Strategies for Successfully Completing the Care Certificate

The Care Certificate was designed to provide an overview of the basic skills and knowledge that health and social care workers require to deliver adequate care.

Successful completion of the Care Certificate is not a regulatory requirement, rather it is considered ‘best practice’ and is highly recommended by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Ensuring that the Care Certificate is used as part of staff training and induction shows a sincere commitment to providing high-quality care and staying compliant with the CQC’s minimum expectations. 

Understanding the Care Certificate

In 2013, the Cavendish Review found that training and development in health and social care training was inadequate and was in need of reform. In response, a collaborative effort between Health Education England, Skills for Care and Skills for Health created the Care Certificate. The overall aim of the certificate was to improve standards of care and provide a more consistent approach. 

The Care Certificate is based on 15 standards. All candidates must complete the 15 standards in full before they can achieve their Care Certificate.

The 15 standards in the Care Certificate are as follows:

• 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

To gain the Care Certificate, students are expected to work through all of the 15 standards as set out above. On successful completion, health and social care workers should have the fundamental knowledge that they need to provide compassionate care that is compliant with standards and regulations. Employers are also expected to assess their workers’ practical skills against the standards set out in the Care Certificate and provide ongoing support. 

Legal and Regulatory Framework

The main piece of legislation that relates to all providers of health and social care is the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The Act establishes the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as the regulator of all health and adult social care services. 

The Care Quality Commission sets out minimum expectations that all health and social care providers support their staff to carry out their daily tasks appropriately and provide safe, effective and compassionate care. These minimum expectations include:

• Induction
• Training
• Ongoing support

Although the Care Certificate is not currently a legal requirement by the CQC, it is considered to be a benchmark for staff induction into health and social care. It is also specifically referred to in their guidance and relates to much of their assessment criteria, especially regarding ‘safe and effective care’.

By using the Care Certificate as a baseline for their induction programmes, care settings can show the CQC that they are making a sincere effort to meet and implement the required standards. All providers of care have a duty to ensure that their users are safe and that their health and social care needs are properly met. Minimally, this means that they are only using staff to provide care who are:

• Properly trained
• Supervised
• Appraised

People who should do the Care Certificate will be working across a range of different roles within the healthcare and adult social care sectors (including the NHS, local authorities and independent companies). Health and social care is a sizeable industry in the UK; 2022/2023 statistics suggest around 1.5 million people are employed in the adult social care sector alone, with around three quarters in direct care roles.

Roles that may require the Care Certificate include:

• Healthcare support workers
• Healthcare assistants
• Anyone giving support to clinical assistants within the NHS (where there is direct contact with patients)
• Homecare workers
• Care assistants in nursing homes, hospices, care homes, support living etc

Employers are free to require other staff to complete the Care Certificate as they see fit. It does not replace a company induction and is designed to complement the onboarding and initial training that employers already have in place.

Preparing for Success

Completing the Care Certificate is a process that requires commitment, time and dedication.

• Ask for help and support if needed
• Look for online resources to help with your studies
• Practise self-care by looking after yourself (eating a healthy, balanced diet, staying hydrated and getting enough good quality sleep)
• Take regular breaks when studying to avoid getting overwhelmed
• Show a commitment to your learning and assessments and try your best
• Regularly reflect on your learning and think about how you are able to apply the principles in your day-to-day work

The assessment criteria used to determine whether you have successfully passed your Care Certificate include words such as demonstrate, explain, describe and reflect on. To prepare for success, consider ways in which you can answer and work in a way that satisfies these criteria. This may include providing evidence, giving practical examples, reflecting on your experiences and working competently during supervision. 

Identifying Support Resources

There are a number of resources available to those undertaking the Care Certificate that can complement your hands-on, practical work experience and training:

• Seek guidance from other professionals in the care sector who have successfully completed their Care Certificate – learn from what they did well or what they could have done better
• Use online resources to learn at home or on the go
• Seek out support resources in different formats, e.g. videos, simulations and interactive tools
• Read your course materials (e.g. handbooks) carefully and use sticky notes to mark important or particularly challenging areas
• Look up a glossary of terms online that relate to the Care Certificate and the criteria used to assess it to ensure you understand all the key words and terminology

Overcoming Common Challenges

Common challenges you may face whilst undertaking the Care Certificate include:

• Stress and overwhelm – 15 units may seem like a lot; if you are completely new to care, or dislike extensive training and learning, you may feel stressed and overwhelmed by the Care Certificate. Practise self-care and remember the purpose of what you are doing is to become an effective, safe and compassionate carer to those in need.
• Weak academic record – if you have always struggled in the classroom don’t panic about having to complete the Care Certificate. Although some of your knowledge is gained during study and classroom learning, much of the important assessments are done during real work activity.
• Time management – try breaking units down into smaller tasks and setting yourself realistic goals and deadlines. Don’t leave things until the last minute or put them off because you find them difficult or you don’t enjoy them. If you are struggling with organisation or time management, ask your mentor or supervisor for tips.
• Balancing your workload – you may be completing the Care Certificate alongside other commitments which can make it challenging to balance your workload. If this is the case, try to get into a routine, set aside specific time to study and take advantage of online resources to support your learning journey.

