International Day of Education: Why Learning Matters in Care

International Day of Education is a timely reminder that learning is not limited to schools, universities or early life. In health and social care, education is a daily discipline and one of the strongest predictors of safe, consistent and person-centred support.

For families exploring care options, it can be difficult to judge quality from a brochure or a star rating. One of the most reliable indicators is a provider’s commitment to learning: how staff are trained, how knowledge is refreshed and how improvements are embedded into everyday practice.

Education in care is not a one-off course

Good care relies on more than mandatory training. It requires continuous development that keeps pace with changing needs, new guidance and the realities of supporting people with complex physical health, dementia or mental health challenges.

Ongoing learning in care typically includes:

• regular refreshers on safeguarding, medication, infection prevention and moving and handling

• scenario-based learning to practise real situations such as falls, deterioration or distressed behaviour

• coaching and supervision that supports confidence, judgement and accountability

• reflective practice that helps teams learn from incidents, feedback and near-misses

The goal is simple: safer care, better communication and more consistent outcomes.

Why education matters to families

When a team is well trained and supported, families usually notice it in the small things:

• staff recognise early signs that someone’s health is changing

• communication is clearer, calmer and more proactive

• routines feel personalised rather than generic

• concerns are handled professionally, not defensively

Education also supports continuity. When staff are developed and valued, they are more likely to stay. Stable teams matter because they learn a person’s baseline and can spot subtle changes early.

Specialist learning makes a measurable difference

Every person’s needs are different. The best providers invest in training that matches the people they support.

For example, dementia-focused learning often goes beyond theory. It can include empathy-based training and practical simulations that help staff understand sensory changes, communication challenges and the environmental details that reduce distress.

In practice, this can influence:

• how staff approach reassurance and de-escalation

• how activities are adapted to maintain independence

• how the environment is designed to reduce confusion

• how families are supported through transitions

Education is also about culture

Training is important but culture is what makes it stick.

A strong learning culture looks like:

• staff feel safe to ask questions and admit uncertainty

• leaders model curiosity and accountability

• feedback is welcomed and acted on

• improvements are shared across teams, not kept in silos

In care, this matters because the work is human, unpredictable and high stakes. The best teams are not the ones who claim to be perfect. They are the ones who keep learning.

A practical question to ask any care provider

If you are visiting a service or speaking to a provider, one of the most revealing questions is:

“What ongoing training and development do your staff receive beyond the basics?”

A confident provider should be able to explain how learning is planned, how it is refreshed and how it translates into day-to-day care.

Closing thought

International Day of Education is a good moment to recognise the role learning plays in care. Behind every safe medication round, every calm conversation, every well-managed change in health and every dignified personal care routine, there is training, reflection and experience.

Education is not an add-on. In care, it is part of the service.