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Is the Care Certificate a qualification?

The Care Certificate is not an accredited qualification but if it is assessed by a qualified assessor, the assessments can count towards other qualifications. If the Care Certificate is not assessed by a qualified assessor, then the evidence collected may still be put forward to be assessed in other qualifications, such as the Level 2 or 3 Diploma/NVQ in care.

Rather than thinking of the Care Certificate as a qualification, it is more useful to think of it as a set of standards that every care worker should be competent in before being able to work independently.

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Who can assess the Care Certificate?

In our previous blog post, we looked at how the Care Certificate is assessed. Here, we will explore who can assess the care Certificate.

The Care Certificate can be assessed by anyone that an employer deems to be occupationally competent in the standard that they are assessing. They do not need to have a formal training qualification or be a qualified trainer or assessor.

This can create a lot of subjectivity, in terms of both how an individual is deemed ‘competent’ to assess and how each individual interprets the assessment criteria. Sadly, this means there is a disparity in the quality of assessment between individuals, which is why many employers request that the Care Certificate is repeated by employees that have already achieved it with a previous employer.

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How is the Care Certificate assessed? 

Care Certificate assessment involves both knowledge and skill-based criteria. Methods of assessing the Care Certificate can include:

  • Using the Care Certificate Workbooks
  • Observation
  • Discussion
  • Group exercises
  • Simulation
  • Naturally-occurring evidence generated as part of the individual’s day-to-day work
  • Computer-based assessment and e-learning

Assessors are encouraged to use a holistic approach so that evidence for several criteria can be gathered during a single visit, observation or discussion.

Note: This information is taken from our Care Certificate Answers page.

Is the Care Certificate a legal/regulatory requirement? 

Although the Care Certificate is not directly referenced in any legislation, the Care Quality Commission do reference it in their regulation guidance.

Section 18(2)(a) of the guidance for Regulation 18 states that “It is expected that providers that employ healthcare assistants and social care support workers should follow the Care Certificate standards to make sure new staff are supported, skilled and assessed as competent to carry out their roles.

And Section 19(1)(b) of Regulation 19 states: ”It is expected that providers that employ healthcare assistants and social care support workers should follow the Care Certificate standards to assess their competence.

Taken from DSDWEB’s Care Certificate Answers page.

Sources:

  1. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 18 (Care Quality Commission)
  2. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 19 (Care Quality Commission)
  3. CQCs Position on the Care Certificate

 

What are the origins of the Care Certificate?

This is a brief overview of the history of the Care Certificate from our Care Certificate Answers page.

In 2013, the Francis Report was published. This was a public inquiry into the serious failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. The report had almost 300 recommendations for improvements in the health and social care sector. 

As a result of this, later that year, the Cavendish Report was published. This was entitled: An Independent Review into Healthcare Assistants and Support Workers in the NHS and social care settings. One of the proposals from this report was the development of a ‘Certificate of Fundamental Care’.

This recommendation was taken up by the government and so the Care Certificate was developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education, England.

Sources:

  1. Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry (Francis Report)
  2. Cavendish Review
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