Staff Training and Checks

Pre-Employment Checks:

In order to protect our clients and ensure we recruit the right calibre of staff, a number of pre-employment checks are undertaken:

• Interview – Face to face interviews are conducted at our office and normally last approximately an hour.
• Literacy and Numeracy – All applicants complete a basic numeracy and literacy test to ensure they have the necessary skills required for doing the work.
• References – A minimum of two references are obtained, these will normally be the current and previous employer (personal references are not generally accepted). In addition references are also sought from care sector employers where the normal referees are not from the sector. All references received are verified with a phone call to the referee.
• Right to Work in UK – Evidence of a right to work in the United Kingdom must be produced and may be verified through the UK Borders Agency employer checking service. Evidence is copied and kept on file.
• Criminal Records – All our staff have a CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) Enhanced Disclosure check and ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) Adult First check.
• Identity – Applicants are required to bring a number of original documents to their interview to verify their identity.
• Training – Experienced care staff are required to produce valid certificates as proof of training attended. Where this is not possible, they must attend our in-house courses.

Staff Training:

As Astor Care and Nursing Agency is a care training provider and a domiciliary care provider registered with the CQC (Care Quality Commission), so you can be sure the staff we supply fully meet the requirements of CQC Essential Standards of Quality and Safety. All staff new to care work must successfully complete our five day training course which incorporates the Skills for Care Induction Standards:

Standard 1 – Role of the health and social care worker
Standard 2 – Personal Development
Standard 3 – Communicate effectively
Standard 4 – Equality and Inclusion
Standard 5 – Principles for implementing duty of care
Standard 6 – Principles of safeguarding in health and social care
Standard 7 – Person Centred Support
Standard 8 – Health & safety in an adult social care setting

In addition to the 5 days initial training staff are asked to attend our specialist courses and encouraged to take advantage of additional training opportunities, which are communicated by newsletter and flyers sent with payslips.

Staff are also required to regularly update their training by attending the following courses:
Every 12-18 months
Moving and Handling
Health and Safety

Every 2 Years
Safeguarding
Food Hygiene
Infection Control

Every 3 Years
First Aid
Diet & Nutrition