CQC does not publish one fixed list of mandatory courses. Regulation 18 (Staffing) says care staff must receive the training, supervision and appraisal they need for their role, starting with an induction that prepares them for it. CQC's guidance names statutory training, the mandatory training each provider sets for each role, first aid training for adult social care staff, and training in how to interact with people with a learning disability and autistic people. Skills for Care's Statutory and mandatory training guide for adult social care employers sets out the common topics, 11 for all workers depending on their role, and staff new to care can use the 16 Care Certificate standards to shape their induction. Lift College has an online CPD course for most of these topics at £19.99 each, pay once, or £16.99 each on a free Lift College organisation account (15% off), paid by card or invoice, with a dashboard that shows each person's progress and certificates.
What CQC Regulation 18 says about training
- Staffing. Providers must deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff (18(1)).
- Training for the role. Staff must receive the training, supervision and appraisal they need (18(2)(a)), with learning needs identified at the start of employment and an induction that prepares them for the role.
- Learning disability and autism. All staff must be trained to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role.
- Monitoring. Training completed should be monitored.
The Skills for Care topics, mapped to Lift College courses
Skills for Care's guide (updated December 2025) lists these topics as "Training required by all workers", dependent on each worker's role and responsibilities.
| Skills for Care topic | Skills for Care refresher guidance | Lift College course | Hours | Lift refresh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and safety awareness | When a new risk or activity is introduced; at least every three years | Health and Safety Training | 3 hours | 3 years |
| Fire safety | When a new risk is introduced; at least every three years | Fire Safety Training | 2 hours | 12 months |
| Moving and handling objects | When a new risk or activity is introduced; at least every three years | Manual Handling Training | 3 hours | 3 years |
| Infection prevention and control | When a new risk or activity is introduced; at least every three years | Infection Prevention and Control Training | 1.5 hours | 12 months |
| Adult safeguarding | When care and support needs change or a new risk or activity is introduced; at least every three years | Safeguarding Adults Level 2 | 3 hours | 3 years |
| Basic life support and first aid | Basic life support when identified or at least annually; first aid every three years | First Aid Training | 4 hours | 12 months |
| Assisting and moving people | At least every three years if no other training in that time | Moving and Handling of People Training; your employer completes the practical assessment with you | 2 hours | 12 months |
| Child safeguarding | At least every three years if the worker has not achieved the Care Certificate standards or a recognised adult social care qualification in that time | Safeguarding Children Level 2 | 3 hours | 12 months |
| Learning disability and autism awareness | No period stated; Skills for Care refers employers to the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice | Module 16 of the Care Certificate course covers awareness of learning disability and autism | 12 hours (whole course) | 3 years |
| Food hygiene | Every three years, or when a new risk or activity is introduced | Food Hygiene Level 2 | 3 hours | 3 years |
| Medication administration | Review training needs and competency if there has been no further training within a year |
Each course is £19.99, or £16.99 through an organisation account. Safeguarding leads can take Safeguarding Adults Level 3 (8 hours) or Safeguarding Children Level 3 (4 hours), and fire marshals Fire Marshal Training (2 hours). HSE adds the duties behind two topics: avoid, assess and reduce hazardous manual handling, and make sure employees get immediate help if taken ill or injured at work.
The Care Certificate for new staff
Skills for Care says the 16 Care Certificate standards, updated in March 2025, can be used by people new to care and can inform what an induction covers. Lift College's Care Certificate course teaches the knowledge behind all 16 in 12 hours. Anything the standards ask a worker to demonstrate is observed in their real work, and the employer signs them off on the national template. Enrolling a new starter? Add the Care Certificate to your organisation account.
Other training care teams add
Part 2 of the guide gives examples that depend on the service, including dementia, equality, diversity and inclusion, and GDPR and data protection. Lift College courses that fit:
- Dementia Awareness Training: 1.5 hours, refresh every 3 years
- Equality and Diversity Training: 2 hours, refresh every 3 years
- GDPR Training or Data Protection Training: 2 hours each, refresh every 12 months
- Mental Health Awareness Training: 1 hour, refresh every 3 years
Depending on your risk assessments, you may also add COSHH Training, Lone Working Training, Medical Gas Safety Training or Prevent Duty Training.
Show inspectors who is in date
Every CPD certificate issued by Lift College records the learner's name, the course, the hours, the completion date and a recommended refresh date, with a unique number and a verification link. When the refresh date arrives, the learner retakes the latest version free; Lift College emails them 30 days before.
Training a whole team: the organisation account
A Lift College organisation account is free, with no subscription and no minimum number of people. Every CPD course is £16.99 through it, a fixed 15% off. Pay by card, or by invoice with 30 days to pay and your own PO number. The dashboard shows who studied this week, every certificate earned and who needs a check in, and you can download a progress report that opens in Excel. Open a free organisation account.
The next step for your staff
For a senior role, Lift College's Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care is studied online with a named UK tutor, from £69.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, while working or volunteering in adult care.