The Care Certificate standards set out the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours that new care workers need when starting a role in health and social care. In England, these standards help ensure people entering frontline roles can provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care from the outset.
The Care Certificate applies to social care workers and other support staff who are new to the sector. It provides a clear framework for learning and assessment. As a result of completing the certificate, care workers understand what good care looks like in their daily working life, while the people they support gain confidence in the care they receive.
What are the care certificate standards?
The Care Certificate standards are a nationally recognised set of standards designed to support the induction of new care workers. They apply to non-regulated roles and focus on the core skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to work safely, professionally and with compassion.
NHS England developed the Care Certificate alongside England’s Skills for Care and Skills for Health. Together, they support a consistent approach to induction across health and social care and ensure standards remain aligned across England.
In practice, the certificate shapes early training and development. It helps healthcare professionals understand responsibilities, work effectively with others, and follow agreed ways of working that adhere to provide compassionate safe and high quality care from day one.
Many care services aim to complete the Care Certificate within the first 12 weeks, helping new staff reach high levels of confidence and competence early on.
15 vs 16 Care Certificate standards: what changed?
For many years, the Care Certificate included 15 standards for new care workers across health and social care. In March 2025, the framework expanded to include 16 standards in response to changes in policy, practice and the needs of people drawing on care and support.
The additional standard strengthens awareness and understanding of learning disability and autism, areas that play a central role in modern care practice.
The framework now better reflects the knowledge and behaviours care professionals need in their daily working life, particularly when supporting people with diverse needs.
NHS England led this update in partnership with Skills for Care and Skills for Health. It builds on work previously overseen by Health Education England.
Together, the 16 standards provide a stronger foundation for safe, compassionate and high-quality care. This consistency supports quality and safety across the wider care system, from care homes to community-based services.
The 16 Care Certificate standards explained
The 16 Care Certificate standards describe the knowledge, skills and behaviours that new care workers need to work in health and social care. Each standard focuses on a key area of practice, from understanding roles and responsibilities to safeguarding, communication and inclusion.
Together, these standards support consistent learning during induction and help social care professionals apply learning directly to real situations in everyday care.
Care Certificate Standard 1: Understand your role
Care Certificate Standard 1 is centred around understanding your role. This standard introduces the responsibilities and expectations of working in care. It helps care workers understand what their role involves, how it fits within the wider team, and the importance of working within agreed boundaries.
The standard supports understanding job descriptions, lines of accountability and organisational policies. It also reinforces when to seek guidance or escalate concerns, helping care workers work safely, professionally and in line with agreed ways of working that adhere to approaches designed to provide compassionate safe and high quality care.
Care Certificate Standard 2: Your personal development
Care Certificate Standard 2 focuses on personal development for care workers. This standard explores learning, reflection and continuous improvement in care roles. It highlights the importance of developing skills and knowledge over time to support safe and effective practice.
The standard supports care workers to reflect on their work, identify learning needs and take part in training that strengthens confidence and competence. It also introduces personal development planning as a foundation for ongoing learning and progression in care.
Care Certificate Standard 3: Duty of care
Care Certificate Standard 3 focuses on duty of care in health and social care settings. This standard outlines the responsibility to act in the best interests of people receiving care and support. It shows how duty of care applies in everyday situations, including balancing choice, safety and wellbeing.
The standard supports care workers to recognise unsafe practice, respond to concerns and understand how to raise issues. It also reinforces the importance of following organisational procedures when managing complaints.
Care Certificate Standard 4: Equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights
Care Certificate Standard 4 focuses on equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights in care settings. This standard introduces the importance of treating people fairly, with dignity and respect, regardless of background, beliefs or personal characteristics.
The standard supports care workers to recognise discrimination and understand how inclusive practice improves care. It also reinforces respecting individual rights, values and choices while promoting equal access to care and support.
Care Certificate Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way
Care Certificate Standard 5 focuses on working in a person-centred way. This standard emphasises the importance of placing the individual at the centre of care and support.
The standard supports care workers to recognise individual needs, preferences and goals. It also reinforces involving people in decisions about their care, promoting person-centred values such as independence and respecting choice in everyday practice.
