CSTF Statutory and Mandatory Training Courses for Health & Social Care
The Skills Platform lists a wide range of mandatory training courses which are suitable for NHS workers such as nurses, doctors and dentists. These training courses are also beneficial to care staff working in the social care setting such as a CQC registered care home or domiciliary care agency. We often get asked “What is the difference between mandatory and statutory training?” - Mandatory training differs from statutory training as they are usually made compulsory by the organisation to ensure their employees are competent to reduce risks, follow guidelines and comply with their policies. Statutory training is required by law or a statutory body such as the Care Quality Commission has instructed the organisation to carry the training to meet legislative requirements. Read our in-depth article for more details.
Organisations such as the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) are the regulators in the healthcare sector for doctors and nurses. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has provided guidance on the differences between mandatory and statutory training. Mandatory training requirements may vary depending on the job role and specific responsibilities of the employee.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) can take regulatory action if health and social care providers do not meet the Regulation 18 requirements. It states that staff must receive support, training and personal development necessary for them to carry out their job role. Employees that have completed mandatory training course previously should undertake annual updates or refresher training to ensure they have the knowledge and understanding of changes in legislation and directives. Annual refresher training intervals will vary depending on the organisational requirements.
Skills for Health have created the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) for healthcare employers which provides guidance, mapping tools and learning outcomes to improve quality, reduce costs, track progress, consistency and standardisation of training.
Mandatory training can be delivered to a group in a classroom environment such as a training centre by an experienced trainer which will cover both the theory and practical elements. Alternatively, you can purchase an online eLearning bundle which starts from around £50 per person, this would be suitable for individuals that need to learn the theory elements. You should always assess your employees including their training needs, learning styles and identify skills gaps which will help you choose the most suitable delivery method.
In most cases these courses provide an all in one solution, providing an overview of all the core essentials such as health and safety,, safeguarding training, equality and diversity, moving & handling, fire safety and conflict resolution.
