Professional development for caregivers
Free courses for every SpecialCarer caregiver, covering the safeguarding, clinical and person-centred skills families count on. Learn at your own pace, pass a short quiz and earn a certificate that anyone can verify.
- Courses
- 10
- Required courses
- 9
- CPD credits on offer
- 16
- Hours of learning
- 6.5
How it works
- 1
Take the lesson
Watch the video or read the written lesson, on your phone or computer, at your own pace.
- 2
Pass a short quiz
Score 80% or more to pass. Missed it? You can try again after an hour.
- 3
Get your certificate
Download a PDF certificate showing your CPD credits and a unique code anyone can use to check it.
Courses
Compliance
The legal and safeguarding essentials every carer in the UK needs.
- RequiredVideo · 35 min2.5 CPD credits
Medication Administration (UK)
Safe medication support for care professionals in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Covers the Six Rights, MAR charts, controlled drugs, common errors, refusal, covert administration, and CQC reporting duties.
Required for: Elderly care, Childcare, Complex care
- RequiredReading · 35 min1.5 CPD credits
Safeguarding Adults (UK)
Recognising and responding to abuse and neglect of adults at risk under the Care Act 2014. Covers types of abuse, the Six Safeguarding Principles, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, raising a concern, and your statutory duties.
Required for: Elderly care, Complex care, Postnatal
- RequiredReading · 35 min1.5 CPD credits
Safeguarding Children (UK)
Recognising and responding to abuse and neglect of children under Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), the Children Act 1989/2004, and the four categories of harm. Covers signs of abuse, MASH referrals, the duty to record, online safety, and the role of the carer.
Required for: Childcare, Special needs, Postnatal
Clinical
Hands-on skills for keeping the people you support safe and well.
- RequiredVideo · 60 min2 CPD credits
Paediatric First Aid Essentials
Recognising and responding to common emergencies for infants and children: choking, anaphylaxis, seizures, head injury, and CPR.
Required for: Childcare, Special needs
- RequiredVideo · 60 min2 CPD credits
Dementia Care Fundamentals
Person-centred care for people living with dementia: communication, distress reduction, sundowning, and recognising delirium.
Required for: Elderly care
- RequiredReading · 35 min1.5 CPD credits
Manual Handling (UK)
Safe moving and handling of people and loads under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended). Covers the TILE/TILEO assessment, the HSE MAC tool, equipment use (hoists, slide sheets, transfer boards), and what to do when handling cannot be avoided.
Required for: Elderly care, Complex care, Postnatal, Special needs
- RequiredReading · 45 min2 CPD credits
Basic Life Support (UK)
Adult, paediatric and infant BLS based on Resuscitation Council UK 2021 guidelines. Covers the DRSABCD primary survey, CPR ratios for adult/child/infant, AED use, recovery position, choking, and seizure management.
Required for: Elderly care, Childcare, Complex care, Postnatal, Special needs
- RequiredReading · 30 min1 CPD credit
Food Hygiene (UK)
Level 2 Food Hygiene for care settings under the Food Safety Act 1990, Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006, and FSA guidance. Covers the four Cs (Cross-contamination, Cleaning, Chilling, Cooking), allergens, fridge temperatures, modified-texture diets and choking risk, and personal hygiene.
Required for: Elderly care, Childcare, Postnatal, Special needs, Complex care
- RequiredVideo · 30 min1 CPD credit
Safe Lifting & Transfers
Manual handling for carers: bed-to-chair transfers, hoists, sit-to-stand aids, and back-protection technique.
Required for: Elderly care, Complex care
Behavioural
Communication and person-centred care across cultures and needs.
- OptionalVideo · 30 min1 CPD credit
Cultural Competency in Care
Respectful care across faiths, languages, dietary needs, family structures, and end-of-life traditions.
Ready to grow your caring career?
Every course is free for caregivers on SpecialCarer. Each certificate carries a unique code, and anyone can confirm it is genuine at specialcarer.com/verify followed by that code.