Yes, WHC offers a range of accredited courses which are mandatory for all employees to complete: • Medication • Pressure Ulcer Awareness • Catheter and Stoma Awareness • Level 2 Principles of End-of-Life Care • Level 2 Moving and Handling of People • Level 2 Positive Behavioural Approach

No. The Care Certificate is part of a structured induction but does not replace all of the learning required for staff induction. As well as the Care Certificate standards new staff will be expected to have information, knowledge and competencies specific to the environment in which care will be provided. For example, new staff may receive information on how to report accidents, and what to do in case of fire which will be specific to the location in which they work. The Care Certificate programme will not focus on the skills and knowledge needed to work safely and effectively in a particular location. The content of this remains the employer’s responsibility.

No, to be awarded the Care Certificate the person must acquire knowledge and demonstrate competence in all 15 standards. Assessment of knowledge and understanding is prefixed with verbs such as ‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘define’, ‘list’ or ‘identify’ and can be based upon written or verbal evidence such as a workbook, written questions, case studies or sound files. Evidence of performance prefixed with words such as ‘demonstrate’, ‘take steps to’, ‘use’ or ‘show’ must be undertaken in the workplace during learners’ real work activity and observed by the assessor (unless the use of simulation is specifically allowed). Learners can practice and develop their skills in a classroom or similar setting but most of the assessment evidence must be collected during real work activity.

The Care Certificate consists of the following 15 Standards: 1. Understand Your Role 2. Your Personal Development 3. Duty of Care 4. Equality and Diversity 5. Work in a Person-Centred Way 6. Communication 7. Privacy and Dignity 8. Fluids and Nutrition 9. Awareness of Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disabilities 10. Safeguarding Adults 11. Safeguarding Children 12. Basic Life Support 13. Health and Safety 14. Handling Information 15. Infection Prevention and Control

During the piloting of the Care Certificate in 2014, the indication was that for a full-time member of staff, the average amount of time taken to complete the Care Certificate was 12 weeks. It is likely that employers will find that the time taken to complete the certificate will vary depending upon a range of factors, including; the hours worked by the learner, teaching methods chosen, previous educational achievement, resources and opportunities for assessment, and the availability of assessors

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 workers have the same introductory skills, knowledge and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and high quality care and support.

End of life and palliative care aims to help you if you have a life-limiting or life-threatening illness. The focus of this type of care is managing symptoms and providing comfort and assistance. This includes help with emotional and mental health, spiritual and social needs. End of life and palliative care provides practical help with daily tasks as well. The goal is to improve your quality of life and that of your family, friends and carers. End of life and palliative care is based on what your needs are, not your diagnosis. If you have an illness that cannot be cured and will lead to the end of your life, end of life and palliative care will be suggested.

• Personal Care and Companionship services may include: • Assistance with self-care, such as grooming, bathing, dressing, and using the toilet • Enabling safety at home by assisting with ambulation, transfer (e.g., from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to toilet), and fall prevention • Assistance with meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, medication reminders, and escorting to appointments • Companionship and engaging in hobbies and activities • Supervision for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease • 30 minute, 1 hour, 24 hour, Single Cover, Double Cover, 7 days a week, twilight calls throughout the night to carry out pressure relief, pad changes etc. • Care for diseases and conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), ALS, MS • Ventilator care • Tracheostomy care • Monitoring vital signs • Administering medications • Ostomy/gastrostomy care • Feeding tube care • Catheter care

The frequency of a CQC inspection is dependent on the care provider’s rating. Good and Outstanding: Normally within 30 months of the last inspection report being published Requires Improvement: Normally within 12 months of the last report being published Inadequate: Normally within 6 months of the last report being published New services: The first inspection will normally be scheduled between 6 to 12 months from the date of registration

They are the Care Quality Commissioning group which is an independent regulator of health and social care in England. They make sure that health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and they encourage care services to improve. CQC monitors, inspects and regulates services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. CQC publishes their findings, including performance ratings to help people choose where they receive their care from.

No, WHC ensures all service users are able to exercise genuine control over their care and we support working together with our staff, local communities, health and social care organisations to co-design person-centred support packages. We have an asset-based approach to maximise people’s independence by building on their abilities and aspirations.

You are at the centre of planning and decision-making around your end of life and palliative care Your individual, cultural and religious needs are considered when care is planned You are treated in the way you want to be treated Your preferences and values are recognised and respected You are treated with respect and dignity whatever your age, cultural background, religion or sexual orientation. By responding to your needs and those of your family in this way, your care team can help you make the most of each day.

Care and Compassion Trust and Respect Deliver and Achieve

• Outstanding The service is performing exceptionally well. • Good The service is performing well and meeting our expectations. • Requires improvement The service is not performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve. • Inadequate The service is performing badly and we’ve taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.

Any care provider that offers regulated activities as listed in Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2012 must be registered with the CQC. This includes several activities including personal care, nursing care and accommodation for a person requiring nursing or personal care. If you are providing care in a person’s home, you need to register with the CQC.

WHC are committed to paying all employees on a weekly basis.

Domiciliary care is provided to people who still live in their own homes but require additional support with activities, including household tasks, personal care and any other activity that allows them to maintain their independence and quality of life.

Domiciliary care (home care) inspections are normally announced 48 hours in advance so that a manager or senior in charge is available on the day. An inspector or inspection team will use key lines of enquiry to gather evidence and information to support their inspection. The key lines of enquiry are five questions that the CQC uses to regulate care and ensure people are at the heart of the care service. These five areas are: • Are they safe? • Are they effective? • Are they caring? • Are they responsive to people’s needs? • Are they well-led? Evidence and information gathering will take the form of interviews with staff, service users, friends and family, reviewing feedback forms, observing care, reviewing records, documents and policies, and looking at care pathways.

WHC work with a range of professionals and hold many contracts, such as: • Manchester CCG – Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group • Manchester City Council, Learning Disability Team • Manchester Local Authority • Stockport CCG – Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group • Bolton City Council • Knowsley City Council • Liverpool CCG – Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group

No, this is not essential. WHC pride themselves on offering an excellent Induction programme and provide all employees with full access to their Training Academy, where full training will be provided and employees will also have the opportunity to gain their Care Certificate from our in-house training team.

• Carefree System – carefree is a software system which is used to create our rotas by our Coordinator, as well as invoices, wage reports, quality assurance reports, call monitoring and many more.