Care Certificate Standards 2025: What Care Providers Need to Know
What Is the Care Certificate?
The Care Certificate is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life. Designed with the non-regulated workforce in mind, the Care Certificate gives everyone the confidence that these workers have the same introductory skills, knowledge and behaviors to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care and support. All the regulated staff such as Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, and Occupational Therapists have this knowledge and gain similar skills within their professional training, so they do not need to also achieve the Care Certificate.
The 2025 update marks a critical evolution to keep pace with changes in the sector and better meet the needs of today’s workforce and service users.
Why Were the Standards Updated?
- New legislation and guidance in health and social care
- Increased focus on person-centred care, equality, diversity, and inclusion
- The rising importance of mental health, dementia, and learning disabilities care
- Growing need for digital literacy and data protection in care environments
The goal is to ensure that all care staff are equipped for current and future challenges, with clearer, more relevant training expectations.
What Are the Standards?
The 15 standards included in the Care Certificate are:
- Understand your role
- Your personal development
- Duty of care
- Equality and diversity
- Work in a person-centered way
- Communication
- Privacy and dignity
- Fluids and nutrition
- Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disability
- Safeguarding adults
- Safeguarding children
- Basic life support
- Health and safety
- Handling information
- Infection prevention and control
Key Changes in the 2025 Standards
- Clearer Structure and Simpler Language
Outcomes are now more defined and written in plain English, making the certificate easier to deliver and understand. - Integration of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
EDI is now embedded across all standards—not just Standard 4—reflecting the essential role of inclusive care. - Enhanced Safeguarding Knowledge
Standards 10 and 11 have been updated to reflect the latest statutory guidance, including “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023” and online safeguarding considerations. - Greater Emphasis on Mental Health
Mental wellbeing is now highlighted throughout the certificate to address the needs of both care workers and service users. - Digital Competency Requirements
Standard 14 introduces modern expectations for digital care records, GDPR compliance, and cyber awareness.
How Care Providers Can Prepare
- ✔️ Audit Current Training – Align all training materials and assessments with the updated standards.
- ✔️ Upskill Your Trainers – Ensure all trainers are equipped to deliver the new content confidently.
- ✔️ Review Induction Policies – Update internal onboarding procedures and supervision models.
- ✔️ Track Progress Digitally – Use learning management systems (LMS) to monitor Care Certificate completion and compliance.
Why It Matters
- Support CQC compliance
- Promote consistent, high-quality care
- Strengthen recruitment and retention through better career pathways
- Improve your organisation’s reputation as a quality-driven care provider
How Learning Connect Can Help
At Learning Connect, we offer CPD-accredited Care Certificate training that aligns with the 2025 standards, including:
- Assessor support
- Progress tracking tools
- Flexible online and in-person delivery options
Get in touch at support@learningconnect.co.uk or enquiries@learningconnect.co.uk for tailored training solutions for your organisation.
Final Word
The 2025 Care Certificate Standards mark a significant step forward in shaping a confident, competent care workforce. By embracing these updates early, care providers demonstrate leadership in compliance, inclusivity, and quality.
Stay ahead. Stay compliant. Deliver exceptional care.
