In my opinion

E-Learning in Health and Social Care - A Failed Experiment?

Posted: September 20, 2025

For over a decade, we've been sold a digital dream. E-learning was presented as the silver bullet for the immense training challenges in health and social care. The pitch was irresistible: a cheap, flexible, and trackable method to upskill our workforce. The pandemic sealed the deal, forcing a near-total reliance on remote learning and cementing its place in the sector.

But now, standing in the wreckage of that digital-first approach, we must confront a harsh reality. This wasn't just a flawed experiment; it has become a dangerous charade that prioritises the illusion of compliance over the substance of competence.

The Digital Mirage

Yes, the initial appeal was potent. The promise of slashing training budgets, eliminating logistical headaches, and providing staff with anytime-anywhere access to learning materials seemed like a revolution. For managers, the lure of a neatly populated training matrix, where green ticks signify a fully compliant workforce, was intoxicating.

But it is just that—a mirage. And behind the shimmering promise of digital efficiency lies a rot that has infected our sector's approach to professional development.

The Rot Beneath the Clicks

The truth on the frontline is that the supposed "flexibility" of e-learning has become a tool for exploitation. The privilege of completing training "in the comfort of your own home" is a lie. For the already over-stretched, under-paid care worker, it is simply unpaid labour. It is an infringement on their precious downtime, forcing them to spend hours not genuinely learning, but mindlessly clicking a mouse and tapping away at a screen. Research from organisations like Skills for Care has consistently highlighted that poor pay and conditions are primary drivers of staff turnover; adding the burden of unpaid training time only exacerbates this burnout.

When a system shows such disrespect, it naturally breeds a culture of deception. I have seen it first-hand: team members completing modules for colleagues and managers manipulating matrices to mask non-compliance. This isn't just an anecdote; it's the predictable outcome of a system that values a tick in a box over genuine understanding. This creates a 'ghost of competence'—a dangerous fiction where everyone is certified, but nobody is truly prepared.

This fraudulence compounds the fundamental error of treating a practical job as a theoretical one. The issue isn't limited to obvious physical tasks like manual handling; every aspect of care has a crucial practical element. How to communicate with a non-verbal resident, de-escalate a crisis, or demonstrate genuine empathy are all skills that must be practiced, not just read about. After all, care is a practical role, not an academic one. The evidence on this is overwhelming, with studies in journals like Nurse Education Today consistently finding that students feel less confident and are less competent in performing the hands-on duties of their role when taught exclusively online.

The Evidence Backs the Experience 🔬

This isn't just opinion; it's a reality backed by extensive research.

• On Practical Skills: A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing reviewed dozens of studies and concluded that for complex health skills, face-to-face simulation and direct practice lead to significantly better outcomes in student performance and confidence.

• On Learner Engagement: Research into e-learning in healthcare frequently points to learner isolation, lack of engagement, and a 'surface learning' approach. A 2021 study on nursing students found that over 70% felt online learning was a less effective and less motivating way to learn clinical skills compared to in-person teaching.

• On Knowledge Retention: The 'click-through' nature of many modules means knowledge is often not transferred from short-term to long-term memory. Without the reinforcement of discussion and practice, information is quickly forgotten, rendering the certificate meaningless weeks later.

The consensus in educational research is not that technology is useless, but that its over-reliance is dangerous. The most effective model, supported by the evidence, is blended learning, where technology is used for foundational knowledge, but practical skills are taught, practiced, and assessed in person.

The Fish, The Tree, and The Digital Classroom

Albert Einstein famously said, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

This is the very philosophy of one-size-fits-all e-learning. It treats every dedicated, passionate care professional as a uniform data point. And as we look to the future, the next iteration of this flawed philosophy, Artificial Intelligence, promises a more sophisticated deception. An AI can simulate empathy, but it cannot possess it. It can recite the principles of person-centred care, but it is, by its very nature, incapable of being person-centred.

A Different Philosophy: The PJ Care Services Ltd. Approach

The conclusion is inescapable. True person-centred care requires truly person-centred training.

The digital-first model is broken. It's time to champion a way that aligns with the evidence. At PJ Care Services Ltd., we have built our entire training philosophy around this principle. We believe that genuine competence is forged through practice, not clicks.

That is why every single one of our training sessions includes a practical, hands-on element.

• Our Manual Handling of People course isn't a slideshow; it's hands-on practice with hoists, slings, and slide sheets in realistic scenarios.

• Our Infection Control training goes beyond theory; it involves practical demonstrations and assessments of proper PPE usage.

• Even our 'classroom' subjects are made practical. A session on the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) isn't a lecture on law; it’s an interactive workshop where your team works through real-world case studies, applying the principles in a way that sticks.

We refuse to compromise on competence. We don't just train your staff to pass a test; we empower them with the confidence and skills to provide the safest, most effective, and most compassionate care possible.

If you are tired of the compliance charade and ready to invest in genuine competence for your team, it's time to do things differently. Contact PJ Care Services Ltd. today and discover the power of truly person-centred training.