Are you ready for the refreshed Common Induction Standards?

The revised Common Induction Standards officially came into effect on 1st June 2011, after first being announced by Skills for Care over a year ago. All care workers must now complete the refreshed Skills for Care Common Induction Standards 2010 within the first twelve weeks of employment at a new setting.

It is the responsibility of Care Managers to ensure that their staff receive a comprehensive induction that takes account of recognised standards and is relevant to their workplace and role. Providers of adult health and social care must demonstrate that they are compliant with the Health and Social care Act 2008, Regulations 2010 and the Care Quality Commission Regulations 2009.

First Response Training (FRT) has developed the FRT Common Induction Programme to support care workers and managers to meet the revised outcomes of the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards 2010. This flexible, cost-effective package is designed to help managers in care and can be delivered via a number of distance and blended learning options.

Now, to further support the implementation of the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards, First Response Training are holding a free CPD update session at CareMatch, Stafford, to help managers in care to understand how they can work through the new 8 standards in a way that suits their workers and setting, ensuring that all workers are “safe to leave” and that their performance has been appropriately assessed. All attendees of this CPD workshop will receive a free certificate of attendance.

First Response Training’s FREE CPD Update Workshop:
*Takes place on Wednesday 26th October
*From 10am until 1pm
*At CareMatch, Human Resource Centre, Second Avenue, Tillington, Stafford, ST6 1PS

The original Common Induction Standards, of which there were six, are now no longer ‘valid’ and all new staff must now undertake the new eight standards. Existing staff members, who have evidence of their previous induction training or relevant qualifications, must undertake those parts of the new standards that the employer judges to be necessary.

The new eight standards are:
*Standard 1: The role of the health and social care worker
*Standard 2: Personal development
*Standard 3: Communicate effectively
*Standard 4: Equality and inclusion
*Standard 5: Principles for implementing duty of care
*Standard 6: Principles of safeguarding in health and social care
*Standard 7: Person-centred support
*Standard 8: Health and safety in an adult social care setting

The aim of these revised standards is to provide new starters in the industry with support and guidance. They also map to the mandatory units of the new Health and Social Care Diploma – part of the Qualifications and Credit Framework. This ensures a consistent approach across the workforce.

Julie Crowther, Associate Director of Quality and Curriculum at First Response Training, explains: “The revised Common Induction Standards give managers an even more robust process for inducting staff members into their new role and offer the assurance that they are preparing them to support service users in a positive and safe way.”