Induction Programmes (Scotland) Policy

Policy Statement

This policy set outs the values, principles and procedures underpinning this care service’s approach to staff induction programmes. It is written in line with the importance attached in the national care and health standards, My Support, My Life for people to have confidence in those who support and care for them. As stated in standard 3.14 under Responsive Care and Support, “I have confidence in people because they are trained, competent and skilled, are able to reflect on their practice and follow their professional and organisational codes.”

To help achieve this standard {{org_field_name}} will ensure that all staff are well inducted into their roles and responsibilities at the start of their employment using the guidance and frameworks that have been made available by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

All staff are fully supported and prepared for SSRC registration if not already, and where registered, supported to meet any variation in their registration status.

After induction all staff will be expected to continue their professional development, including the gaining of appropriate qualifications and taking advantage of learning opportunities provided by the Open Badges scheme, and, where registered, to follow their appropriate Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL) pathway.

Principles

This service understands induction to refer to the initial learning needed by new members of staff to orientate them to the job and the workplace, to get them up and running in their role and to ensure that they are working safely and competently as soon as possible.

The service considers that a planned programme for the induction, learning and development of new staff is essential to ensure good practice and the provision of a high-quality service. Without induction, new staff will be unclear as to the service’s objectives and values and the precise natures of their jobs.

All newly appointed staff to the service in all positions will receive an induction programme tailored to their roles, responsibilities and job descriptions. Where applicable, they include:

managers and people appointed to specialist roles
care staff at all levels
administrative and support staff
catering and kitchen staff
domestic, cleaning and maintenance staff.

The respective line manager will be responsible for organising the induction programmes for new staff who will be working under them.

Common Induction Requirements

Individuals’ induction programmes will follow a common process with specific contents in line with individuals’ job specifications and descriptions.

Each new person’s induction will include an introduction, which is proportionate to their role requirements, to:

{{org_field_name}}’s aims and objectives as reflected in its statement of purpose/mission statement
the quality standards and regulations under which {{org_field_name}} operates with emphasis on the importance of all employees contributing to the safe, effective, person-centred care that the service is expected to provide in line with its registration requirements
the policies and procedures that describe {{org_field_name}}’s responsibilities for all employees’ and people receiving care’s health and safety including, for example, hand washing for the purposes of infection control, and where applicable food hygiene and fire safety (health and safety regulations will apply differently in line with the nature of {{org_field_name}})
the structure of the service and the lines of accountability within it, including an understanding of the person to whom any individual should report matters concerning their work, how they will be supervised and their training needs assessed and addressed
{{org_field_name}}’s expectations regarding the employees’ behaviour in the conduct of their work, including how to treat people receiving care with respect and sensitivity to maintain their dignity
policies on any applicable dress code, use of mobile phones, computer use, internet access and use of social media and to its staff facilities, etc
the service’s policies on equality and diversity, safeguarding, whistleblowing and its complaints procedure
confirmation that the person has the knowledge and skills to carry out the work for which they have been appointed.

A combination of methods adapted to meet specific induction needs will be used to ensure every new employee will know and apply these requirements.

Induction into Specific Roles and Responsibilities

(a) Induction of People with Leadership and Management Responsibilities

(i) Managers’ Induction

New managers will have an induction programme based on the SSSC’s Step into Leadership framework according to an assessment of their previous experience and qualifications. On starting their jobs, all managers and others in leadership roles are expected to benchmark through discussion and agreement with the service manager and/or care provider of their practice against the recognised SSSC leadership capabilities’ indicators taking into account previous experience.

The key indicators are as follows.

Vision — seeing what is possible for individuals, families and communities now and in the future.
Self-leadership — recognising, exercising and improving own leadership.
Motivating and inspiring others.
Empowering — enabling others to develop and use their leadership capacity.
Collaborating and influencing.
Creativity and innovation.

All new managers will receive support to enable them to achieve the agreed standards identified as needed for their induction programme with suitable learning methods and resources provided.

(ii) Induction of Professional and Specialist Staff

Staff appointed to specialist and non-management senior roles will have an induction programme that supports them in engaging with their responsibilities within the organisational structure.

This will be organised by the person that reports on the staff member’s work and progress in their role within the organisational structure.

Staff with membership of a regulated profession such as nursing or social work will be supported to meet their registration requirements from the start of their appointment with arrangements made for them to receive suitable professional supervision and support.

(b) Frontline Care staff

The service adheres fully to national care standards that require care providers to make sure that people receiving care’s individual and joint needs are met by appropriately trained staff. It considers induction training as an important part of the service’s staff development and training strategy.

The service’s induction programme is developed in line with the SSSC guidance and resources. The service keeps full records of all training and makes these available for inspection.

Induction training covers all of the service’s key policies and procedures that relate to people’s care, welfare, protection and safety and all those that relate to staff health and safety.

All newly appointed care staff receive an initial induction that covers the common induction requirements described above together with tailored programmes that can be benchmarked against their SSSC registration and post registration requirements.

On completion, all new staff should be assessed as competent to carry out their roles and responsibilities as stated in their job descriptions.

All induction programmes will be completed within a specified timescale using a combination of suitable, valid learning methods and resources. Where appropriate induction learning could contribute to meeting a support worker’s registration requirements.

(i) Care staff with previous experience

Care staff with previous experience of care work, training and qualifications will receive an induction programme tailored to their experience and qualifications, which will also provide a platform for their continuing professional development.

(ii) Care staff new to care work

Care staff new to care work, including people employed as apprentices and trainees, will receive a structured programme that will include:

values
introduction to Social Services Practice
organisation
service specific issues
workplace information
people’s learning and achievements will be logged and recorded.

(iii) Care staff recruited from other countries

{{org_field_name}} is mindful of its duty of care to new staff recruited from other countries under the Government’s sponsorship scheme. It recognises the importance of making people welcome and helping them to adapt to a new country, customs and ways of living in addition to introducing them to their new work roles. It has specific procedures to make each newcomer welcome, well supported and to ensure that they can give their best in their new work setting.

(c) Staff with non-direct care roles

{{org_field_name}} recognises that many of its staff who are not employed to carry out regulated activity will engage in different ways with people receiving care and might, in addition to meeting the common induction requirements for all staff (as described above), benefit from some aspects of the learning provided by the structured induction for new care workers.

This will be particularly useful for anyone who might be suitable and interested in moving into a care role in future.

“Safe to Leave” Policy

A key outcome of induction for staff new to care work they are “safe to leave”, ie able to work without immediate supervision as a full member of the staff team.

The manager is responsible for determining when a new worker is “safe to leave”. Accordingly, the manager might need to make a risk assessment of an individual’s capabilities in relation to the specific tasks they are required to carry out in their job role.

The service recognises that staff need close supervision and support throughout the induction period. Before any new staff member is allowed to work on their own or with relatively inexperienced colleagues, the service carries out a full assessment of their competence to do so, which includes an assessment of any risks arising as a result of their working unsupervised.

Trainees and apprentices are provided with continuous support and supervision in line with the terms agreed for their traineeships or apprenticeships.

All new staff, whether or not employed in care roles, new managers and any volunteers receive an appropriate induction training in line with their roles, responsibilities and contributions.

Responsibilities for Induction

The following people will be responsible for the induction of their staff, for organising the corresponding induction programmes and for organising and co-ordinating training.

Name	Responsibilities

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next review date: this policy is reviewed annually (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.

SCH118. Induction Programmes