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GO Online: Inspection toolkit

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Safe and effective staffing

Safe recruitment practices and staffing levels are fundamental parts of delivering good and outstanding care.

The following film provides a summary of this area of inspection. It can help you and your teams learn about what will be inspected and what is important to demonstrate to deliver good or outstanding care.

Introducing Safe and effective staffing

Duration 02 min 20 sec

Safe and effective staffing is reliant on having enough capable and confident staff to respond to the needs of the people you support.

The CQC inspection focus looks at staffing levels, recruitment practice and how you induct and develop your staff to deliver safe care. It is essential that your service has the right skills mix to meet the care needs of the people you support.

Because poor recruitment practice is a huge risk to your ability to deliver Safe care, the CQC will want to ensure you have robust checks for new staff, including DBS, the following up of references, and checking any previous training.

New staff should be appointed if they have the right values to work in care. Your induction process should provide staff with the opportunity to receive the knowledge, training, and the support they need.

For those staff joining the profession for the first time, ensure that the minimum induction standards are met, including workplace assessment of competence.

More experienced staff should have their learning periodically refreshed. Staff training and assessment should always go beyond the minimum, ideally helping to create subject matter experts or champions. Qualifications and apprenticeships are great ways to build expertise in your service.

Regular supervisions should be provided to all staff regardless of their length of service.

Workforce planning will require your service to people’s changing needs, absences, and other staff rota related issues. Rota systems can help but ensure your managers and staff are trained to use them.

In homecare and community-based services, ensure visits are planned to allow time for all care needs to be met. Contingency plans to maintain service provision will always need to be in place.

In addition to interview and potential observations, inspectors may choose to look at your Dependency tools and a range of documents including:

  • staff rotas
  • staff support, supervision, and disciplinary records
  • staff recruitment and employment records
  • and staff training and induction records, including qualifications.

GO Online brings together recommendations, examples, and resources to help you to recruit and safely staff your service.

Watch the film here:

 

Resources

The practical resources below can help you to strengthen this area of CQC inspection. Use the filter to choose different types of resources or select based on related prompt.

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43 resource(s) found

Resource creator: Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched the learning and development support programme for the financial year 2024 to 2025 which will be administered by NHS-BSA.

Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce.

  • Learning

Date published: September 2024


Leading induction for a positive workplace culture

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This webinar shows managers and leaders that a quality induction doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be planned and considered. Explore practical ideas to support new employees with an effective induction and learn how this helps create a positive workplace culture within your organisation.

  • Film

Date published: June 2024


Induction toolkit

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù has developed an Induction toolkit to help managers plan and deliver a high-quality induction that fully supports new starters to quickly settle into their roles. It offers the opportunity to provide a robust induction to fully support new starters and ensure you create the right first impression. This covers from pre-arrival through to the sixth month of employment - to ensure you are providing a robust and supportive induction.

The Induction toolkit is aimed at helping managers support all staff, regardless of whether they are joining the sector for the first time or they are a highly experienced new team member. The toolkit includes checklists at each stage of the process to provide lists of activities to consider with signposts to resources and templates which you can tailor. It draws heavily on what providers across health and social care tell us works for them.

  • Guide

Date published: May 2024


Using social media for care recruitment

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and LinkMind Media

This series of 11 videos covers various subjects such as the basics of creating content, how to select the right platform for your needs and the range of tools available to help you boost your online presence. There is also a handy pdf covering the essentials of social media. Learn how to recruit using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc.

  • Film

Date published: April 2024


Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This guide outlines the barriers, success factors and key principles for recruiting these groups into the sector. It explores how we can more effectively engage with men and young people.

  • Guide

Date published: April 2024


Workforce Development Fund (WDF)

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù WDF has enabled adult social care providers to claim back money towards the costs of workers completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules.

With the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) new Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund launching in summer 2024, ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù's WDF will come to a close.  The final year of the WDF will cover a limited number of qualifications and apprenticeships that commenced before 01 April 2024 and are completed by 31 March 2025.

  • Learning

Date published: April 2024


Safer employment

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

Discover how implementing safer employment practices can enable you to create fairer, safer, and more inclusive workplace cultures for people who draw on care and support, and for staff and volunteers to work in.

