Training and Development Policy

INTRODUCTION 

BC Care is committed to ensuring that all staff have the relevant knowledge, skills and expertise to perform their work to consistently high standards and to develop their potential. BC Care recognises that the training and development (T&D) of our staff is fundamental to improving our performance and achieving our 5-year strategy and goals. Therefore, we will make T&D an integral part of our operations and follow a continuous process of appraisal, coaching and development.

Aims

This policy is intended to set out the values, principles and policies underpinning BC Care approach to staff Training and Induction training.

Principles

BC Care understands induction training to refer to the initial training given to new members of staff to orientate them to the job and the workplace, to get them up and running in their role and to ensure that they are working safely and competently as soon as possible. BC Care believes that a planned programme for the induction, training and development of new staff is essential to ensure good practice and the provision of a high-quality service. BC Care believes that without induction training new staff will be unclear as to BC Care objectives and values and the precise natures of their jobs.

BC Care adheres fully to national care standards that require care providers to make sure that service users’ individual and joint needs are met by appropriately trained staff. Induction training is an important part of BC Care staff development and training strategy.

BC Care induction programme is developed in line with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Skills for Care guidance. Full training records are kept and the CQC also inspects BC Care against the national training standards.

Policy Statement

All new staff receives an initial induction that covers the following issues.

Training in person-centred care that includes:

1. values and principles of care, eg the importance of treating people with respect, keeping their dignity, privacy, consent and confidentiality

2. safe moving, lifting, repositioning and transferring of service users

3. safe working practices relating to such as hand washing for the purposes of infection control and food hygiene (particularly where care staff are involved in the preparation and serving of food) and other key health and safety matters (eg fire safety in care homes)

4. safeguarding of vulnerable people from abuse and harm, duty of care and whistleblowing

5. introduction to assessing and managing risks to personal safety (service users and staff)

6. safe use of medicines

7. requirements for recording and reporting including accidents, mistakes and errors

8. handling concerns and complaints

9. the support and the safety arrangements where they are required to work alone

10. practical matters.

Induction training covers all of BC Care key policies and procedures that relate to service users’ care, welfare, protection and safety and all those that relate to staff health and safety.

All staff who are new to care work receive a further structured training programme within 12 weeks of their starting in order to achieve the Care Certificate, which will allow them to work unsupervised as full members of the staff team.

On appointment, staff will be issued a copy of the induction standards to be achieved and a workbook in which they can record progress. Progress towards completion will be discussed weekly or no more than fortnightly with a designated supervisor, who will be a senior or experienced staff member. On completion the training record will be signed off by the registered manager and the person will be awarded a certificate of completion.

“Safe to Leave” Policy

A key outcome of induction, which is reinforced by the Care Certificate requirements, is that the new worker is “safe to leave”, ie is able to work without immediate supervision as a full member of the staff team.

The manager is responsible for determining when a new worker is “safe to leave”. Accordingly, the manager might need to make a risk assessment of an individual’s capabilities in relation to the specific tasks they are required to carry out in their job role.

BC Care recognises that staff need close supervision and support throughout the induction period. Before any new staff member is allowed to work on their own or with relatively inexperienced colleagues, BC Care carries out a full assessment of their competence to do so, which includes an assessment of any risks arising as a result of their working unsupervised.

It is possible under the Care Certificate for staff to be signed off for specific standards, which will then allow the person to work unsupervised on the corresponding tasks rather than have to wait to complete the whole certificate to be deemed “safe to leave”.

Trainees and apprentices are provided with continuous support and supervision in line with the terms agreed for their traineeships or apprenticeships.

All new staff, whether or not employed in care roles, new managers and any volunteers receive appropriate induction training in line with their roles, responsibilities and contributions.

Induction training is the responsibility of the Service Manager

The Training and Development Policy, Appraisal Procedure, Induction Policy and Staff Supervision Agreement set out the detail and activities related to monitoring staff performance. All the above and other related Human Resources policies and procedures can be accessed in The BC Care Handbook.