What is "Mandatory Training" for Health & Social Care? "Mandatory Training" Definition.

Here at The Mandatory Training Group, we receive numerous enquiries from health and social care providers across the UK. In most cases, health and social care organisations are looking to see how they can comply with Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance requirements. Quite often, providers are unsure about what exactly what is expected of them and which training courses they should provide their staff to meet the mandatory training requirements. In this short article, I will define mandatory training in the context of healthcare and social care and also answer frequently asked questions. 

Defining "mandatory training"

So let's start with the definitions. What is mandatory training in the context of health and social care?

What is mandatory training?

Which training courses are mandatory for health & social care?

There is no specific list of mandatory training courses for health and social care organisations. However, mandatory training might include the following courses: 

• Infection prevention and control
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Safeguarding children
• Safeguarding adults at risk
• Raising concerns and whistleblowing 
• Blood transfusion processes
• Clinical record keeping
• Documentation and record keeping
• Conflict resolution
• Managing violence and aggression
• Complaints handling
• Consent training for health and social care
• Display and screen equipment (DSE)
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Eliminating bullying and harassment
• Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations
• Hand washing and hand hygiene
• Information governance (data security awareness)
• Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
• Safe handling of medicines (minimising drug errors)
• Medical devices
• Slips, trips and falls
• Resuscitation, including: 
• Anaphylaxis
• Basic life support
• Safe use of the automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE) awareness.

What is statutory training?

Statutory training is the training that is usually required by law or where a statutory body has instructed an organisation to provide training on the basis of specific legislation. Examples of such legislation include the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Health and social care employers often describe both types of training as ‘essential training’ or ‘compulsory training', and sometimes 'statutory.mandatory training. This training helps to keep health and social care staff up to date with latest legislation, guidance and best practice. It also ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to maintain a healthy and safe working environment for themselves, their colleagues and patients/service users. 

Which training courses are statutory for health & social care?

In NHS Trusts and other health and social care organisations, all new staff are required to undertake induction training covering the core health and safety awareness and training courses. Statutory training usually includes the following courses:

• Health and safety at work including and awareness of:
• Local health & safety policies and procedures
• Basic risk assessment awareness (including clinical risk assessment)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations
• When and how to report injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences (RIDDOR regulations)
• Fire safety awareness training, including evacuation procedures
• Manual handling training of objects
• Safe moving and handling of people.

What is the difference between mandatory & statutory training?

There is often some confusion regarding the difference between statutory and mandatory training. NHS Trusts and other providers have a responsibility to provide various statutory and mandatory training and also to ensure that their staff attend. Statutory training is required to ensure that the organisations meet their legislative duties. Mandatory training is the training deemed essential to minimise organisational risk and maintain safe working practice. Throughout this article, I will use the term 'mandatory training' to cover both mandatory and statutory training. 

Employee mandatory induction training courses

Whenever new health and social care workers start a new job, they should attend an induction programme. Induction training for new staff should ideally be completed within the first month of starting work and should (in most cases) cover statutory and mandatory training modules. The remaining mandatory and statutory training courses should be completed within the first year of employment. Employers should check and ensure that all staff have completed the appropriate mandatory training courses.

Employment contracts for health and social care professionals usually state that they have a responsibility to complete statutory and mandatory training. In addition, professional organisations such as the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) also require doctors, nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) to attend mandatory training and any other relevant training courses as part of their professional registration.

Do I get paid for attending mandatory training?

All health and social care workers have a responsibility to attend/complete mandatory training. In general, mandatory training or any other work-related training should be completed during work time. Where employers ask their staff to complete or attend mandatory training in their own time or on their days off, they should be compensated with equivalent time off. This also applies to those staff who work night shifts, weekend or other unsocial hours. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that all staff have been allocated enough time to attend mandatory training courses. 

All work-related training should be counted as 'working time' under the Working Time Regulations 1998. As such, hours spend in training should be included in the weekly/monthly hours. 

Mandatory training refresher and updates

All health and social care staff are usually required to attend mandatory training updates or 'mandatory training refresher courses' in line with their specific roles and organisational requirements. Our Support Team receives many enquiries from organisations asking how often nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals should complete mandatory refresher courses. 

