First Aid and Medical Emergencies for Care Home Staff in the UK | Training, Standards & Requirements

The CQC names first aid training as part of the learning and development expected for adult social care staff.

Discover our courses designed for residential and nursing homes.
 

Find Courses

Contact Us

 

Care home staff deal with medical emergencies more often than most workplaces. Residents may fall, choke, collapse or take a sudden turn at any time. The people on shift are usually first on the scene, and good training helps your team stay calm and act quickly when it matters most.

 

What the CQC Expects from Care Home Staff

Adult social care in England is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Under Regulation 18, providers must make sure staff are trained, competent and supported to do their roles (Care Quality Commission, 2025). The CQC guidance also names first aid training directly.

It says training should include "first aid training for people working in the adult social care sector" (Care Quality Commission, 2025).
 

What the HSE Expects from Care Home Employers

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 apply to every workplace, including care homes (HSE, 2024). Each employer must:

• Carry out a first aid needs assessment
• Provide trained first aiders based on that assessment
• Make first aid equipment available

Care homes carry a higher medical risk than most workplaces. In practice, that usually means having first aid cover on every shift.
 

First Aid Training Care Home Staff Need

Care home teams usually need a mix of first aid skills across different roles. The main areas of training include:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR
• Choking response
• Care of an unconscious casualty
• Falls response and head injury checks
• Recognising stroke, sepsis and diabetic emergencies
• Safe use of an AED

Safe Haven Training offers the following workplace first aid courses:

• 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work
• 3 Day First Aid at Work
• 2 Day First Aid at Work Requalification
• Level 2 Basic Life Support & Automated External Defibrillator

The 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work course suits care assistants, kitchen staff and activities coordinators. The 3 day First Aid at Work qualification suits senior carers, deputy managers and designated first aiders.
 

Safe Moving and Handling (People) Course | Available on Demand

Manual handling injuries are one of the most common causes of staff sickness in adult social care. Moving and handling people is not the same as handling objects.

Hoists, slide sheets and falling residents all need specific training to keep staff and residents safe.

All our courses are FAIB certified as standard. Ofqual regulated qualifications are available on request.

Safe Haven Training offers Manual Handling of Persons as a specialised course available on demand for care providers.
 

The course covers:

• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• Safe moving and handling techniques
• Hoist and slide sheet use
• Posture and risk reduction 
• How to respond when a resident falls

This course is usually delivered onsite at your location. That way the training matches the equipment and layout your team uses every day. 
a

Cost: £500 for 12 delegates.

To book Manual Handling of Persons, get in touch and we will build it into your training schedule. Eamil us at info@safehaventraining.co.uk.
 

Mental Health First Aid for Care Settings

Care work can be emotionally demanding for staff. Many residents also live with mental health needs alongside their physical ones.

Mental Health First Aid training helps your team:
 

• Spot the signs of poor mental health
• Have supportive conversations
• Signpost colleagues or residents to professional help

 

How Often Should Training Be Updated?
 

• First aid certificates are valid for three years from the date of issue
• The HSE recommends an annual refresher to keep skills sharp
• Manual handling is often refreshed every year, depending on your risk assessment
• All training certificates should be kept with staff training records

Regular updates help keep your team confident in an emergency. They also help your home stay ready for inspection.

 

Can First Aid Training Be Delivered at Your Care Home?
 

Yes. We deliver onsite/in house first aid and manual handling training that is:

• Tailored to care home environments
• Scenario based and practical
• Built around the needs of older and frail residents
• Available in the evenings, at weekends, and at short notice

This works around your rota. It also means your team trains together, in the building they actually work in.
 

Speak With an Expert

References
 

1. Care Quality Commission (2025): Regulation 18: Staffing.

2. Health and Safety Executive (2024) First Aid at Work: The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 - Guidance on Regulations (L74).

3. NHS (2026) Care homes: Social care and support guide.

 

First Aid Courses for Crae Homes in the UK

Depending on your setting, you may also require additional first aid training based on your workplace risk assessment and insurance provider requirements.