This is a question that we are often asked by Care Providers that want to ensure they are meeting the expectations of CQC.

It is an answer that is not necessarily the same same for everyone but with helpful guidance provided by Skills for Care we are able to answer.

Refresh periods are typically recommended to be no longer than 1 year or 3 years depending on the subject. However it is important to note that if you identify a need for training during supervision or observation you should refresh their training as soon as possible.

So lets look at a care worker's core and mandatory training subjects to see how often training should be refreshed

Care Certificate – This only ever needs to be completed once for your organisation, no refresher needed!

Yearly updates 

• Manual Handling - People Handling
• First Aid - Basic Life Support
• Medication
• Safeguarding Adults
• Safeguarding Children
• Fire Safety
• Positive Behaviour Support & Non-restrictive Practice

3 yearly updates

• Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
• Deprivation of Liberties Safeguarding (DoLS/LPS)
• Communication
• Dignity
• Person Centred Care
• Autism
• Equality and Diversity
• Oral Health
• Food Safety
• Hydration and Nutrition
• Infection Prevention and Control 
• Health and Safety
• Reporting and Recording

*source – Skills for Care – Core and Mandatory Training doc.

Keeping on top of your staffs' update training can be tricky and it's easy to miss mandatory updates which doesn't look good at inspection time!

Staff Training Matrix on spreadsheets require loads of work to maintain and don't alert you when needed. 

Fortunately your training dashboard on Total Training automatically monitors your staffs' training requirements in line with Skills for Care's recommendations of best practice. At a glance you can see which staff's refresher training is approaching and any that are overdue. We will also send you reminders, so your staff's mandatory training need never slip you by.