The Skills for Health Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) for Statutory/Mandatory Training provides extensive guidance for mandatory training intervals. Click on the link below to read our comprehensive article on mandatory training refresher courses:

CSTF Statutory/Mandatory Induction Training & Refresher Intervals

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not set specific requirements or lists of mandatory training courses that should be completed nor the intervals for such training. However, CQC does provide guidance on the training courses that they expect health and social care staff to complete as part of their inspection regimen. Click on the link below to read our detailed article listing these mandatory training courses:

Mandatory Health & Social Care Training Courses & Programs

Professional health and social care organisations such as the HCPC, NMC and GMC do not set specific requirements regarding how often mandatory training must be undertaken or completed by nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals. However, they require all their registrants to keep up to date with mandatory and other training requirements. All health and social care staff should also keep up to date with current best practice and remain competent in all aspects of their role. In addition, staff should also follow local policies and procedures as part of their contractual obligations. 

Employer obligations for mandatory training

There are a number of training frameworks covering healthcare mandatory training, including the Skills for Health's UK Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF), NHS risk management standards, NHS standards for better health and the Care Quality Commission regulatory framework. 

In general, these mandatory training frameworks tend to vary depending on:

• Workforce and service user needs
• Workplace hazards and environmental risks
• Standards set by insurers
• Corporate and clinical governance frameworks
• National legislative and regulatory requirements
• Equality and diversity considerations.

What does "mandatory training" mean in the context of revalidation for doctors and nurses?

Let's recap on the mandatory training definition, We defined mandatory training as the training that an organisation determines is essential for safe and efficient practice and in order to reduce organisational risks and comply with policies, government guidelines and regulatory frameworks.

Mandatory training is different from statutory training, which relates to compliance with the law. However, in some cases, mandatory training may be required to comply with certain aspects of the law. Sources of mandatory training include local commissioning contracts (e.g. PMS/GMS contracts) and professional organisations such as the GMC, NMC and HCPC among others. 

The NMC and GMC provide guidance to nurses and doctors regarding standards for revalidation. See the GMC and NMC guidance for nurses and doctors' revalidation below:

Revalidation: CPD | The Nursing and Midwifery Council - NMC

Continuing Professional Development - GMC Revalidation

The Nursing and Midwifery Council Revalidation & Mandatory Training

The NMC requires nurses to undertake 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) training courses that are relevant to their scope of practice as a nurse or midwife in the three year period since their registration was last renewed, or when they joined the NMC register. Of those 35 hours of CPD, at least 20 must have included participatory learning.

Equality and diversity considerations for mandatory training

The Equality Act 2010 places a responsibility on all employers to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promote equal opportunities amongst all their employees. In practice, this means when designing and delivering statutory and mandatory training, employers should consider those protected under the Act. Employer should consider the necessary adjustments that can be made for staff with a disabilities. Examples of such adjustments include employers ensuring that the locations and delivery of training are accessible and suitable for all staff. In addition, the employer should also remove any physical barriers, and/or provide appropriate training equipment or aids where required.      

The Equality Act 2010 places a responsibility on all employers to ensure that any training policies and practices do not disadvantage or negatively impact on protected groups. Examples of such practices include an employer arranging mandatory training courses only on certain days of the week that might prevent employees with religious beliefs or faith from attending. Those who share a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and are experiencing discrimination should discuss with their line managers or Human Resource department for support. 

See the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) publication for more information:

Your rights to equality at work: training, development, promotion and transfer (EHRC, 2011). 

if you are based in Northern Ireland, see: 

Equality Commission Northern Ireland. 

Mandatory training for locum, agency and bank temporary workers

Healthcare professionals working with NHS Professionals, locum and recruitment agencies will have contracts that outline their rights to assess statutory and mandatory training to ensure that they stay up to date. All locum and agency workers should complete similar mandatory training courses to permanent members of staff including:

• Data security awareness
• Health and safety at work
• Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)
• Fire safety awareness
• Infection prevention and control
• People moving and handling
• Manual handling of objects
• Conflict resolution
• Lone working awarenes
• Safeguarding adults at risk
• Safeguarding children and young children.

Unlike permanent members of staff, locum, bank and agency workers do not have the statutory right to request ‘time to train’ or paid time off to study.

