certificate Last? 

Your care certificate proves you’re qualified for your care role. Moreover, your efforts to earn the certification will increase your income. But how long does a care certificate last? A significant advantage of obtaining a care certificate is that it lasts for your whole career, and you don’t have to renew it. 

However, employers must assess that care workers have the same level of knowledge and skills they gained while completing the care certificate course. Similarly, if you no longer have the knowledge or expertise you had after doing the certificate, you may want to take a refresher course to be safe. 

Conclusion

The care certificate was introduced so that all health and social care workers receive the same training. Thus, they can provide safe and compassionate care and improve patient outcomes. But is the care certificate mandatory? In a nutshell, the certification is not obligatory for all healthcare professionals. But, it’s a worthwhile investment due to the many advantages it can provide throughout your career.

In this blog, we have explored the steps needed to make your care certificate journey as easy as possible. Moreover, we have discussed whether earning a care certificate is mandatory and how long a care certificate takes to complete.