Overview

The Care Certificate was introduced in April 2015. It is expected that all those working as healthcare assistants and adult social care workers undertake this learning as part of their induction programme.

The Care Certificate was created as a result of the Cavendish Review which was published in July 2013. This review was part of the response to the Francis Inquiry into the failings of care at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust. The Cavendish Review found that the training and development of healthcare assistants and adult social care workers was often not consistent or good enough. Cavendish proposed that a new ‘Certificate of Fundamental Care’ be created to improve this and that led to the ‘Care Certificate’.

The Care Certificate covers the learning outcomes, competencies and standards of behaviour that must be expected of support workers in the health and social care sectors. It aims to make sure that you are caring, compassionate and provide quality care in your work. The certificate builds on and replaces the earlier induction programmes: Social Care’s Common Induction Standards (CIS) and Health’s National Minimum Training Standards (NMTS).

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and social distancing measures, the usual 5-day care certificate programme cannot be delivered. In its place we initially delivered a face to face Welcome & Introduction to Care Certificate Programme with links to presentations, but due to increasing numbers of HCA’s and a commitment to reducing face-to-face contact where possible, we have introduced a remote delivery of the programme.

New HCA’s joining the Trust will be invited to and must attend this remote session delivery. One full day (7.5 hours) will be allocated as study leave to support attendance whilst providing time to read through all documentation, presentation and familiarise self with portfolio.

HCA’s who attended the December 2020 programme and onwards, have now completed an e-Portfolio. All documentation and guidance for the e-Portfolio can be found in the Care Certificate Documentation Section.

Interactive presentations will soon be available and will be added to this page. In the meantime, supporting presentations can be accessed in the Care Certificate Programme Presentations section.

Care Certificate Process from December 2020:

All new HCA/HCSW’s receives a welcome email from Practice Education Team containing the date/time of the remote delivery of the Welcome & Introduction to Care Certificate Programme and mandatory study day (7.5 hours) followed by further emails outlining and managers are notified by email.

  • Joining information for remote session
  • Guidance re: Microsoft Teams
  • Links to presentations
  • Documentation

New to Care Training 

New to care HCSWs will have a separate 1 day training session delivered by the NMAHP education team. This will provide some basic nursing care training and a "psychological safe space" to new HCSWs. This will help them achieve to be confident and competent on their skills that are fundamental to their role whereby coaching techniques and supportive identification of those HCSWs who may require additional support and signposting can be identified.  Massive congratulations to all our 65 new HCA/HCSW all who attended the New to Care training to date. Early feedback has been positive following the training.

Rapid Induction Training 

All new HCSWs in the care certificate programme will be added to undertake the rapid induction training. This includes vital signs training and reporting, NEWS escalation and sepsis, Infection and Prevention and reflection on bereavement, death and dying. For HCA's/HCSW's from non-ward-based areas who are considering supporting ward areas, we also offer rapid induction, which will include further education and training in relation to ward based nursing.

Care Certificate Accelerated e-Learning in ESR

This was piloted in June 2021 and early feedback has been very positive from HCSW who has completed this in ESR.

What is the Care Certificate?

The Care Certificate is designed for new staff, new to care as their first step on their career journey. It also offers opportunities for existing staff to refresh or improve their knowledge and skills.

The Care Certificate is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life.  It aims to equip health and social care support workers with the knowledge and skills which they need to provide safe, compassionate care.

It is based on 15 national standards, all of which the individual need to complete in full before they can be awarded their care certificate. 

The Care Certificate was developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health.

Who needs to complete the Care Certificate?

The trust has created a list of Health Care Assistant (HCA) & Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) who are required to complete the Care Certificate and associated competencies.

This covers most Nursing & Midwifery, Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Science support roles. The programme is tailored so staff can demonstrate an overall understanding of patient care across all 15 areas, as well as any clinical competencies specific to their HCA/HCSW role.

Some HCA/HCSW roles are exempt from this training as they do not offer a broad range of patient care. Some roles are also driven by a specific task for which a bespoke training programme is provided e.g. Breast Feeding Support workers.

New HCA/HCSW will undertake a Care Certificate programme immediately on their start date. All will be invited to attend a virtual meeting to welcome and guide them on how to enrol to the care certificate in ESR

Those HCA/HCSW who have completed the Care Certificate Programme within another trust prior to joining the organisation, will provide this evidence of achievement (produce their Care Certificate Portfolio of evidence), complete required competencies and their Electronic Staff Records (ESR) will be updated. However, they will still need to attend the rapid induction training programme, BM and Medi-Tech as this provides key information in relation to our Trust policies and procedures.

Aims of the Care Certificate Programme

To receive a standardised training programme which meets the 15 Care Certificate Standards (Skills for Care & Skills for Health 2014) and has the 6C’s principles integrated throughout the programme.

Emphasis is placed on delivering care with dignity and compassion, as well as performing clinical skills via a structured competency based assessment process.   

Enable HCA/HCSWs to acquire the knowledge, skills and professionalism to deliver high standard of patient care.

Develop the capacity for teamwork and recognition of the need to critically reflect on their role in healthcare (Skills for Care & Skills for Health, Care Certificate Framework, 2014)

Develop the HCA/HCSWs skills of communication and clinical ability.

Facilitate learning within a collaborative, flexible and progressive infrastructure which will enable the HCA/HCSW’s to acquire and foster a critical understanding of the policy and legislative practice underpinning practice.

Build professional capacity in working with diverse patient caseloads through ethically sensitive patterns of health care provision by staff.

