Care Skills Certificate

The 15 standards covered are[CH1] :

Standard 1: Understand your role

Within this unit, you will describe the responsibilities of your role and demonstrate an understanding of codes of conduct and agreed ways of working within the workplace. You will also learn about working relationships within health and social care, and the benefits of working in partnership with others.

Standard 2: Your personal development

Here you will identify areas where you may need to develop and contribute to the creation of your own personal development plan. You will also consider the importance of feedback and reflection when developing your knowledge, skills and understanding.

Standard 3: Duty of care

Throughout this unit, you will explore how ‘duty of care’ contributes to safe practices within the workplace and how this affects your own role. You will also discover where to find support to deal with dilemmas regarding duty of care and individuals’ rights, and how to respond to complaints, incidents, near misses and confrontation in line with workplace agreed ways of working.

Standard 4: Equality and diversity

In this unit, you will consider the importance of equality and inclusion, identify ways in which discrimination may occur, and explore how it can be challenged within the workplace. You will demonstrate how to work in ways which respect the beliefs, culture, values and preferences of individuals in your care, and identify legislation regarding equality, diversity and discrimination that applies to your role.

Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way

Here you will discover the importance of using a person-centred approach to care and how to promote dignity when providing support to individuals. You will consider how to take the history, preferences, wishes and needs of individuals into account when planning their present and future care, and how to support an individual to maintain their self-esteem and personal identity. This unit also covers how to respond when others act in a way that causes discomfort or distress to an individual.

Standard 6: Communication

Throughout this unit you will gain an understanding of the importance of communication within the care setting, and how this can affect individuals in your care. You will consider how to observe and be receptive to both verbal and non-verbal communication from individuals, and identify barriers to communication and ways of overcoming them. This unit also covers confidentiality and how this relates to your role.

Standard 7: Privacy and dignity

Within this unit you will identify different situations which may compromise an individual’s privacy and dignity within the care setting, and how to ensure these values are maintained for each person in your care at all times. You will learn about facilitating individuals to make their own choices and supporting them to actively participate in decisions about their own care. This unit also covers how to report any concerns regarding privacy and dignity within the workplace.

Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition

Here you will discover the importance of hydration, nutrition and food safety. You will identify symptoms which indicate poor hydration and nutrition, and how to encourage individuals to meet their fluid and nutritional needs as set out in their care plan.

Standard 9: Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability

Within this unit you will consider how it can feel to live with mental conditions such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, dementia and learning disabilities. You will consider how these conditions impact on the support required for individuals, and how to report concerns regarding unmet needs which arise from mental health conditions in line with agreed ways of working. This unit also explores how positive attitudes to those with mental health conditions can improve the care and support they receive, and the legal frameworks that are in place to support this.

Standard 10: Safeguarding adults

Here you will identify what constitutes abuse and harm as well as your role in safeguarding individuals in your care. You will consider how multi-agency working, promotion of individualised care and risk management can reduce the likelihood of abuse, and how to respond to suspected or disclosed abuse.

Standard 11: Safeguarding children

This unit specifies how the safeguarding of children must be carried out within both health and social care settings, including up-to-date training standards. You will learn how to respond if you suspect a child or young person, whether or not they are under your care, is being abused or neglected.

Standard 12: Basic life support

Within this unit you will demonstrate that you are trained to provide basic life support that is relevant to the individuals in your care and meets current UK guidelines.

Standard 13: Health and safety

Here you will identify the different legislation that relates to health and safety within a health or social care setting, including policies and procedures set out with the employer. You will demonstrate an understanding of your responsibilities in relation to health and safety, and identify how to report risks within the workplace. This unit also covers specific health and safety issues and requirements, including how to move and assist safely, respond to accidents and sudden illness, handle hazardous substances and identify agreed ways of working relating to medication and healthcare tasks. You will also consider how to manage your own health and safety with regard to working securely, and recognising and managing stress.

Standard 14: Handling information

Within this unit you will describe legislation and agreed ways of working regarding the recording, storing and sharing of information, and explain the importance of using and maintaining secure systems. You will explain how to keep accurate and up-to-date records and identify how to respond if you find agreed ways of working have not been followed with regard to handling information.

Standard 15: Infection prevention and control

In this final unit you will describe the ways in which infection can enter the body and how common types of personal protective clothing, equipment and procedures can help to prevent this. You will consider how your own health or hygiene can pose a risk to individuals in your care, and explain how to handle infected or soiled linen and clinical waste in line with the principles of safe waste management. Your training aims to prepare you with a sturdy foundation of knowledge and skills that will enable you to undertake your role with the upmost of care, dedication and excellence.

 [CH1]Sophie, can you check the wording as I’ve lifted these words from elsewhere.