Overview of Mandatory Training Requirements in England
The following summarises the training requirements required or implied by different legislation as applied to care homes and domiciliary care services (as applicable where indicated).
| Subject | Legislation/Regulations/Code of Practice | Training requirements | Training provision indicated |
| Induction training (applies to all services) | See Skills for Care Code of Conduct for Health and Social Care Workers in England together with the Care Certificate Framework | All care staff new to care work must achieve the standards set out in the Care Certificate Framework. New and current staff who have achieved the Common Induction standards should check that they are competent against the Care Certificate standards and meet any shortfalls | See Skills for Care website for detailed guidance. Note: Much of the health and safety and safeguarding training requirements listed below can be carried out at induction in line with the Care Certificate standards |
| Safe Administration of Medicines and Drugs (applies to all services) | Medicines Act 1969, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Guidance (2018). NICE Managing Medicines in Care Homes (2014) and NICE Managing Medicines for Adults Receiving Social Care in the Community (2017) | Care staff need to be always competent through training to carry out any aspect of medicines support for which they are responsible | Basic level training should be “accredited” by an approved training provider/assessor. Training should be updated in line with NICE guidelines |
| Safeguarding (applies to all services) | Care Act 2014 and the “fundamental standards” regulations — see regulation 13 and Care Certificate standard 10 Safeguarding Adults | Safeguarding training should be “mandatory”, and follow local safeguarding policies and guidance. An essential part of all induction training | A variety of approaches can be used including e-Learning and use of local safeguarding training resources |
| Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) (applies to all services) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) (care homes). | MCA 2005 and Code of Practice. DoLS and Code of Practice (2009) | All staff should know about MCA best interest procedures and Deprivation of Liberty/Court of Protection authorisations; linked to local policies and procedures | Ample resources available for basic MCA and DoLS training. Local safeguarding authorities should also have guidance on local procedures |
| Training in Learning Disability and Autism | Health and Social Care Act 2022 | All staff should know how to interact appropriately with a person with a learning disability and autism and understand their needs in line with their roles | Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training resources can be accessed via Skills for Care and the Health Education England’s e-learning website. (See also People with Learning Disabilities: Meeting their Care and Support Needs topic. |
| Understanding specific needs, eg ageing/dementia care/learning disabilities/mental health | All care staff should have an introduction to the needs of the people for whom they are caring in line with Care Certificate standard 9. All staff must now know how to relate appropriately to a person with a learning disability and autism (see above). | The training focus will depend on the nature of the care service, eg as for older people, people with disabilities, etc | Basic training should be in induction programmes linked to person-centred care issues and developed in line with service needs |
| Fire safety (applies to care homes and all non-domestic premises such as domiciliary care offices) | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales) | Section 21 imposes a duty to provide fire safety training to all staff, to repeat training regularly and to keep it up to date | Training can be done with a competent in-house trainer or an external training provider and advice from local fire rescue service. There should be regular fire safety checks and drills, including for possible evacuation |
| Manual handling (all services) | Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (UK) | Staff must receive adequate instruction, training and supervision as part of employers’ responsibilities to reduce risks to injury in the workplace. HSE guidelines should be followed | Training can be done with a competent in-house trainer or an external training provider. Subject included in vocational qualifications. Refresher training should be carried out where there are questions about staff competence and new risks are identified |
| Infection prevention and control (applies to care homes specifically and domiciliary care as part of compliance with general health and safety measures) | See Department of Health Code of Practice on Infection Control, fundamental standards 12 (all services) and 15 (care homes) and Care Certificate standard 15 | All staff to have training in basic infection control policies and measures and specialised training as needed in, eg relating to Covid-19 | To be included in induction programmes and refreshed, eg annually as needed from infection control audits, risk assessments and training needs assessments |
| Food handling and hygiene (applies to care homes and other services where applicable) | Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 (England and Wales) | All food handlers must receive adequate instruction, supervision and training in food hygiene. Employers decide how best this is achieved | Training can be done with a competent in-house trainer or an external training provider. Food hygiene training can be accredited by the Royal Institute for Public Health and other awarding bodies |
| COSHH and waste disposal (applies to care homes mainly but applicable to domiciliary care as part of health and safety compliance) | Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1994 (UK) | As with manual handling, staff training is an implication of being required to have a COSHH policy and procedures. Employers have a duty to inform, supervise and train their staff in all aspects of the policy | Training can be done with a competent in-house trainer or an external training provider. Subject should be part of induction and developed in line with roles through the qualifications framework |
| First aid (applies to all services and businesses) | Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 (UK) | Employers are required to ensure adequate first-aid facilities available | First aiders where appointed should receive appropriate accredited training. All staff at least need in-house induction training in responding to accidents and emergencies |
| Safe use of displays and equipment (applies to all services and businesses) | The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (UK) | Requires competent persons to ensure safe use of equipment and to instruct employees in safe use; also, a competent person to carry out eye tests — applies to anyone using IT devices | The “competent” persons need training in the roles, if an external “inspector” is not used to make the necessary checks. All staff involved in the use of the equipment should receive some basic instruction in the requirements from induction onwards |
| Portable electric appliance testing (applies to care homes, but also in domiciliary care business premises) | Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (UK) | Requires a competent person to check all electrical items and equipment including appliance used by residents; implies competent person is trained in the role | The “competent” persons need training in the roles, if an external “inspector” is not used to make the necessary checks. All staff involved in the use of the equipment should receive some basic instruction in the requirements from induction onwards |
