This e-learning course, The Care Certificate comprises an introduction and fifteen study units. It is intended for Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) and Adult Social Care Workers (ASCW), including Care Support Workers, Health Care Assistants, Assistant Practitioners, and those providing support to clinical roles who have direct contact with patients.
The Care Certificate is a key component of the overall induction that employers must provide, legally and in order to meet the essential standards set out by the Care Quality Commission.
This online course is one part of the total Care Certification package and covers the theory related to the Care Certificate Framework. Once you have completed the units and taken the assessment you will be awarded with a grade based on your results, which you will then need to discuss with your Assessor / Manager to determine if this is of a satisfactory level for your job role. If not, you will be able to retake the assessment.
You will find in the resources section the Competency Assessment Workbook, which you need to download and print so you can then be assessed in the workplace on the various performance criteria whilst carrying out your day-to-day duties.
You will need to complete each units in the order shown, each section will unlock once you have completed the previous.
The Care Certificate units / standards include:
1 Understanding Your Role
2 Your Personal Development
3 Duty of Care
4 Equality and Diversity
5 Work in a Person-centred Way
6 Communication
7 Compassion, Dignity and Privacy
8 Fluids and Nutrition
9 Dementia and Cognitive Issues
9 Learning Disability Awareness
9 Mental Health Awareness
10 Safeguarding Adults
11 Safeguarding Children
12 Basic Life Support
13 Health and Safety
14 Handling Information
15Infection Prevention and Control
Unit 1: This unit will help learners to understand what their work role is, and will also introduce them to the codes of conduct and practice which apply to them as a health and social care professional.
Unit 2: helps learners to develop a Personal Development Plan and understand how developing their skills and knowledge is an essential part of their work role.
Unit 3: examines how duty of care contributes to safe practice. Learners will also look at ways of resolving apparent conflicts between a service user’s rights and their duty of care towards them.
Unit 4: emphasises the importance of promoting equality and valuing diversity. Learners will explore ways of working inclusively with service users in order to help to eliminate discrimination.
Unit 5: looks at ways of promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. It underlines the importance of finding out about and respecting an individual’s history, needs and preferences in order to put them at the centre of the support they receive.
Unit 6: explains how learners should adapt the way they communicate with individuals according to each person’s abilities and preferences. It also identifies possible barriers to effective communication and discusses ways of overcoming them.
Unit 7: aims to enable learners to apply basic principles to the way in which they carry out every day tasks which promote rather than undermine the dignity of the individuals in their care.
Unit 8: underlines the principles of good hydration, nutrition, and food safety. Learners will look at effective ways of ensuring that the individuals they support not only receive the fluids and foods they need, but that their diet is based on their wishes and preferences.
Unit 9: aims to increase your awareness of the different support needs of individuals with a mental health condition, dementia or a learning disability. It emphasises the importance of taking a positive, empathic and understanding approach in order to promote their health and wellbeing.
Unit 10: explores the different types of abuse and neglect and will help learners to recognise any possible signs and symptoms. They will also be asked to look at their employer’s agreed ways of working in relation to the safeguarding of adults.
Unit 11: aims to reinforce the information covered in Unit 10 and to enable learners to explore the topic of safeguarding in relation to children.
Unit 12: is intended to provide learners with information about basic life support techniques which they can use as a basis for the practical training they will be required to take by their employer. It describes resuscitation procedures, how to move someone into the recovery position, and explains how to use an automated external defibrillator.
Unit 13: asks learners to identify their role in relation to health and safety at work. They will look at how risk assessments should be applied and identify procedures in place in the event of an accident or sudden illness. Learners will also explore safe ways of working, including in relation to lifting and moving, hazardous substances, fire risks, and security.
Unit 14: enables learners to find out about how information their employer holds about the individuals they support should be recorded, stored, and disposed of securely. They will also be asked to identify the key legislation that relates to the handling of personal or sensitive information.
Unit 15: examines how infections can spread and provides guidance on how learners can help to prevent cross-contamination in a healthcare setting. For example, by adhering to workplace procedures in relation to the correct handling of laundry, effective hand hygiene, and the use of personal protective equipment.
