Every non-regulated worker in the health and social care sector is required to complete the Care Certificate. 15 standards make up this certificate and they establish the level of care that patients and clients can expect to receive. 

Completing this certificate ensures that workers in the health and social care sector have the skills they need to provide quality care. It also gives them a solid basis from which to develop their career. 

And the Care Certificate provides an assurance that standards of care are maintained to the same high level across the sector. 

The Care Certificate’s 15 standards include the following:

Care Certificate Standard 1: Understand your role

This standard sets out the requirements for each individual to understand the responsibilities and accountability of their role. This includes the job description, company policies and procedures together with the ethos and value of the role.

Care Certificate Standard 2: Your personal development

Workers in health and social care should create a personal development plan. This plan covers topics such as opportunities for development and sets out who will support the worker in their role.

Care Certificate Standard 3: Duty of Care

This standard is concerned with the level of service that is expected for those who are receiving care, as well as risk assessment and mitigation.

Care Certificate Standard 4: Equality and Diversity

The fourth of the 15 care certificate standards covers the need to treat all people equally, while also celebrating and respecting the visible and non-visible aspects of individuality.

Care Certificate Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way

This standard makes it clear that care workers should support those in their care using people-centred values such as independence, dignity, choice and privacy.

Care Certificate Standard 6: Communication

Communication with colleagues, patients, clients and their families is of utmost importance for social and health care workers. This includes both verbal and non-verbal communication such as body language.

Care Certificate Standard 7: Privacy & Dignity

The seventh of the 15 care standards focuses on two important values that should be promoted in order to maintain clients’ self-esteem. It’s vital for care workers to be able to identify situations where these values may be compromised.

Care Certificate Standard 8: Fluids and Nutrition

Workers in health and social care need to be able to understand the principles of nutrition and hydration, and to support their clients’ access to these in accordance with the provisions of their care plan.

Care Certificate Standard 9: Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability

The ninth care standard highlights the importance of positive health and well-being when caring for clients with dementia, a learning disability or mental health condition.

Care Certificate Standard 10: Safeguarding Adults

The tenth care certificate standard covers the principles of safeguarding adults, how to minimise the risk of abuse and what to do in the event of suspected abuse of an adult. 

Care Certificate Standard 11: Safeguarding Children

It’s vital for health and social care workers to understand the principles of safeguarding children, and to be able to explain what they must do if they suspect the neglect or abuse of a child.

Care Certificate Standard 12: Basic life support

The twelfth standard sets out the need for a social or health care worker to complete basic life support training that meets the UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines.

Care Certificate Standard 13: Health and Safety

This standard covers various aspects of health and safety. This includes risk assessment, procedures for responding to an accident or sudden illness, handling hazardous substances and administering medication.

Care Certificate Standard 14: Handling information

The fourteenth standard sets out the required standards for handling client information. This includes how official and legal documentation should be received and stored.

Care Certificate Standard 15: Infection prevention and control

The fifteenth care standard outlines the main ways that an infection can enter the body and how the carer’s own health and hygiene can affect those they work with or support. This standard also covers the correct way to handle clinical waste safely. 

Caredemy’s online Care Certificate course covers the 15 care certificate standards in an easy to understand online format complete with workbooks and assessments.