The Care Certificate Standards

To be awarded the Care Certificate the HCA/HCSW must meet all of the outcomes and assessment requirements of the 15 standards. Assessment will differ dependent upon the component part of the Care Certificate.

  • Some teaching, learning and assessment will occur during Trust induction via E Learning and Basic Life Support simulation.
  • Knowledge and understanding will be assessed via completion of a Mandatory Workbook within the 12 week Care Certificate period.
  • HCA /HCSW will be supported and assessed by a mentor/ educator/registered practitioner while working towards relevant Competency based assessments for your clinical area.
  • Additional evidence will also be collated during the course of the 12 weeks, including witness statements from other registrants within the clinical area and HCA/HCSW reflective accounts about their practice.

 

The 15 Standards

  • Understanding 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

Further information about the Care Certificate

If you require information about how the Care Certificate is assessed and certified please see:

Information for Existing Health Care Assistants

Key Steps to achieve Care Certificate Standards for Existing Health Care Assistants:

  1. National Care Certificate Self -Assessment Tool document – HCA to complete then discuss any skills or knowledge gaps with their line manager/deputy
  2. Experienced HCA may have indicated that they have good or adequate knowledge of most CC standards (15 standards).
  3. Care Certificate Handbook – this includes the following key documents & guidance:-
  • Learning Contract/Objectives 
  • Witness Statement template
  • Reflective Statement template
  • Ward /Department Manager Feedback (prior to submission of portfolio)
  • *HCA should read and insert National Code of Conduct into their Portfolio

     4. All existing/experienced HCA must complete the Mandatory Workbook and place this evidence along with other evidence of training into a portfolio of evidence 

     5. HCA should be supported throughout this process by an identified practice assessor / supervisor /         mentor (registered nurse) and /or line manager.

     6. For HCA who have indicated during the Self -Assessment that they require training or refresher  training (agreed by the line manager) – this information should be shared with the HCA Development Nurse
     7. Once all the above is collated, please complete the Mandatory Requirements Checklist (final page           in the Handbook) must be signed off by your  line manager then please make arrangements to submit           your Portfolio to :

  • SRH- Practice Education Team – stsft.practiceeducationteam@nhs.net Office E1511, Second floor, Education Centre, SRH. HCA should email or ring prior to ensure that somebody is there to accept the portfolio. HCA will be asked to sign a submission form. (42261) and Practice Education Team Admin.
  • Portfolios will be marked within a 4-6week timeline. HCA & Line Managers will be informed of results via email.

     8. Once CC is achieved, HCA will be invited to a formal presentation of CC achievement. A Senior Nurse will present the HCA with a Certificate and CC Badge
     9. If you have further questions, please contact HCA Development Nurse in the first instance

(* There is an expectation that all existing/experienced HCA/HCSW’s complete a self- assessment against the Care Certificate Standards (accessing additional training sessions as required to meet National Care Certificate Standards)

Care Certificate Programme Dates

15th September 2pm-South Tyneside, Educ Centre Lecture Theatre
7th November 2pm- Sunderland Royal Hospital, Educ Centre Lecture Theatre
17th November 2pm-South Tyneside , Educ Centre Lecture

Care Certificate Presentation Photos

Care Certificate Presentation 27th July 2022

Care certificates 1.jpg

Care Certificate Presentation 23rd June

care certificates 2.jpg
 

Care Certificate Presentation 25th March 2022

care certificates 3.jpg

HCA Development Training Sessions (Post Care Certificate)

The Care Certificate Programme is a pre-requisite to the HCA Development Training sessions. Failure to complete the Portfolio of Evidence (which includes gaining competencies relevant to your clinical area and returning a copy of the competency checklist to Teresita Carlos HCA Development Nurse) will result in the HCA being ineligible to be nominated for the development training session.

Dates and Sessions:

Phlebotomy 
19th September
26th September
10th October
17th October
7th November

Female Catheterisation
(Please bring catheter and catheter pack)
9th September
30th September
14th October
21st October
11th November
25th November
16th December    

Assisting of Ingestion of Oral Medications
20th September
4th October
8th November
29th November
13th December

All nominations are to be placed via ward manager and emailed to: stsft.practiceeducationteam@nhs.net
 

Coming soon: 


All HCA’s attending the phlebotomy will need to complete online theoretical venepuncture training via ESR, which must be completed before attending the practical session. Once venepuncture e-learning is completed on ESR, HCSW to inform practice education team and they will then be booked onto a practical session.


Enhanced Interactive Care Observation (EICO)


Prior to staff being deployed to the clinical area that requires Enhanced Interactive Care Observations (EICO) all Health Care Support Workers who work with Adult inpatients and who are volunteering for shifts would be required to undertake the required EICO HCSW training programme. All HCAs in the Trust must have successfully completed the Trust Care Certificate to be accepted onto the outlined training programme. The overarching aim of Enhanced Interactive Care Observations is to maintain patient safety and promote engagement with health care staff.

Dates of an intensive 2 day training programme.

26th and 27th September
17th and 18th October
21st and 22nd November

Key Contact Details

Practice Education Team (shared e-mail):  stsft.practiceeducation@nhs.net

Teresita Carlos - HCA Development Nurse: Teresita.carlos@nhs.net

Joanne Matthews - Practice Education Nurse: Jo-anne.matthews@nhs.net

Danielle Brown - Practice Education Admin: Danielle.brown39@nhs.net

Michelle Arkley - Practice Support HCA: michelle.arkley@nhs.net

Karen Gibson - Practice Support HCA: karen.gibson3@nhs.net

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