This online toolkit enables you to consider the key stages of safer employment processes including:

  • Planning to recruit
  • Recruitment and vetting
  • Induction and probation
  • Supervision and management
  • Identifying and managing concerns
  • Managing leavers and referring information
  • Guide

Date published: April 2024


Digital skills eLearning modules

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and NHS Transformation Directorate

This is a suite of free-to-access ‘bitesize’ digital skills eLearning modules, in line with the Digital Skills Framework. The modules are designed to support people working in adult social care to gain knowledge and understanding on how digital, data and technology is used in the sector. The titles and themes of these seven modules are:

  • using technology to support person-centred care
  • technical skills in using technology
  • communicating through technology
  • using and managing data
  • being safe and secure online
  • ethical use of technology
  • digital learning, development and wellbeing.
  • Learning

Date published: April 2024


International recruitment

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

International recruitment is a great way to find skilled and diverse workers, but employers often tell us they have trouble navigating the legalities of recruiting internationally.

²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù has compiled a wide range of guidance and advice from other organisations, helping adult social care providers to understand the process to follow. This includes a comprehensive toolkit that showcases good practice and key considerations to ensure this is a positive experience for your service and the people you recruit.

  • Website

Date published: March 2024


DBS bite-sized videos

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and Disclosure and Barring Service

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are an essential tool when recruiting safely and fairly. We’ve published a series of short videos, delivered by the DBS outreach team, to guide employers through how the process works and what to do if a DBS check takes longer than expected.

  • Film

Date published: October 2023


Resource creator: DHSC

The Department of Health and Social Care’s national adult social care recruitment campaign aims to support adult social care employers to recruit the dedicated staff you need to fill your vacancies.

To accompany the campaign, a suite of new, free resources has been created to help you advertise your job opportunities locally.  The campaign raises awareness of the rewarding nature of care work and tackles the concerns that research shows potential applicants may have.

  • Guide

Date published: October 2023


Values-based recruitment toolkit

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This evidence-based toolkit provides information, activities, resources and case studies to enable you to utilise values-based recruitment methods and strengthen your workforce. It maps out a step-by-step approach to develop and implement effective values-based recruitment and retention.

  • Website

Date published: September 2023


The importance of references in social care

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This blog from recruitment expert Dominic Headley, draws insight from his specialist consultancy providing training and advice to employers to support safeguarding and safe and fair recruitment, to find out more about how to gain and provide effective references and why this is so important in the social care sector.

Date published: September 2023


Qualifications

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

Qualifications can play an important role in learning and development, and there are a wide variety available within adult social care - from diplomas to smaller awards and certificates which are more focused on specific topics.

We recommend a wide range of vocational qualifications to support services to develop staff further, many of which can be partially funded via our Workforce Development Fund. The qualifications include:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Care
  • Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care
  • Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care
  • Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care
  • Level 5 Diploma in Leadership Management for Adult Care.

In addition to the diplomas, there are a range of smaller awards and certificates that can be used to build specialisms across your staff team.

If you’re looking for expert learning providers to help you to deliver qualifications, our endorsed list can help.

  • Learning

Date published: July 2023


Apprenticeships

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

Apprenticeships are a way of developing new staff and providing new skills for existing staff by studying and learning through work. The ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù website lists the recommended apprenticeships available for those working in adult social care, including:

  • Adult Care Worker (level 2)
  • Lead Adult Care Worker (level 3)
  • The Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (level 4)
  • Leader in Adult Care (level 5)
  • Nursing Associate (level 5)
  • Social Work (level 6)
  • Occupational Therapist (level 6)
  • Physiotherapist (level 6)
  • Registered Nurse (level 6).

Whilst we don’t arrange the apprenticeship, our website provides an overview of the process and associated funding. If you’re looking for a learning provider to support you to deliver apprenticeships, our endorsed list can help.

  • Learning

Date published: July 2023


Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù and University of York

Values-based recruitment is essential to ensuring you employ a compassionate, person-centred workforce that is committed to providing quality care. It can be tricky to know how to assess a candidate’s values and whether they align with those of your organisation.

²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù has worked with social care experts at University of York to create ‘Curious about Care’, a free evidence-based tool that can be used as part of your recruitment process. It allows you to explore different scenarios with a candidate to better understand their values, helping you assess if they are a good fit for your organisation.

  • Website

Date published: May 2023


Endorsed learning providers

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

A range of Infection, prevention and control related training is available to purchase from ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù’s Endorsed learning providers.

You can search for quality learning across different parts of the country and find courses to meet your staff needs.

  • Learning

Date published: April 2023


Top tips for adult social care workforce retention

Resource creator: Partners in Care and ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

One of the biggest challenges faced by care providers is keeping staff. This online guide, produced by Partners in Care and Health and ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù in conjunction with councils and care providers, shares top tips, resources and case studies to give you ideas and inspiration to help you retain staff.

