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Healthcare assistants 'should get standard training' Healthcare assistants 'should get standard training'
(about 1 hour later)
There is no minimum standard of training for healthcare assistants before they can work unsupervised, an independent report has found.There is no minimum standard of training for healthcare assistants before they can work unsupervised, an independent report has found.
Some were doing tasks usually performed by doctors or nurses, such as taking blood. Workers should get at least two weeks' training to prepare them for providing basic care in hospitals, care homes and at home in England, its author said.
The Cavendish Review was set up by the government to study the role of healthcare assistants (HCAs) in England after the Stafford Hospital scandal. Journalist Camilla Cavendish also said some staff were only given a training DVD to watch before starting work.
HCAs provide basic care in hospitals, care homes and at home. The review was set up in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal.
They should go through a universal training system and gain accreditation before they can work unsupervised, the report said. Ms Cavendish found that HCAs - who provide basic care such as feeding and washing patients - were given no "compulsory or consistent" training, and said some were doing tasks usually performed by doctors or nurses, such as taking blood.
'Ongoing supervision'
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Cavendish said HCAs should have to earn a "Certificate of Fundamental Care".
The qualification would link HCA training to nurse training, making it easier for staff to progress up the career ladder, should they wish to.
All new recruits would need to obtain the certificate and existing HCAs would need to prove they had the equivalent training.
Ms Cavendish said details of the training had not been agreed, but it would include basics such as first aid, infection control and dementia awareness, and would take a "couple of weeks".
"Ongoing supervision" by employers would be essential after that, she said.
Currently, there is no consistent qualification or training for HCAs, with employers deciding for themselves what training is needed.Currently, there is no consistent qualification or training for HCAs, with employers deciding for themselves what training is needed.
The government will provide a formal response to the review, along with its response to the Francis Report into the Mid Staffordshire public inquiry, in the autumn.The government will provide a formal response to the review, along with its response to the Francis Report into the Mid Staffordshire public inquiry, in the autumn.
It has already promised to establish "minimum training standards" for HCAs by spring 2014.It has already promised to establish "minimum training standards" for HCAs by spring 2014.
But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt refused to initiate full-blown regulation, saying it could lead to a "bureaucratic quagmire".
A public inquiry into Stafford Hospital found hundreds of patients had died following neglect and abuse between 2005 and 2008.A public inquiry into Stafford Hospital found hundreds of patients had died following neglect and abuse between 2005 and 2008.
Call for certificate 'Most caring of all'
There are more than 1.3 million frontline staff who are not registered nurses, according to the Cavendish Review.There are more than 1.3 million frontline staff who are not registered nurses, according to the Cavendish Review.
They provide some of the most personal and fundamental care such as turning people in bed so they do not get pressure sores, helping people to eat and wash and to get out of bed and get dressed. They provide some of the most personal and fundamental care such as turning people in bed so they do not get pressure sores and helping people to eat and wash.
But the review says the quality of training and support that care workers receive in the NHS and social care system varies between organisations and, in some cases, is lacking. The review says the quality of training and support that care workers receive in the NHS and social care system varies between organisations and, in some cases, is lacking.
It calls for a new Certificate of Fundamental Care for fully-fledged HCAs - a qualification that would link HCA training to nurse training, making it easier for staff to progress up the career ladder should they wish to. As well as suggesting the new training certificate, it suggests calling HCAs Nursing Assistants in recognition of the important work they do.
All new recruits would need to obtain the certificate and existing HCAs would need to prove they had the equivalent training. Ms Cavendish said: "Patient safety in the NHS and social care depends on recognising the contribution of support workers, valuing and training them as part of a team.
And in recognition of the important job HCAs do, they should be called Nursing Assistants.
Journalist Camilla Cavendish, author of the review, said: "Patient safety in the NHS and social care depends on recognising the contribution of support workers, valuing and training them as part of a team.
"For people to get the best care, there must be less complexity and duplication and a greater focus on ensuring that support staff are treated with the seriousness they deserve - for some of them are the most caring of all.""For people to get the best care, there must be less complexity and duplication and a greater focus on ensuring that support staff are treated with the seriousness they deserve - for some of them are the most caring of all."
Peter Carter, of the Royal College of Nursing, was concerned that without mandatory regulation there would be a danger that any staff who were found to be unsuitable could move from one employer to another unchecked.Peter Carter, of the Royal College of Nursing, was concerned that without mandatory regulation there would be a danger that any staff who were found to be unsuitable could move from one employer to another unchecked.
"The priority must now be to underpin the recommendations made by Camilla Cavendish in the regulatory structure which governs care," he said."The priority must now be to underpin the recommendations made by Camilla Cavendish in the regulatory structure which governs care," he said.
Christina McAnea, of Unison, said that in some hospitals HCA's have been treated as "cheap labour". Christina McAnea, of Unison, said that in some hospitals HCA's were treated as "cheap labour".
"Common training standards across health and social care are long overdue and welcome." "Common training standards across health and social care are long overdue and welcome," she added.