Basic life support is the immediate care given to someone whose heart or breathing has stopped, using initial assessment, airway management and CPR to maintain circulation and oxygen supply until emergency help arrives. It forms Standard 12 of the Care Certificate framework used across UK health and social care. Source: Skills for Care - https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/resources/documents/Developing-your-workforce/Care-Certificate/Care-Certificate-Standards/Standard-12.pdf

Basic life support is covered under Standard 12 of the Care Certificate, which all new care workers in England are expected to complete as part of their induction. Employers remain responsible for ensuring staff also receive practical, hands-on training to meet the required competencies.

UK basic life support guidance recommends chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths for adults. This rhythm helps maintain blood flow to vital organs until further help arrives. Source: Resuscitation Council UK - https://www.resus.org.uk/library/2021-resuscitation-guidelines/epidemiology-cardiac-arrest-guidelines

This course covers the theoretical knowledge required for Care Certificate Standard 12 and can be completed online, at your own pace. Practical, hands-on training is also required to develop and demonstrate the physical skills needed to perform CPR and use an AED competently.

There's no single fixed legal refresher period, but most employers and CQC inspections expect basic life support competency to be reassessed regularly, typically annually, in line with recognised UK resuscitation training guidance.

This course is CPD accredited and covers the knowledge required for Care Certificate Standard 12, which CQC inspectors reference when assessing mandatory training. CQC does not approve individual courses directly but expects providers to evidence staff competence, including practical BLS assessment.