Care Certificate Standard 6: Communication
Care Certificate Standard 6 highlights the importance of effective communication in health and social care. It emphasises the role clear and effective communication plays in delivering safe and supportive care.
This standard supports care workers to use verbal, non-verbal and written communication appropriately. It also reinforces adapting communication to individual needs, listening actively and sharing information clearly and accurately.
Care Certificate Standard 7: Privacy and dignity
Care Certificate Standard 7 covers privacy and dignity in everyday care practice. This standard highlights the importance of respecting personal space, personal information and individual choice.
The standard supports care workers to protect dignity during personal care and maintain confidentiality. It also reinforces treating people with respect and ensuring consent is central to care practice.
Care Certificate Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition
Care Certificate Standard 8 explains the role fluids and nutrition play in supporting health and wellbeing. This standard explains why adequate hydration and nutrition are essential for maintaining health, energy levels and recovery.
The standard supports care workers to recognise the importance of adequate food and fluid intake. It also reinforces supporting people to eat and drink safely, while respecting dietary needs and preferences.
Care Certificate Standard 9: Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities
Care Certificate Standard 9 focuses on awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities. This standard introduces key awareness needed when supporting people with mental health conditions, dementia and learning disabilities. It recognises that these conditions can affect how people experience care and support.
The standard supports care workers to understand how mental health, dementia and learning disabilities influence behaviour and communication. It also reinforces compassionate, informed and person-centred approaches to care.
Care Certificate Standard 10: Adult safeguarding
Care Certificate Standard 10 reinforces the importance of adult safeguarding in care settings. This standard highlights the responsibility to protect adults from abuse, harm and neglect.
The standard supports care workers to recognise signs of abuse and understand safeguarding procedures. It also reinforces reporting concerns promptly and following organisational safeguarding policies.
Care Certificate Standard 11: Safeguarding children
Care Certificate Standard 11 focuses on safeguarding children and young people across health and social care settings. This standard highlights the shared responsibility to protect children from harm.
The standard supports care workers to recognise signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It also reinforces following child protection procedures, maintaining professional boundaries and working with other agencies when concerns arise.
Care Certificate Standard 12: Basic life support
Care Certificate Standard 12 prepares care workers to respond in emergencies through basic life support. It reinforces the importance of acting quickly and calmly in line with training and organisational procedures.
The standard supports understanding essential actions that help preserve life while maintaining personal safety. It also reinforces knowing when and how to seek emergency assistance.
Care Certificate Standard 13: Health and safety
Care Certificate Standard 13 highlights key health and safety responsibilities in care environments. It emphasises the importance of maintaining safe working conditions for both care workers and the people they support.
The standard supports care workers to recognise hazards, manage risks and follow emergency procedures. It also reinforces shared responsibility for safety and compliance with organisational policies.
Care Certificate Standard 14: Handling information
Care Certificate Standard 14 focuses on handling information responsibly. This standard highlights the importance of confidentiality, data protection and accurate record-keeping.
The standard supports care workers to store, share and use information appropriately. It also reinforces legal and ethical responsibilities when handling personal and sensitive information.
Care Certificate Standard 15: Infection prevention and control
Care Certificate Standard 15 highlights the importance of reducing the spread of infection in care settings to protect both individuals and staff.
The standard supports care workers to follow hygiene practices and use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly. It also reinforces protecting both people receiving care and staff from infection risks.
Care Certificate Standard 16: Awareness of learning disability and autism
Care Certificate Standard 16 strengthens understanding of learning disability and autism and supports inclusive care.
The standard supports care workers to understand communication needs, sensory differences and reasonable adjustments. It also reinforces dignity, inclusion and person-centred support. Improved awareness supports better outcomes for people with diverse needs.
Why the Care Certificate standards matter in everyday care
The Care Certificate meets the need for a shared approach to induction. This approach creates consistency across roles and settings. As a result, workers have the same introductory skills knowledge and behaviours to provide compassionate safe and high quality care.
For organisations and individuals looking to complete the full framework as part of induction, our Care Certificate course is available as part of our Adult Social Care Bundle.
