At Karuna Care London, we are designing the service on the basis that safe, good‑quality care depends on what staff actually know and do, not just what is written in policies. Training and professional development are therefore built in from the start as core parts of our model, not optional extras.
We expect every member of staff to understand their role, feel confident in their responsibilities and know when and how to ask for help. Our training approach is there to make that possible.
Induction: getting the basics right
Before working independently, every new colleague will complete a structured induction that covers:
- An introduction to Karuna Care London’s values, expectations and ways of working
- Orientation to the building, emergency procedures and daily routines
- Key policies, including safeguarding, mental capacity, confidentiality and whistleblowing
- Mandatory training modules relevant to their role
- Shadowing shifts alongside experienced staff before taking on full duties
By the end of induction, staff should know who to go to with questions, how to record information properly, and what “good” looks like in everyday work.
Core mandatory training
All care and support staff will complete mandatory training appropriate to their role. This is expected to include areas such as:
- Safeguarding adults and raising concerns
- Mental Capacity Act and consent
- Infection prevention and control
- Health and safety, including fire safety and basic risk assessment
- First aid and basic life support
- Moving and handling
- Medicines awareness and administration (where the role requires it)
- Record keeping, confidentiality and information governance
Training will not be treated as a box‑ticking exercise. Where skills are involved, such as moving and handling or medicines administration, staff will be expected to demonstrate competence, not just attend a session.
Ongoing refresher and specialist training
Knowledge and good practice change over time. Once the home is operational, we will run a rolling programme of refresher training so that critical subjects stay current. In addition, staff will have access to specialist training linked to the needs of residents, for example:
- Dementia, learning disability or autism awareness
- Positive approaches to behaviour that may challenge
- End of life care and communication
- Mental health awareness and supporting emotional wellbeing
The exact mix will depend on who lives in the home. As needs change, the training programme will be adjusted.
Supervision, reflection and learning from practice
Formal training is only one part of development. Staff will also receive:
- Regular one‑to‑one supervision with a senior member of staff, to reflect on practice, discuss difficulties and identify learning needs
- Team meetings where case examples, incidents and changes in guidance can be discussed openly
- Debriefing opportunities after significant incidents or complaints, focusing on learning rather than blame
Themes from supervision, incidents and audits will feed back into the training plan, so that development is linked to real issues in the service.
Supporting recognised qualifications and progression
Where appropriate to the role and the needs of the service, staff will be supported to work towards recognised social care qualifications, for example:
- Care Certificate for new care workers
- Level 2 or 3 adult care qualifications for more experienced staff
- Leadership and management development for seniors and team leaders, aligned with higher‑level qualifications where possible
Progression will not be automatic, but staff who show commitment, values and aptitude will be encouraged and supported to take on greater responsibility over time.
Keeping knowledge up to date
Karuna Care London will monitor changes in legislation, CQC expectations and good practice guidance. When requirements change, we will:
- Update relevant policies and procedures
- Provide targeted training or briefings to staff
- Use supervision and team meetings to embed changes in everyday work
The aim is that staff are not left working from outdated guidance or informal habits, but are kept aligned with current standards.
Regulatory status
Karuna Care London is currently progressing through registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and is not yet open to residents or employing its full staff team. The training and professional development arrangements described on this page reflect our intended practice and will be implemented as recruitment begins and once CQC registration and all necessary approvals have been granted.