Care Home New Starter Induction Checklist™
Free Staff Induction & Care Certificate Toolkit for UK Care Providers — aligned to CQC Regulation 18, the Care Certificate Standards and the Single Assessment Framework.
Overview
Structured Induction for UK Care Homes
The Care Home New Starter Induction Checklist™ gives registered managers and HR leads everything they need to onboard new staff safely, compliantly and consistently — from pre-employment checks through to 90-day review.
Regulation 18 & Care Certificate Aligned
Fully aligned to CQC Regulation 18 (Staffing), the 15 Care Certificate Standards and the Single Assessment Framework — providing clear evidence of safe recruitment and induction.
Ready-to-Use Templates
Pre-structured induction checklists, competency assessments and review templates that can be completed immediately for every new starter.
30, 60 & 90 Day Framework
Structured probationary review framework ensures new starters are supported, assessed and signed off at every stage of their first three months.
UK Care Sector Specific
Written specifically for CQC-registered care homes in England, covering all mandatory pre-employment checks, DBS requirements and Care Certificate obligations.
What's Included
Everything in the Induction Checklist™
A complete new starter induction toolkit covering pre-employment, day one, week one, Care Certificate, competency assessments and probationary reviews.
👤 What's Included
- Pre-employment checklist — DBS, references, right to work, occupational health and Schedule 3 vetting
- Day one induction checklist — welcome, site orientation, key policies and emergency procedures
- Week one training schedule — mandatory training, shadowing and supervised practice log
- Care Certificate progress tracker — all 15 standards with assessor sign-off columns
- Competency assessment record for clinical and care tasks
- Medication administration competency assessment (where applicable)
- Moving and handling competency sign-off record
- 30-day probationary review template with manager and employee sections
- 60-day progress review template
- 90-day end of probation review and confirmation of employment template
- Induction sign-off record with registered manager countersignature
- New starter personal development plan template
Before the First Day
Pre-Employment Compliance Checklist
Every new starter must pass a series of mandatory pre-employment checks before they can work unsupervised in a CQC-registered care home.
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks
- Enhanced DBS check with barred list check (adults and/or children depending on role)
- Right to work in the UK verification (original documents)
- Two satisfactory references — including most recent employer
- Occupational health clearance and immunisation status (Hepatitis B, MMR, TB, COVID-19)
- Schedule 3 vetting — check against the Adults Barred List and Children's Barred List
- Professional registration verification (NMC, HCPC where applicable)
- Identity verification with photographic ID
- Proof of address and National Insurance number
- Signed contract of employment and job description
- Completion of pre-employment health questionnaire
Day One Induction
Structured First Day Programme
A structured day one induction ensures every new starter receives the same essential information, introductions and safety briefings from their very first shift.
Welcome & Introduction
Meet the registered manager, deputy and team. Tour of the building, fire exits, assembly points and key facilities. Introduction to residents and colleagues.
Key Policies & Procedures
Review and sign-off of safeguarding policy, lone working policy, confidentiality agreement, social media policy and whistleblowing procedure.
Emergency Procedures
Fire evacuation procedure, PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) awareness, first aid arrangements and emergency contact protocols.
Health & Safety Briefing
Manual handling awareness, PPE requirements, infection prevention and control basics, COSHH awareness and accident reporting procedure.
IT & Systems Access
Set up of care management system access, staff rota system, email and any other digital tools. Data protection and GDPR awareness briefing.
Supervised Practice Begins
Allocation of buddy or mentor. Commencement of supervised practice log. Introduction to Care Certificate standards and induction timeline.
Week One Training
Mandatory Training in the First Week
All new starters must complete a core set of mandatory training modules within their first week, with additional role-specific training scheduled within the first month.
Safeguarding Adults & Children
Level 1 safeguarding awareness for all staff. Level 2 for senior care staff and team leaders. Includes local authority referral pathways and whistleblowing.
Infection Prevention & Control
Hand hygiene, PPE donning and doffing, standard precautions, outbreak management awareness and NIPCM alignment.
Moving & Handling
Theory and practical moving and handling training with competency sign-off. Equipment familiarisation including hoists, slide sheets and transfer aids.
Medication Awareness
Medication awareness for all care staff. Full medication administration training and competency assessment for those with administration responsibilities.
Fire Safety
Fire awareness, evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher types, PEEP awareness and fire warden responsibilities (where applicable).
First Aid Awareness
Basic life support, choking response, falls management and emergency first aid awareness. Full first aid certification for designated first aiders.
Care Certificate Progress
All 15 Care Certificate Standards
The Care Certificate must be completed by all new care staff who are not already registered professionals. The checklist tracks progress across all 15 standards.
Understand Your Role
Your Personal Development
Duty of Care
Equality & Diversity
Work in a Person-Centred Way
Communication
Privacy & Dignity
Fluids & Nutrition
Awareness of Mental Health
Safeguarding Adults
Safeguarding Children
Basic Life Support
Health & Safety
Handling Information
Infection Prevention & Control
Competency Assessments
Role-Specific Competency Sign-Off
The toolkit includes competency assessment records for the key clinical and care tasks that new starters must demonstrate before working unsupervised.
Medication Administration
Competency assessment covering medication administration, MAR completion, controlled drug handling and medication error reporting.
