Homecare training for care workers and domiciliary care management
All of our homecare staff attend our detailed domiciliary care induction programmes and their ongoing progress is evaluated through regular mentoring and appraisals. Annual training updates are compulsory for all staff.
For our care workers our training programme includes:
- Health and Safety Act 1974
- RIDDOR/COSHH
- Food hygiene
- Personal care
- Back care
- Communication
- Bereavement
- Record keeping
- Challenging behaviour
- Confidentiality/data protection
- Moving and positioning
- Fire safety
- Beliefs and preferences
- Emergency first aid
- Specialist training (where applicable)
- Planning for outcomes
- Medication
Every care worker spends time shadowing more experienced colleagues and is fully supported by the branch and management teams. All our care workers are subject to competency testing as part of this process to make sure that everybody has the necessary technical skills to deliver top quality homecare.
Following induction and initial training, all carers are encouraged to undertake further qualifications and, wherever possible, are provided with opportunities to extend their studies. In addition, all staff are continually assessed during regular supervision sessions with their line manager.
All our managers are carefully selected, against rigorous selection frameworks, and are subject to both standard and bespoke induction processes. Learning is supplemented through embedded management development frameworks and nationally recognised qualifications. All our managers are expected to continue to develop professionally, supported by our performance and personal development planning processes.
In addition, we work to make Care UK as good an employer as we can. Initiatives to support this include our ongoing comprehensive communications programme, which is designed to facilitate staff engagement and the establishment of our equality and diversity steering group which works to ensure that everyone – employee and service user - is made to feel part of the Care UK homecare family.
In 2010, OFSTED inspectors rated the effectiveness of Care UK's learning and development programme as good. According to the subsequent OFSTED report:
"Care UK directors and managers set a clear strategic vision. This vision is fully shared by the staff and managers at all levels. The company has strong values and a positive learning culture that encourages everyone to contribute to improving the quality of care."
Some highlights of the report included Care UK's Train to Gain and Skills for Life:
Train to Gain
"Success rates on the Train to Gain programme in health and social care are high...currently, 2009/10 success rates are at 93 per cent."
OFSTED, 2010
Skills for Life
"Success rates on the Skills for Life programmes (are) good. Success rates in the agreed time doubled to 80 per cent in 2008/9 and this has been maintained this year."
OFSTED, 2010
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