The new 12-week CIS induction period will enable care workers to give high quality care and support, provide recognition for their work, and prepare them for entry onto NVQ health and social care programmes.

Four new CIS documents are now available to download at the bottom of the page.
These are: the standards with a glossary which outlines how they link to recently revised NVQ requirements; a manager’s guide; a guide for new workers; and a certificate for managers to sign to confirm that standards have been met.

Skills for Care is currently developing priced publications to support use of the CIS and replace the existing induction products. These will include guidance for managers on conducting a skills scan to help them assess whether new workers are safe to work unsupervised.

Skills for Care is keeping the Commission for Social Care Inspection informed of the changes to induction, so inspectors will be looking for use of either the old or new standards until September 30 2006, and will regard the new ones as the national minimum standard requirements for new staff starting after this date.

The previous ten induction and foundation standards are replaced by a new set of six CIS standards:
· understanding principles of care
· understanding the organisation and role of the worker
· maintaining safety at work
· communicating effectively
· recognising and responding to abuse and neglect
· developing as a worker.

Each standard contains a number of areas of knowledge that care workers need to know about before they can work unsupervised. Managers have a duty to ensure new staff know enough to meet the required outcomes in each knowledge area. How this knowledge is gained is flexible and can include observation, reading books, attending training courses or discussion with other carers. Managers assess staff progress themselves, as Skills for Care believes that line managers are best placed to make sure induction of new staff is carried out properly.

The new CIS provide a structured start for new care staff. Previous research has demonstrated that a structured start, alongside opportunities for professional development, play an important part in improved staff retention.

New workers in services supporting people with learning disabilities should continue to use the current LDAF Induction and Foundation Units until they are replaced next year with a new Learning Disability Induction Award. The award will cover all the areas required by the Common Induction Standards, with a learning disability context. (For further information please click on the Learning Disability Awards Framework (LDAF) link on the right-hand side under 'related links'.