Training Standards
Regulation of social care providers has brought about the introduction of National Minimum Standards (National Care Standards in Scotland). These standards vary within each country.
Identified below are the current training standards for each country of the United Kingdom.
England
The requirements for training in England are explicit:
Domiciliary Care National Minimum Standards (2002)1
Qualifications
Standard 20 (See regulation 15)
Outcome: The personal care of service users is provided by qualified and competent staff, except for employment agencies solely introducing workers.
20.1 All staff in the organisation are competent and trained to undertake the activities for which they are employed and responsible.
20.2 Newly appointed care or support workers delivering personal care who do not already hold a relevant care qualification are required to demonstrate their competence and register for the relevant NVQ in care award (either NVQ in Care level 2 or level 3) within the first six months of employment and complete the full award within three years. This standard will be deemed unmet if employers attempt simply to dismiss staff and re-hire every 6 months.
20.3 Unqualified staff employed for less than 2 years at the commencement of the application of the standards are phased into the relevant NVQ in care over the following 2 years and complete the award within 3 years.2
20.4 50% of all personal care by the provider to be delivered by workers NVQ qualified or equivalent, or better, by 1st April 2008. A detailed review of this target to be made available by 1st July 2006 so as to assess progress. Further reviews annually to set targets for 2 years hence. New personal care staff must continue to take up the NVQ course even when the 50% target has been reached.
20.5 Managers obtain a nationally recognised management qualification equivalent to NVQ level 4 in management within 5 years from the date of application of these standards, or following that period, within three years of employment.2
20.6 Records of training and development undertaken and the outcome, are kept on a central development file and on individual personnel files.
20.7 Managers undertake periodic management training to update his or her knowledge, skills and competence to manage the agency.
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Scotland
National Care Standards: Care at Home1
Management and staffing
Standard 4
You experience good quality care at home. This is provided by management and the care staff who have the skills and competence to carry out the tasks you require. The service operates in line with all applicable legal requirements and best-practice guidelines.
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Wales
The National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care Agencies in Wales (2004)1
Qualifications
Outcome: The personal care of service users is provided by qualified and competent staff.
Standard 20 (See regulation 16 (Staffing))
20.1 All staff including Managers are competent and trained to undertake the activities for which they are employed and responsible.
20.2 All care workers delivering personal care who do not already hold a relevant care qualification as listed as the recommended occupational qualification in the Care Council for Wales Qualification Framework are provided with learning and development (as identified by Standard 19.1) which requires them to work towards a qualification.
20.3 By July 2009 50% of all care workers hold a qualification as listed as the recommended occupational qualification in the Care Council for Wales Qualification Framework.
20.4 By July 2009 all Managers employed before 1 April 2004 must hold the qualification as listed as the recommended occupational qualification in the Care Council for Wales Qualification Framework. Those managers first employed after 31 March 2004 hold a qualification as listed as the recommended occupational qualification in the Care Council for Wales Qualification Framework within 3 years of the commencement of their employment.
20.5 Records of training and development undertaken and the outcome, are kept on a central development file and on individual personnel files.
20.6 The Manager undertake periodic training to update knowledge, skills and competence to manage the agency.
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Northern Ireland
The Domiciliary Care Standards are due to be issued in 2007.
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1 Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.
2 National Minimum Standard 20.2 and 20.5 apply from 01 April 2003
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