As you know, the Care Certificate consists of a minimum of 15 standards that every new care worker should be trained on as part of their induction. And in 2022/23, 65% of new care workers engaged with the Care Certificate, according to Skills for Care.
But of course, the list of potential training and development opportunities is practically endless for anyone looking to develop a career in the care sector. Things like increasing demand for care, rising numbers of clients with complex needs and multiple conditions or changing compliance frameworks are just a few reasons why training and development prospects in social care are so extensive.
In this article, we’re looking into exactly why training and development in social care is so vital for care delivery, and how software can offer a helping hand when managing all these opportunities.
7 reasons why training and development is so vital in social care
1. Career progression
Career progression is a very real prospect in social care; you may well have moved up the ladder yourself to get in your own care role. And according to Skills for Care, more than half (56%) of all registered care managers have a qualification at Level 5 or above.
Having the opportunity to develop both professional and personal skills can give your teams a stronger sense of career progression with your service, boosting retention and overall employee satisfaction. A key benefit for providers who may be struggling with high turnover rates.
2. Employee morale and retention
Offering training and development opportunities can be a key factor in keeping morale high, particularly in a sector like social care, where stress and burnout can be a frequent challenge.
Plus, keeping your dedicated team members on board is vital for providing high-quality and timely care, with research showing that staff with relevant social care qualifications are less likely to leave their roles. Skills for Care found that in 2022/23, around 26.5% of care workers who had relevant social care qualification left within the first 12 months, compared to 37% of those who didn’t have a relevant qualification.
3. Keeping up with changes
You’ll be only too aware just how much the care sector has evolved in recent years; a couple of examples being rapid digitisation and changing compliance frameworks. And these changes can often mean updated training or certifications are needed in order to stay competitive and compliant.
And when your staff are equipped to face these adaptations, they become more responsive and resilient to the everyday demands of care delivery. That means keeping up with both the needs of your regulatory body and the growing needs of our population.
4. Empowerment and engagement
Of course, by investing in your teams through training and development opportunities, you promote a culture of empowerment by providing the tools they need to deliver high-quality care so they can continue doing the best they can every single day.
And because of this empowerment, your teams will likely be more engaged with your service, boosting both job satisfaction and retention.
5. Care quality
One of the most important benefits of training and development is the ability to improve care quality. Updated training equips your care workers with the skills they need to deliver high-quality care. This focus on continuous improvement elevates the standard of care provided, positively affecting the lives of those you support.
Plus, when your teams are adequately trained on the software they use, the care they deliver and the soft skills they draw upon, there will likely be fewer errors being made, with potential risks being avoided as they are better prepared to deliver and respond to the critical needs of your service.
6. Regulatory compliance
As you know, there are multiple types of mandatory training your teams must complete to be compliant with your regulatory body. There may also be training for specialised support your care workers provide, such as for complex care. Being up-to-date with these different training modules is vital for being compliant with your regulatory standards.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) for instance state as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 12 that, ‘Providers must assess the risks to people's health and safety during any care or treatment and make sure that staff have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience to keep people safe.’
7. Reputation
Being able to offer various training and development opportunities can help put your service in a positive light, both for any potential clients and new employees.
Training opportunities can help improve the quality of care you provide, having the potential to boost the number of new enquiries you receive or even your inspection rating. As well as this, your teams job satisfaction may improve, helping you retain your hardworking staff whilst attracting others to apply to vacant positions.
How Care Cloud helps care providers manage training and development
Our DSCR Assured care business management solution – Care Cloud, provides total visibility of your training and development opportunities, allowing you to seamlessly add these vital sessions to the roster so you don’t find yourself turning to expensive agencies to fill gaps in the schedule.
Care Cloud can show you when mandatory and non-mandatory training needs to be renewed, so you can optimise the plan for sessions or shadowing, so your staff are always up-to-date and compliant.
Find out exactly how Care Cloud can meet your organisation’s needs today.