Following a successful pilot last summer across selected sites in the UK, the Care Certificate was rolled out across the country in March of this year. It is designed to help improve the standards of training for those working in social care, including both social care assistants and healthcare assistants. This follows the recommendations in the Cavendish Review, which was set up to investigate the issues surrounding the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

These workers may work in settings such as care homes, hospices and sheltered housing, both within the private and voluntary sectors. Workers in these settings will often work closely with vulnerable groups, so it is essential they receive training suitable for the role.

As required by the changes in legislation, every social care support worker and healthcare assistant in future will need to get a Care Certificate within the first three months of starting work. They will need to ensure they meet over fifteen rigorous standards covering every aspect of care.