The CareCPD standard.

Under this draft standard, accreditation would mean a course had been reviewed against the proposed criteria and found to meet them, and that its provider had been approved.

It would be a statement about the quality and honesty of CPD.

Accreditation isn't a qualification, and we don't present it as one.

The proposal would assess each course against these criteria.

1. 01

   Relevance

   The course addresses real needs in social care practice and is pitched at the people who will take it.

2. 02

   Learning outcomes

   It states clearly what a learner will know or be able to do afterwards.

3. 03

   Accuracy and currency

   Content reflects current law, guidance and good practice, and is reviewed at least annually.

4. 04

   Teaching and assessment

   Learners have to show understanding, not just attendance.

5. 05

   Trainer competence

   Trainers have relevant care experience and the ability to teach.

6. 06

   Honest claims

   No implying a qualification, and CPD hours stated accurately.

7. 07

   Learner support and accessibility

   Learners can get help, and reasonable adjustments are made.

8. 08

   Certificate integrity

   Every certificate carries a unique code and correct details, and is withdrawn when it should be.

The proposed process would start with a desk review of the course materials, assessment and sample certificates. Where it helps, we'd look at a session or a recording, and talk to the provider.

The draft proposes an annual review of approval. Providers would tell us about material changes to a course, and we'd carry out spot checks.

Where a provider stopped meeting the standard, we'd work with them to fix it. If that didn't happen, the proposal is to withdraw approval, with the certificates that depend on it showing as withdrawn on the verifier.

• Awarding qualifications
• Accrediting providers outside UK social care
• Accrediting a course without reviewing it