Training Essentials for Self-Employed Carers

When you’re self-employed, keeping training up to date is part of running your business. Families, individual employers, and local authorities may ask to see your certificates before offering work. Insurance companies can also request copies if you ever need to make a claim. Training isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about keeping people safe, protecting yourself, and showing you’re professional.

The Core Training You'll Need

These are the courses most commonly expected in self-directed care and how often to refresh them:

• Moving & Handling (People): must be done in person every year. Families and funders want to see you’re competent with hoists, slings, and transfers.
• Basic Life Support (CPR): refresh yearly. Quick but vital — you need to be confident if an emergency happens.
• First Aid (EFAW/FAW): full course every 3 years, with an annual refresher in between.
• Safeguarding Adults & Children: refresh every 2–3 years, or sooner if local policy changes. Medication Awareness & Competency– annual update, especially if you’re supporting with MAR charts.
• Infection Prevention & Control: annual refresh. Families often ask for this straight away.
• Food Hygiene: typically every 3 years. Simple, but reassures people you can handle food safely.

If a client’s needs change — new equipment, higher support needs, or new medication — don’t wait until renewal. Do a top-up straight away.

Affordable Free Options

Training doesn’t need to break the bank. You’ve got choices:

• NHS e-Learning for Healthcare: a wide range of free online modules including infection control and dementia. Visit NHS e-Learning for Healthcare.
• Florence Academy: affordable online modules you can complete at home, covering topics like safeguarding and medication. Visit Florence Academy.
• The Health & Safety Group: widely recommended for in-person Moving & Handling and First Aid refreshers. Visit Health & Safety Group.
• Skills for Care Individual Employer Fund: if your client receives a Direct Payment, they can apply for funding to cover your training. Learn more here.

Why It Matters

Best practice: makes your care safer and more professional.

Trust: gives families, individual employers, and funders confidence in you.

Protection: if an incident happens, having recent training could protect you with insurers or regulators.

Confidence: knowing you’re fully up to date gives you peace of mind too.