What is the Care Certificate?
The Care Certificate is a set of standards designed to ensure that people working in health and social care have the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to provide safe, compassionate and effective care.
It is particularly important for people who are new to the care sector, helping them develop the foundations they need before working independently with individuals who require care and support.
Developed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and NHS England, the Care Certificate provides a structured framework for workplace induction and learning.
For employers, it provides a way to introduce new employees to the responsibilities of their role, establish good working practices and assess their competence.
For care workers, it offers an important foundation for developing confidence and understanding in what can be a demanding but rewarding profession.
Who needs to complete the Care Certificate?
The Care Certificate is primarily designed for people who are new to health and social care roles.
This includes:
- New care assistants and support workers.
- Residential and nursing home staff.
- Domiciliary care workers.
- Healthcare assistants.
- Support workers in supported living environments.
- Individuals moving into a new care role where they need to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills.
Employers should assess the training and development needs of each new member of staff rather than assuming that previous experience automatically demonstrates competence.
Even experienced care workers may need to complete elements of the Care Certificate if they are moving into a different setting or undertaking responsibilities they have not previously performed.
Is the Care Certificate mandatory?
The Care Certificate itself is not a standalone statutory qualification that every care worker is legally required to hold.
However, employers have clear responsibilities to ensure that their employees receive appropriate induction, training, supervision and support to carry out their roles safely and effectively.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) sets out these expectations under Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Regulation 18 requires providers to ensure staff receive appropriate training, professional development and supervision.
The Care Certificate is widely used as a framework for meeting these induction and development expectations.
For employers, using the Care Certificate can therefore be an effective way to demonstrate that new staff are being supported to develop the knowledge and competence required for their role.
What are the 16 Care Certificate standards?
The Care Certificate standards were updated in March 2025, increasing from 15 to 16 standards.
The updated framework reflects developments in the health and social care sector and introduces a dedicated standard covering awareness of learning disability and autism.
The 16 standards are:
- Understand your role – understanding responsibilities, boundaries and expectations.
- Your personal development – recognising learning needs and developing professional skills.
- Duty of care – understanding responsibilities for protecting individuals from harm.
- Equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights – respecting individual differences and promoting equal treatment.
- Work in a person-centred way – putting individuals at the centre of their care and support.
- Communication – communicating effectively and adapting to individual needs.
- Privacy and dignity – maintaining dignity, respect and confidentiality.
- Fluids and nutrition – supporting individuals with appropriate nutrition and hydration.
- Awareness of mental health and dementia – understanding mental health conditions and dementia.
- Adult safeguarding – recognising and responding to signs of abuse or neglect.
- Safeguarding children – understanding responsibilities for protecting children.
- Basic life support – understanding how to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
- Health and safety – maintaining a safe environment for individuals and colleagues.
- Handling information – recording, storing and sharing information appropriately.
- Infection prevention and control – reducing the risk of infection and maintaining good hygiene.
- Awareness of learning disability and autism – understanding the needs and experiences of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
These standards provide a foundation for the knowledge and behaviours expected of care workers.
It is important to remember that completing training is only part of the process. Employees must also demonstrate that they can apply what they have learned in their working environment.
How is the Care Certificate completed?
The Care Certificate combines learning with practical assessment.
It is not simply a case of completing an online course and receiving a certificate. Workers need to demonstrate that they understand the standards and can apply them in practice.
A typical Care Certificate programme includes:
1. Knowledge-based learning
Employees develop an understanding of the principles behind each standard. This may be delivered through classroom training, online learning, workbooks or other structured learning resources.
2. Workplace learning
Employees have opportunities to put their learning into practice, supported by experienced colleagues and supervisors.
3. Practical assessment
Employers or suitably competent assessors observe employees carrying out relevant tasks and assess whether they can demonstrate the required skills and behaviours.
4. Completion and recording
Once the required knowledge and practical competencies have been demonstrated, the employer can record completion of the Care Certificate standards.
Employers should retain appropriate training and assessment records as part of their workforce development and compliance processes.
What is the difference between the Care Certificate and the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate?
These are related but separate learning pathways.
The Care Certificate is designed to provide the foundation for people entering health and social care. It focuses on the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to begin working safely and effectively.
The Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is a separate occupational qualification designed to develop knowledge and competence further.
The two should not be confused or treated as interchangeable.
The introduction of the Level 2 qualification was one of the developments considered when the Care Certificate standards were updated in 2025.
Employers should consider which learning pathway is appropriate for each employee, taking into account their role, responsibilities and development needs.
Why is the Care Certificate important for employers?
Investing in structured induction and training provides several benefits for care providers.
Improved standards of care
Employees who understand their responsibilities and the principles of good care are better equipped to support individuals safely and respectfully.
Greater staff confidence
New employees can feel more confident when they have received structured training and understand what is expected of them.
Stronger recruitment and retention
Providing development opportunities from the beginning of employment can help staff feel supported and valued.
Supporting CQC compliance
A structured induction and assessment process helps employers demonstrate that they are meeting their responsibilities under Regulation 18.
Consistent working practices
Having a shared framework helps organisations establish consistent expectations across their workforce.
Where can employers arrange Care Certificate training?
First Response Training provides Care Certificate training solutions for health and social care organisations, helping employers support new employees through their induction and development.
Training options include:
- Care Certificate eLearning.
- Care Certificate distance learning workbooks.
- Individual training covering relevant Care Certificate subjects.
- Classroom and webinar-based training.
First Response Training also offers a wider range of health and social care training, allowing employers to build on the foundations established through the Care Certificate.
Explore the First Response Training Care Certificate courses.
For organisations looking to develop their wider workforce, the Health and Social Care training programme includes additional mandatory and specialist training.
Frequently asked questions about the Care Certificate
How long does the Care Certificate take to complete?
There is no single fixed completion period. It depends on the individual’s previous experience, learning needs, the training delivery method and how quickly they can demonstrate the required workplace competencies.
Can the Care Certificate be completed online?
Some knowledge-based learning can be completed online. However, practical skills and workplace competence must also be assessed appropriately.
Does the Care Certificate expire?
The Care Certificate does not have a formal expiry date. However, employers should continue to review staff competence and identify when refresher or additional training is needed.
Can experienced care workers complete the Care Certificate?
Yes. It may be appropriate for experienced workers who are new to a particular role or setting, or who need to demonstrate knowledge and competence against the standards.
Is the Care Certificate a recognised qualification?
The Care Certificate is a set of standards rather than a standalone regulated qualification. It should be distinguished from the separate Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification.
Supporting the next generation of care workers
The Care Certificate is an important starting point for anyone entering the health and social care sector.
For employers, it provides a structured approach to induction and workforce development. For employees, it helps establish the knowledge, confidence and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality care.
First Response Training supports care providers with a range of training solutions, from initial induction through to specialist and ongoing workforce development.
Find out more about our Care Certificate training courses or contact First Response Training to discuss your organisation’s training requirements.
