Why is CPD Training so Important for Healthcare Assistants?

Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) play an essential role in the healthcare sector, working under the supervision of healthcare professionals to provide patients with high-quality care. And because the healthcare sector changes constantly, it’s essential for HCAs to stay up-to-date with the latest advances and best practices.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training plays a vital role in helping HCAs to ensure their knowledge and skills remain current.

In this post, we’ll look at the important role of a Healthcare Assistant and how online social care courses can support their CPD training.

What do Healthcare Assistants do?

HCAs work in various settings, including NHS hospitals, mental health units and GP practices. They may also work with patients in the community.

A Healthcare Assistant’s role typically includes diverse tasks like:

• Washing and dressing patients
• Helping patients get comfortable
• Assisting patients with moving around
• Serving food and helping patients at mealtimes
• Taking basic observations
• Maintaining confidential patient records

The Importance of CPD Training for Healthcare Assistants

The Code of Conduct for HCAs states they must “strive to improve the quality of healthcare, care and support through continuing professional development”. Although the Code is voluntary, many employers require their HCAs to work within the remit of the Code so that they meet the competence necessary for their role.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) supports lifelong learning for HCAs, helping them keep up with changes in legislation, care standards and technology. This not only benefits the Healthcare Assistant but also the patients they care for and the healthcare system as a whole.

Some of the benefits of CPD for Health Care Assistants include:

Enhanced Skills

CPD training enables HCAs to keep their skills updated. This ensures they can provide high-quality, patient-centred care and handle the challenges of their role with confidence.

Current Knowledge

CPD keeps HCAs up-to-date with the latest legislation and policies governing their role, ensuring they work within the regulatory framework and best practice guidelines.

Career Progression

The additional credentials gained through CPD can open doors to professional growth and opportunities for career progression.

CPD Courses for HCAs

When planning your HCAs’ training, it’s crucial to consider the diverse nature of Healthcare Assistants’ duties. This means that a wide range of CPD health and social care courses will be suitable for Healthcare Assistants.

Some topics that may form part of a Healthcare Assistant’s training include:

• Safeguarding adults and children
• Food hygiene
• Control and administration of medication
• Health and Safety

High-quality CPD training will provide HCAs with the tools to deliver safe, high-quality care.

CPD: A Flexible Learning Experience

Part of the beauty of CPD lies in its flexibility. There are many CPD activities to choose from, including seminars, lectures and webinars as well as books, journals and podcasts.

Caredemy’s online health and social care courses make CPD training even more accessible. Online CPD courses can be studied at the learner’s own pace and at a time that suits their schedule. And because Caredemy online social care training courses are CPD Certification Service accredited and certified, HCAs can gain CPD points at the same time as updating their essential skills and knowledge.

The Caredemy Learner Management System (LMS) makes it easy for training managers to plan training programmes and track CPD hours, ensuring that HCAs meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct. Our Support Team can assist with migrating training records from the existing system to the Caredemy LMS. Please feel free to contact our Sales Team if you would like to discuss your Healthcare Assistants’ training requirements or learn more about the Learner Management System.

In conclusion, CPD training is essential for Health Care Assistants, promoting continual growth and high-quality patient care. For healthcare employers, investing in CPD training for healthcare represents not just a commitment to their HCAs but also to the patients they care for.