Additional training for agency, locum and bank workers

In most cases, locum and recruitment agencies provide statutory and mandatory training to agency and bank workers. However, they usually have to self-fund any further career development training courses. The Mandatory Training Group offer free mandatory training courses for NHS Professionals, agency nurses & agency workers, temporary and bank staff. Click on the link below to access our free online training courses:

Free statutory & mandatory training courses for locum and agency workers

The Mandatory Training Group also offers a wide range of continuing professional development (CPD) training courses including leadership and management, train the trainer and IT skills among many others. Click on the link below to see our full listing of CPD accredited courses, training programs and Ofqual approved qualifications:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, programs & qualifications

Which mandatory training courses are available?

The Mandatory Training Group has developed mandatory training courses for NHS Trusts, private health and social care providers, care homes, locum agencies, nursing and care agencies. The statutory and mandatory training courses covered include the following training modules:

• Health and Safety at Work
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
• Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
• Information Governance + Data Safety Awareness
• Fire Safety Awareness 
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Food Hygiene/Food Safety Awareness
• Manual Handling of Objects
• People Moving and Handling 
• Resuscitation including Basic Life Support, CPR & AED Training Courses
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights
• Safeguarding Adults at Risk
• Safeguarding Children 
• Conflict Management/NHS Conflict Resolution
• Lone Working Awareness 

Mandatory training requirements will differ between organisations. We recommend that you carry out needs assessment to establish the mandatory training courses to ensure that your staff deliver safe and effective care to patients and service users.

Online Mandatory Training Packages for Health & Social Care Staff

See our full listing of online statutory and mandatory training courses for health and social care professionals.

Classroom Mandatory Training Courses for Health & Social Care Providers

The Mandatory Training Group provides a wide range of onsite statutory and mandatory training courses. Contact our Support Team on 024 7610 0090 or via Email to discuss your statutory and mandatory training requirements.

Free Mandatory Training Courses for Health & Social Care Workers

The Mandatory Training group lists a number of free statutory and mandatory training courses including free care certificate courses, free career development courses and all levels of Microsoft Office training courses and programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mandatory Training

Here at The Mandatory Training Group, we receive many enquiries relating to statutory and mandatory training courses. I will provide answers to a number of these questions below:

Is mandatory training the same as statutory training?

Mandatory training is compulsory training that is determined essential by an organisation for the safe and efficient delivery of services. This type of training is designed to reduce organisational risks and comply with local or national policies and government guidelines. Some organisations use the terms essential or compulsory training as a ‘catch all’ to cover both mandatory and statutory training.

What is statutory and mandatory training?

NHS Trusts and other health & social care organisations have a responsibility to provide various statutory and mandatory training and to ensure that their staff attend training. Statutory training is required to ensure that health/social care providers are meeting any legislative duties. Mandatory training is an organisational requirement to limit risk and maintain safe working practice.

What is the difference between statutory and regulatory requirements?

Both statutory requirements and regulatory requirements are those requirements that are required by law. ... “Statutory refers to laws passed by a state and/or central government, while regulatory refers to a rule issued by a regulatory body appointed by a state and/or central government.”

Do employers have to pay for training?

Yes. If you are required to attend a training program for work, you must be paid for that time. For example, if your employer requires all new employees to attend an orientation training or requires current employees to attend sexual harassment training, that time must be paid.

Do you get paid while in training for a job?

The time that employees spend in meetings, lectures, or training is considered hours worked and must be paid, unless: Attendance is outside regular working hours; ... The course, lecture, or meeting is not job related; and. The employee does not perform any productive work during attendance.

Why compliance training is so important?

Compliance training helps in understanding the legal boundaries within which an organization operates. It serves the purpose of educating employees on the laws and regulations pertaining to their industry or specific job function.

Why is mandatory training so important?

The purpose of the document is to assist employees in achieving the high standards expected by the organisation, equipping them with skills and knowledge through access to statutory and mandatory training. ... Completion of training is an important process for all employees.

How often do you need to update your safeguarding training?

The Designated Safeguarding Lead and any deputies should undertake training"which should be updated every two years". It also states that they should update their skills and knowledge at regular intervals, but at least annually, to keep up with any developments relevant to their role.

What is "Mandatory Training" for Health & Social Care? "Mandatory Training" Definition.

What is Mandatory Training for Health & Social Care?