What are CQC regulated services getting right about learning and development?

Rob Hargreaves, Skills for Care’s lead for CQC related guidance and advice, has been looking at how the CQC assessments celebrate learning and development.

Taking a sample of 100 Single Assessment Framework reports published over recent months, there are recurring examples of learning and development that the CQC have rated Good or Outstanding. These are largely found in the “Safe and effective staffing” quality statement, which is commonly looked at if the CQC assess “Safe”.

Here are some ways of working we recommend any adult social care service is prepared to evidence to the CQC:

Induction

• Be ready to demonstrate that your service offers a structured induction, tailored around the individual and ensuring that they are well prepared for their roles.
• For those new to frontline care, this should include completing the Care Certificate, shadowing experienced colleagues, and competency assessments before working independently.
• Be ready to show and tell the CQC how new staff are supported to gain confidence and draw on the help of experienced team members.
• Whether you are recruiting somebody new to sector or a highly experienced care worker, support them to undertake any training needed to meet core and statutory requirements.
• In addition to evidencing the training has been completed, the CQC will want to hear from your team they were satisfied with the quality of the training.

Further development

• Beyond induction, be prepared to showcase how staff are supported through continuous supervision, annual appraisals, and performance monitoring.
• Managers and staff should be ready to explain how a culture of professional development has been embedded within the organisation, with staff encouraged to undertake additional training tailored to the specific needs of the people they supported.
• Show how staff development is effectively resourced and prioritised at your service, including what opportunities there are for staff to sign up for additional qualifications to enhance their skills.
• Outstanding rated services would often go beyond statutory training and qualifications into more innovative ways to develop expertise, such as linking with external experts. Therefore, if you are hoping to achieve the highest ratings, be ready to showcase how you are supporting the development of internal leads on care specific topics.

Also celebrated

• The CQC also celebrated adult social care providers who carefully matched staff skills with the people they support, directing expertise where it was needed. Providers are encouraged to be prepared to show the CQC how this is achieved in the day-to-day delivery of care.
• Regular team meetings ensured staff remained well-informed and provided a platform for knowledge sharing. Therefore, be ready to show how your service promotes multiple learning opportunities beyond training courses.
• Given the demands of the frontline care worker role, being able to demonstrate well-being support, with initiatives such as mental health support and resilience training is also regularly referenced.

The combination of structured induction, ongoing training, and career development opportunities is exactly what the CQC will be looking for. As with any other aspect of CQC assessment, the responsibility rests with you to be able to demonstrate what you do, so review what Skills for Care promotes as good practice and take a look at your current evidence.

Find out more by visiting our Developing your workforce webpage or checking out our GO Online: Inspection toolkit – Safe and effective staffing.

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