Meeting Care Certificate Standards

Competence within health and social care roles is best assessed using a mix of practical observations, hands-on assessments and written assignments. This means that to successfully complete the Care Certificate, workers are required to not only acquire knowledge through study but also be able to demonstrate their knowledge. 

You will need to be able to show that you can apply your new skills and knowledge in your day-to-day activities at work. To do this effectively, you will need to understand the principles of the Care Certificate and how each of the 15 standards should be embedded in your attitudes, behaviours and working practice. 

Your competence and skills in the 15 key areas will be assessed by someone who is deemed ‘occupationally competent’. You will have to satisfy the following criteria:

Understand your role

• Be able to describe your role and responsibilities
• List standards and codes of practice that relate to your role
• Discuss agreed ways of working between you and your employer (including rights, responsibilities, reporting concerns and errors etc)
• Describe how you work in relation to both the people you support and your colleagues and how these individual relationships differ
• Discuss the importance of bias, ethics, honesty and personal beliefs in relation to your work
• Explain how you work in partnership with others

Your personal development

• Identify appropriate sources for learning and development
• Describe the entire process of a personal development plan (how to form one, who will be involved, the importance of feedback, how to contribute to the PDP and agreeing to it)
• Explain the level of skill in literacy, numeracy and communication required for your role, and how to measure (and improve) your skills in these areas
• Discuss how your skills, knowledge and understanding have been improved by A) a learning activity B) reflecting on a situation
• Explain why continuing professional development is important in care

Duty of care

• Be able to define what duty of care means
• Explain how duty of care affects your role
• Describe dilemmas that may arise in relation to duty of care and a person’s rights, what to do and not do in such a situation and how to get support to resolve such dilemmas
• How to respond to and handle complaints that arise in line with legislation and agreed ways of working
• Explain how to deal with incidents, errors or near misses
• Discuss how to deal with difficult and confrontational situations (including causes, the importance of communication, assessing and reducing risks and getting support to resolve conflicts)

Equality and diversity

• Be able to explain what is meant by diversity, inclusion, equality and discrimination and list relevant legislation
• Describe ways discrimination may happen and how you will work in an inclusive way to reduce it
• Discuss how you will work in an inclusive way
• Be able to identify appropriate resources about diversity, inclusion, equality and discrimination and who to go to for support in these areas

Work in a person-centred way

• Describe how to put person-centred values into practice in your day-to-day work and why this is important
• Identify ways you can ensure a person’s dignity while you work
• Demonstrate that you understand how to work in a person-centred way (including their needs, preferences and wishes, how these may change and how these should be reflected in the care plan)
• How to take steps to provide a safe and supportive environment to reduce triggers/ stressors
• How to recognise symptoms of discomfort and what steps to take to address them
• Demonstrate how your actions promote the person-centred values of individuality, independence, privacy, partnership, choice, dignity, respect and rights

Communication

• Describe the different ways you can communicate at work
• List a range of communication methods and styles that can be used to meet a patient’s needs and preferences
• List barriers to communication and how to remove/reduce them
• Discuss what confidentiality means in relation to your role and any legislation or agreed ways of working that relate to confidentiality
• Describe situations where confidentiality may need to be broken (safeguarding)
• Demonstrate that you can use different communication methods (verbal and non-verbal)
• Discuss different communication aids and technologies, how they should be used and where to go for support

Privacy and dignity

• Describe what is meant by dignity, how dignity may be compromised in a care setting and how to maintain privacy and dignity at work
• Demonstrate that you know how to uphold a person’s privacy and dignity in line with their needs, including using the correct tone of voice, using privacy curtains or screens, asking for permission before touching someone etc
• Explain the importance of not making disclosures about private or sensitive information unless there is a genuine reason to do so
• Explain how you will support a person to make informed choices about their care
• Reflect on ways in which you (or your views) may have an effect on a person’s ability to participate in their care

Fluids and nutrition

• Describe the importance of food safety and hygiene relating to the preparation of food
• Explain the role of nutrition and hydration in supporting overall health and wellbeing
• List signs and symptoms of poor nutrition or dehydration
• Explain ways you will promote good nutrition and hydration to the people you care for (including how they will ensure they have access to appropriate food and fluids in line with their care plan)
• How to report any concerns and who to report them to

Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability

• Be able to list symptoms of mental illness (including anxiety, depression, psychosis) as well as dementia and mental disability
• Explain how these needs affect an individual’s care needs and how these needs may differ between patients
• Explain how positive attitudes towards the aforementioned conditions will improve the care and support patients receive
• Describe the social model of disability and how it underpins positive attitudes towards disability and involving people in their own care
• Describe what adjustments may be necessary to the care of someone with a mental condition and why early detection is so important (include examples)
• List relevant legislation and policies that are designed to promote the rights, inclusion and equality of people with mental health conditions, dementia or learning disabilities
• Explain how legislation and policies may affect individuals with mental health needs, dementia or learning disabilities (and their families)
• Explain the terms ‘capacity’ and ‘consent’ in relation to care and decision-making, why capacity is important and when an assessment of capacity may be necessary