  • Website

Date published: February 2023


Resource creator: Better Hiring Institute

This Better Hiring Toolkit provides simple guidance to support you to both obtain and provide effective references and conduct information.  

At the heart of the Toolkit is the safety of the people who employers are entrusted to care for and the staff who carry out this role. Those responsible for recruiting or supervising staff or volunteers, have an obligation to conduct a safe and fair recruitment process and ensure that pre-employment checks are robust so that your organisation safeguards the people being supported.

The Better Hiring Toolkit for Care is free to use and has handy templates throughout for you to use within your organisation.

  • Guide
  • Template

Date published: January 2023


Resource creator: ACAS

With over one-quarter of employers reporting an increase in staff absences, it’s crucial for businesses to know how to manage sickness absence effectively, because failure to do so can have a detrimental effect on business.

ACAS has developed guidance that offers tips on how best to handle sickness absence and how to better support employees during their illness and upon their return to work.

Date published: November 2022


Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù, Health Education England and DHSC

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training aims to provide the health and care workforce with the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability.

  • Guide

Date published: October 2022


Resource creator: ACAS

By law, your employer must pay a minimum amount on average for the hours you work.

This is called the:
• National Living Wage (NLW) if you're aged 23 or over
• National Minimum Wage (NMW) if you're aged under 23 or an apprentice

This article details:
• Current rates
• Rates from 1 April 2023
• Who gets the apprentice rate

  • Website

Date published: July 2022


Maximising retention: webinars and resources

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

In partnership with Neil Eastwood, Founder and CEO of Care Friends and author of ‘Saving Social Care’, this webinar shares sector expertise around maximising the retention of your staff. Discover top tips and innovative solutions for staff retention and lots of useful practical ideas from other managers.

The webinar shares learning and best practice from frontline managers and is complemented by recommended resources.

  • Film

Date published: March 2022


Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS)

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

The Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) helps you to support and develop your staff by providing access to funding. An up-to-date account makes you eligible for claiming the Workforce Development Fund, a valuable source of funding for staff training which supported over 18,000 learning opportunities in 2020-21. It also gives you access to the free essential training programmes to upskill your staff knowledge in vital topics relevant to providing care.

ASC-WDS allows you to benchmark your workplace against similar providers on workforce metrics such as pay, turnover, staff sickness and qualifications. These insights can help you to drive improvement and decision-making across your organisation.

Other benefits include safe and free storage of staff and training records, and discounts across ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù’s products and training from endorsed learning providers. You’re also contributing to the voice of social care. ASC-WDS provides the leading source of intelligence to the government, the CQC and others, so they can make informed decisions on policy and planning.

  • Learning

Date published: November 2021


Funded recruitment and development initiatives

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This provides an overview of the government-funded opportunities available to help adult social care employers to recruit. It includes:

  • apprenticeships
  • traineeships
  • kickstart programmes.
  • Website

Date published: April 2021


Nurse recruitment

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This website provides information and advice to support nurse recruitment and development. It covers a range of different nursing expertise and associated initiatives to support your service, including:

  • registered nurses
  • nurse associates
  • nurse leaders
  • return to practice.
  • Website

Date published: April 2021


Recruiting young workers

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This short guide can help if you recruit young workers. It covers what you need to arrange if you employ staff under 18 years to work at your service and outlines the benefits for employers. 

  • Guide

Date published: December 2020


Widen your talent pool

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù

This guidance advises how you can attract a diverse range of candidates for your roles and hire people previously underrepresented in your workforce. Including: 

  • Recruiting temporary staff
  • Employing people with criminal records
  • Employing people with disabilities
  • Employing 16-17 year olds
  • Guide

Date published: December 2020


Tailoring the Care Certificate

Resource creator: ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù, Skills for Health, Health Education England

The ‘tailoring the Care Certificate’ resources have been developed to support workers in achieving the minimum standards of the Care Certificate in job roles where more specialist skills are needed. They can be used for workers who are new to care, or who are moving from one area of care into a more specialised service.

As well as being used by the learner, they can also be used by the trainer and assessor or to enhance existing Care Certificate delivery and assessment. They aren’t a mandatory resource and don’t replace any aspects or content of the Care Certificate.

  • Guide
  • Learning

Date published: April 2020


Resource creator: Care Friends

Finding the right quality of care staff is a major challenge. Employee referral programmes are the proven best source, but they’re a hassle to administer and fiendishly hard to keep top-of-mind with staff. As a result, they only deliver a fraction of their true potential.

Care Friends is an app developed by Neil Eastwood, author of Saving Social Care, and launched in partnership with ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù, that aims to change that.

Date published: April 2020



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