Month: April 2025

A recent investigation by ITV News revealed more than half the care homes in England have not had a full inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since 2020. Around 250 of these homes “require improvement” and are now overdue for inspection by up to four years. This alarming statistic demonstrates the need for internal quality measures and independent assurance.

The delay in CQC inspections raises serious questions about how care quality is monitored and maintained in the UK. Service users and their loved ones rely on external ratings to inform life-changing decisions about their care. Without regular inspections, these ratings are outdated and misleading.

Regulatory oversight is a crucial part of care provision. However, we cannot rely on this as the only safeguard. Care providers can take proactive steps to ensure quality training, continuous development, and strong internal standards. That’s where accreditation comes in.

Quality Doesn’t Wait for Inspection

Advantage Accreditation helps care providers ensure quality and deliver training that meets national standards. We can help you demonstrate your commitment to quality care, without waiting for the next CQC visit.

Many issues uncovered in poorly-performing care homes could be prevented by better staff training, oversight, and accountability.

We support care providers to:

• Deliver in-house training in line with our quality standards
• Upskill staff members to become trainers
• Build a team that adapts to changing regulations and care needs

In other words, accreditation enables providers to raise the bar for themselves.

Restoring Trust in Care

The CQC has acknowledged the need to speed up inspections. However, care professionals, service users and their loved ones are demanding more immediate action.

Accreditation is not a replacement for regulation. It is a way for care organisations to demonstrate accountability, build trust, and safeguard service users.

Proactive, not Passive

Take charge of your training, set high standards, and demonstrate your commitment to quality.

Contact Advantage to find out how accreditation can make a difference for you.

The Advantage Accreditation team is proud to announce the launch of a new suite of course materials on Neurodiversity.

Our curriculum team have developed a range of courses on different neurotypes and how best to support neurodivergent people. These resources apply in any sector and industry, including health and social care.

Why Neurodiversity Training Matters

The term “neurodiversity” encompasses a range of neurological differences. It includes autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and Tourette’s syndrome, among others.

Up to 20% of people in the UK identify as neurodivergent (Gov.UK). 79% of neurodivergent people are in full-time or part-time employment (Personnel Today). Only 23% of HR professionals and 29% of senior leaders have completed neurodiversity training within the past 12 months (City & Guilds).

With up to a fifth of our population identifying as neurodivergent, we need to create inclusive and accessible environments for neurodivergent people. This starts with educating ourselves about neurodiversity.

Here’s how neurodiversity training can benefit your organisation:

Improved Productivity

Neurodivergent people bring unique strengths to the workplace. These can include:

• Innovative problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Deep concentration
• Analytical skills
• Strong memory
• Dedication

Creating an inclusive workplace means employers can access the unique skills of neurodivergent workers. Failing to provide adequate support creates barriers to work for neurodivergent people. Employers need to understand neurodiversity to embrace neurodivergent traits at work.

Improved Outcomes

Outside of the workplace, neurodivergent people make up a significant proportion of those in education and those using health and social care services.

Neurodiversity training is essential for improving outcomes in both education and care. Educators must accommodate different learning styles so that every student has the opportunity to thrive. Health and social care providers must deliver person-centred care, tailoring support to each individual. Person-centred care reduces barriers to healthcare and improves trust and communication.

Improved Compliance

Disability is considered a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. While neurodiversity itself is not a disability, many neurodivergent conditions can be considered disabilities. Through neurodiversity training, organisations can ensure compliance with legal requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and reduce discrimination against neurodivergent people.

Our New Neurodiversity Courses

We have developed course materials to support our accredited centres in delivering outstanding neurodiversity training. Courses include:

• Mandatory Autism & Learning Disabilities Training
• Autistic Spectrum
• Working with Autistic People
• Learning Disability Awareness
• Learning Disability & Autism
• SEND Awareness
• Angelman Syndrome
• ADHD Awareness
• Dyslexia Awareness
• Acquired Brain Injury Awareness
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• Neurodiversity Awareness for Managers

How to Access These Courses

These neurodiversity training materials are available to all existing accredited centres. If you are already accredited through Advantage, you can integrate these courses into your training offerings. Please get in touch if you are interested.

For those looking to become an accredited training provider, our team is ready to guide you through the process.

Q&A Session: New Courses

We’re hosting a live online Q&A to discuss the latest additions to our course portfolio. Our team will be happy to answer your questions about these courses and about accreditation in general.

Wednesday 9th April, 2pm-3pm

Please contact us to sign up, and we will send you a Microsoft Teams invitation.