Safeguarding adults

• Define the term safeguarding and explain how it relates to your role and responsibilities
• Be able to list the main types of abuse, what is meant by ‘harm’ and why an individual may be vulnerable to abuse or harm
• List potential signs of abuse and a range of factors that have featured in cases of adult abuse and/or neglect
• Explain how care settings can leave individuals exposed to harm or abuse
• Explain how to take steps to safeguard adults and keep them safe, including managing risk
• Describe when to involve other agencies and how to report concerns, including whistleblowing and information sharing options
• Be able to list relevant legislation about safeguarding adults

Safeguarding children

• If you work in the healthcare sector you will need to meet the minimum national training standards for Safeguarding Children at Level 1 as set out in the guidance issued by the Intercollegiate Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• If you work in social care, you must be able to explain what to do if you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect

Basic life support

• You will need to be trained in how to carry our basic life support that meets UK resuscitation guidelines (relevant to the age group you care for)

Health and safety

• Identify relevant health and safety legislation
• List tasks that cannot be performed without training
• Discuss moving and assisting (relevant legislation, safe practice etc)
• List accidents and illnesses that could occur suddenly during work, what procedures to follow and what emergency procedures they are not trained for
• Discuss agreed ways of working in relation to medication and healthcare tasks
• List the tasks relating to medication and health care procedures that you cannot perform until you are competent
• List hazardous substances at work
• Explain fire procedures, including prevention
• Demonstrate knowledge about stress at work

Handling information

• Describe agreed ways of working and legislation that relates to the storing, recording and sharing of information
• Explain the role of securing systems in information storing and handling
• Demonstrate good record-keeping skills
• Explain who to make reports to and how if agreed ways of working are not being followed

Infection prevention and control

• Describe the main ways that infection can enter the body
• Demonstrate good handwashing and hygiene techniques
• Explain how their own health/hygiene could affect the people they look after
• List common types of personal protective equipment (PPE) (including clothing, equipment and procedures) and how and when to use them
• Explain the principles of safe handling of infected or soiled linen and clinical waste

Effective Learning and Assessment Strategies

Set yourself realistic goals

Guidance suggests that a full-time member of staff will need around 12 weeks to complete the Care Certificate. If you are part-time or have additional learning needs (such as English as a second language) remember to take your time and not rush through the process. Ask for help and extensions if needed – your goal is to become a skilled and competent carer, and this takes time.

Stay calm under pressure

Practical assessments make up a significant part of the Care Certificate. Be prepared to be set tasks and watched while you work. Although this may feel daunting, it is important to try to stay calm under pressure – remember that your training and learning provide an opportunity to learn how to work in the best and most effective way. The skills and experience you gain whilst completing the 15 units will set you up for a successful career, so make the most of your learning to get the best out of the process. 

Embrace a growth mindset

People with a growth mindset see the value in learning and professional (as well as personal) development. With a growth mindset you believe there is always room for improvement and that with effort and learning, your skills will improve. A growth mindset embraces challenge, is more resilient and uses setbacks as a learning experience. 

The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. If you believe that your talents and skills are fixed you are less likely to persevere when a task is challenging. You may also struggle to deal with negative feedback and constructive feedback from your supervisor. 

See the value in continuous learning

Learning and development are an ongoing process at work. Although the Care Certificate provides a good foundation for a career in care, if you want to progress and succeed you should view it as the beginning of your learning journey, rather than the end. A commitment to continuous learning means that you want to go beyond the basics and are taking steps to continually improve your skills and knowledge.

Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Success

If you face difficulties or challenges while doing the Care Certificate it is important that you persevere and seek help and guidance where needed. If you are really struggling, it may help you to try to reframe your thoughts and see challenges or mistakes as an opportunity for learning and improving. 

We often don’t get new things right the first time we try, but perseverance will play an important part in successfully completing your learning and training, helping to shape you into a competent and resilient care worker. 

Some tips for navigating the challenges of the Care Certificate:

• Embrace a growth mindset by thinking I can instead of assuming that you can’t
• Don’t be afraid to celebrate small wins along the way
• Avoid comparing yourself to other learners – this is your journey, no one else’s
• Reach out for help and support from mentors, peers or your manager/supervisor
• Stay organised and on top of your learning. This will help you navigate your way through the 15 units and make it easier to track your process and feel less overwhelmed
• Keep your end goal in mind; completing the Care Certificate can mark the start of an exciting new career path within health and social care

Conclusion

Passing all 15 units of the Care Certificate can be tough. As you navigate your way through it, keep reminding yourself why you are completing the certificate in the first place. To be successful, try to embrace a growth mindset and tackle challenges head on, listen to feedback, celebrate your success and meet mistakes with resilience rather than giving up. 

Once you have passed all of the units and started your role, although the Care Certificate gives you a good foundation, try to commit to continuously learning and improving your skills in care, right throughout your career.