Care Planning and Risk Assessment – Extended Knowledge

Course fee: HCPA Full Member: Fully funded*
Associate Member: £112.50+VAT | ACE Member: £150+VAT |  Non-member: £225+VAT 

Three day course at HCPA Campus
Day 1: 24/06/2026
Day 2: 25/06/2026
Day 3: 29/06/2026

Course Overview

This three-day extended knowledge course supports care staff to strengthen their understanding and practical skills in assessment, care planning, and risk management. Ideal for senior care staff or those in lead roles, the course covers the full care planning journey, from initial assessment through to daily delivery, risk assessment, and quality assurance.

This course is aligned with the Workforce Development Pathway under:
• Care or Support Worker – Established in their role with consolidated skills and experience
• Enhanced Care Worker – Delegated healthcare activities and/or condition-specific support

Entry Requirements
Learners must be responsible for care planning activities in their services.

Course structure

Day 1 – Laying the Foundations
Focuses on pre-admission information gathering, referral and funding pathways, and planning for a smooth transition into care. Learners will explore the principles of person-centred assessment and how different conditions and needs influence planning. Key safeguarding, human rights, and service agreement considerations are also covered.

Day 2 – Care Planning and Risk in Practice
An interactive workshop day where learners apply learning to develop real-life care plans and SMART outcomes. The session explores how to manage fluctuating needs, balance risk and choice, and create clear, practical risk assessments that reflect daily care delivery and mental capacity principles.

Day 3 – Reviewing and Improving Quality
Covers quality assurance, record-keeping, and the use of tools such as ABC charts and incident logs. Learners will learn to evaluate and update care plans, reflect on lessons from incidents, and understand the role of supervision, digital tools, and co-production in maintaining safe, high-quality care.

Learning outcomes:
• Explain the importance of thorough information collection before accepting a care package and describe the referral process, including who can initiate referrals.
• Understand key funding pathways (local authority, CHC, self-funding, direct payments) and explore best practice for smooth transitions, focusing on the first 72 hours.
• Apply core principles of effective assessment (person-centred, outcome-focused, strengths-based) and recognise how different conditions influence care planning.
• Understand the role of human rights and safeguarding in care planning and explain the importance of service agreements, including disclosure of risk-related behaviour.
• Identify and assess common risks, create practical risk assessments, and apply mental capacity principles when making risk-related decisions.
• Understand how to embed dignity, choice, and control into care plans and consider the impact of cultural background and communication styles.
• Understand how to use tools such as daily records, ABC charts, and audits to monitor care, track outcomes, and update plans based on changes, incidents, and reviews.
• Recognise the role of digital systems, data security, and effective documentation in meeting regulatory requirements and improving care quality.
• Understand how to engage individuals and families in co-producing care plans, develop SMART goals, and ensure effective handovers and supervision for safety and quality.

*Please note: As per our T&C’s, this course carries a fee in the event of non-attendance, non-completion or late cancellation.
Bookings of more than two delegates per site may be amended to allow access to all member organisations at the discretion of HCPA.
Delegates who are late may not be admitted into the training and a cost incurred.