Enhancing workplace safety with refresher training in health and social care

In the ever-evolving field of health and social care, it is imperative for staff members to stay updated with the latest knowledge and skills to ensure the safety and well-being of both themselves and the individuals they support. Refresher training plays a pivotal role in addressing these needs, providing staff with the necessary tools to continue working safely.

Refreshment training is often seen as a routine exercise to review or reinforce knowledge and skills. However, it serves various important purposes, in this blog, we will explore the importance of refresher training and highlight the trainer's role in delivering this essential component of workplace safety.

The 8 areas of essential refresher training

Skills for Care outline 8 topics that are required for refresher training in health and social care. Completing the areas that are required, this training is to be completed by staff whose existing qualifications are expiring. These areas are:

• Assisting and moving people: How to move and handle people safely, including those with mobility restrictions.
• Basic life support: The necessary skills for first aid and emergency support in critical situations.
• Fire safety: This training covers fire prevention, evacuation procedures, and general fire safety awareness.
• Food safety: The necessary skills and knowledge for safe food handling and preparation.
• Health and safety awareness: This covers the skills and knowledge for managing risks and hazards in the workplace.
• Infection prevention and control: How to prevent and control the spread of infection and how to implement effective infection control measures in the workplace.
• Medication management: This training covers the necessary skills and knowledge for safely handling and administering medication.
• Safeguarding (specifically around isolation): How to identify and respond to situations where vulnerable individuals may be at risk of abuse or neglect, particularly in situations where they are isolated.

Keeping up with changing practices

One of the primary reasons for refreshing learning is the introduction of new legislation or best practices. As guidelines and regulations evolve, staff members must stay up-to-date and trained in how to apply these changes to their work. This ensures they can effectively navigate legal requirements and deliver care that meets the highest standards.

Addressing new risks

The landscape of health and social care is constantly evolving, with new risks and challenges emerging regularly. Refresher training plays a vital role in equipping staff with the knowledge and skills to mitigate these risks. Whether it's adapting to new equipment, changes in the environment, policy updates, or specific service delivery methods, refresher training ensures that staff are prepared to handle these changes safely and effectively.

Assessing worker competency

Maintaining worker competency is a fundamental aspect of delivering high-quality care. Through refresher training, staff members' skills are regularly monitored and assessed. Feedback is gathered to verify that individuals continue to demonstrate the necessary skills and competence for their roles. This ongoing evaluation helps identify areas for improvement and assures employers that their staff are fully equipped to meet the demands of their roles.

Redeployment and learning needs

When employees are reassigned to different positions, employers must evaluate their learning requirements. If the new position is substantially different from the previous one, additional refresher training may be necessary to assist the person in transitioning successfully. To ensure that their workers are properly prepared for any new obstacles they may face, trainers must recognise the distinctive demands of each job.

Timeframes for refresher training

According to the Skills for Care framework, the frequency of refreshing core and mandatory training should be determined based on the topic. It is recommended that several topics require refreshing every 1 to 3 years. These timeframes help ensure that staff members consistently update their knowledge and skills to meet industry standards.

Managing your refresher training

If you're thinking about becoming a trainer in health and social care or are already involved in training, our train-the-trainer packages can equip you with the necessary skills to create a fully compliant team of care staff. There are an array of benefits to becoming an in-house trainer, such as being able to provide training when a change in the landscape occurs quickly. Our courses can be accessed through our user-friendly learning management system (LMS), which offers full reporting capabilities and can be accessed from any device, anywhere and anytime.

An LMS allows you to evaluate the efficacy of your training and monitor the progress of your learners. However, a complete suite of software is available from The Mandatory Training Group that will help you manage your refresher training and increase the efficiency of your operations. The ComplyPlus CQC Compliance Software will assist you in auditing and storing all your training and compliance documents in one place. Helping you identify when refresher training should be conducted, keeping you updated on the latest legislation and identifying worker competency through reporting functions. The accredited learning management system gives you the necessary tools to improve your compliance rating.

Contact us for more information about the compliance management solutions we offer.

Conclusion

As a trainer, your role in providing refresher training is vital to maintaining a safe and proficient workforce in the health and social care sector. Refresher training is not just a mere repetition of prior learning but an essential component in health and social care. Delivering training ensures that staff members stay up to date with evolving legislation, new risks, and changing best practices. Additionally, using a learning management system (LMS) and compliance management solutions, such as ComplyPlus CQC Compliance Software, enables trainers to manage and monitor their refresher training effectively. By prioritising refresher training, employers can create a culture of ongoing learning and development where staff members are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality care.

Learn more about our train-the-trainer courses here.

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