Moving & Handling
Practical competency sign-off for manual handling techniques, hoist operation, slide sheet use and transfer board techniques.
Basic Life Support
CPR and AED competency assessment with annual renewal requirement. Includes choking response and recovery position.
IPC Competency
Hand hygiene audit, PPE competency assessment and standard precautions sign-off for all new care staff.
Care Documentation
Competency in completing daily care notes, care plans, risk assessments and incident reports to the required standard.
Information Governance
UK GDPR awareness, confidentiality competency and data handling sign-off for all staff with access to resident records.
30, 60 & 90 Day Reviews
Structured Probationary Review Framework
Three structured probationary reviews ensure new starters are supported, assessed and confirmed in post at every stage of their first three months.
First Month Review
- Induction completion check
- Mandatory training progress
- Care Certificate progress review
- Buddy/mentor feedback
- Initial performance assessment
- Wellbeing and support check
Second Month Review
- Care Certificate completion check
- Competency assessment outcomes
- Performance against role expectations
- Any concerns or support needs
- Training gaps identified
- Personal development plan review
End of Probation Review
- Full probation assessment
- All competencies signed off
- Care Certificate completion confirmed
- Confirmation of employment decision
- Ongoing development plan agreed
- Registered manager countersignature
Who It's For
Designed for UK Care Professionals
The New Starter Induction Checklist™ is built for everyone responsible for recruiting, onboarding and developing staff in UK care settings.
Registered Managers
HR Leads & People Managers
Care Home Providers & Groups
Deputy Managers & Clinical Leads
Senior Care Staff & Team Leaders
Aspiring Registered Managers
Benefits
Why Use the New Starter Induction Checklist™
Structured induction is one of the most powerful tools for reducing staff turnover, ensuring CQC compliance and building a safe, competent workforce.
CQC Inspection Ready
Signed induction records and Care Certificate completion evidence are primary evidence for CQC inspectors assessing Regulation 18 compliance and Safe quality statements.
Reduces Staff Turnover
Structured induction significantly reduces early-stage staff turnover by ensuring new starters feel supported, informed and valued from day one.
Safer Care from Day One
Mandatory pre-employment checks, competency assessments and supervised practice ensure new starters are safe to work before they work unsupervised.
Saves Management Time
Pre-structured checklists and templates eliminate hours of preparation — simply complete the sections for each new starter and file the signed records.
Consistent Across All Starters
Standardised induction ensures every new starter receives the same quality of onboarding regardless of which manager or team leader delivers it.
Auditable Evidence Trail
Signed, dated induction records with competency sign-offs create a complete, auditable evidence trail for CQC, commissioners and HR governance.
Related SOP Products
Pair with Our Enterprise SOP Templates
Complement your induction checklist with professionally written SOP templates aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework.
Related Free Resources
More Free Care Home Tools
Download our full suite of free compliance tools for UK registered managers and quality leads.
Care Home Staff Training Matrix™
Mandatory training and competency tracker for staff training, renewal dates and Care Certificate progress.
🎓 Download MatrixCare Home Compliance Health Check™
Assess operational maturity across 6 governance domains. Includes a 90-day improvement roadmap.
📋 Download WorkbookCare Home Incident Reporting Toolkit™
Incident reporting, investigation and learning toolkit aligned to CQC Regulation 17 and RIDDOR.
🚨 Download ToolkitCare Home Risk Register Template™
Enterprise risk register aligned to Regulation 17 and the CQC Single Assessment Framework.
📄 Download RegisterCare Home Governance Meeting Pack™
Governance meeting agenda, minutes and action planning toolkit for UK registered managers.
📝 Download PackFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Care Home New Starter Induction Checklist™.
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Is the New Starter Induction Checklist™ really free?Yes — the Care Home New Starter Induction Checklist™ is completely free to download. No sign-up required. Simply click the download button and the PDF will open in a new tab.
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What format is the checklist in?The checklist is provided as a PDF workbook. It is designed to be printed or completed digitally using Adobe Acrobat or a compatible PDF reader.
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Is the Care Certificate mandatory?The Care Certificate is not a legal requirement, but CQC expects registered managers to demonstrate that all new care staff have the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the 15 Care Certificate Standards before they work unsupervised. Failure to evidence this can result in regulatory action under Regulation 18 (Staffing).
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How long should induction take?CQC does not specify a minimum induction period, but best practice is a structured 12-week induction programme covering pre-employment checks, day one orientation, week one mandatory training, Care Certificate completion and 30/60/90 day probationary reviews. The checklist supports this full 12-week framework.
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Is it aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework?Yes. The New Starter Induction Checklist™ is fully aligned to the CQC Single Assessment Framework (SAF) and Regulation 18 (Staffing), with particular focus on the Safe and Effective quality statements.
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How does this differ from the paid SOP bundles?The New Starter Induction Checklist™ provides the forms, checklists and tracking tools you need to onboard new staff. Our paid SOP bundles provide the full written standard operating procedures and policies that govern how recruitment, induction and workforce management should be conducted in your care home.
Download Your Free New Starter Induction Checklist™ Now
No sign-up. No cost. Instant access to a professional staff induction and Care Certificate toolkit for UK care providers.
👤 Download Free Checklist
