Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current regulatory arrangements for the training of healthcare support workers; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all staff receive the training, supervision and support they need to deliver safe, high‑quality care.

Healthcare support workers (HCSWs) are not regulated by a statutory professional body. Where HCSWs are working in health and social care services and the provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the CQC regulates the service provider who employs them.

Providers are legally required to ensure HCSWs are properly trained, supervised, and competent to deliver safe, high-quality care. They are expected to meet the standards of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including Regulation 18 (staffing) and Regulation 19 (fit and proper persons employed).

It is the responsibility of individual employers to invest in their workforce and ensure staff receive appropriate ongoing training, supervision, and continuing professional development to deliver safe and effective care.