Professional Documents
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Infection Prevention and Control Policy (England)
Infection Prevention and Control Policy (England)
POLICY STATEMENT
Home Instead is devoted to providing the highest-quality care to older people in the
comfort of their own homes. Infection prevention and control is an essential element of
high-quality care. Having effective infection prevention and control measures in place
contributes to the safety of the environment for clients, CAREGivers, employees, and
visitors to Home Instead. Infections are those caused by exposure to harmful micro-
organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, internal parasites, and other infectious agents.
Exposure to a micro-organism can occur outside or inside your work environment, in
order to protect yourself and those in your care and your colleagues you must be vigilant
at all times and adhere to the measures in this policy.
CONTEXT
This policy relates to and should be read in conjunction with the following policies: Privacy
and Dignity, Health, Safety and Welfare, Mental Capacity, Food Safety and Nutrition,
Confidentiality, Staff Immunisation Policy and General Data Protection Policy.
The primary legislation & guidance related to this Policy is the Health and Safety at Work
Act (1974), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (as amended), Health
and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Part 3) applies. Of
particular relevance is Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment and Regulation 15:
Premises and equipment. The regulations can be accessed here
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/contents/made.TheRegulation references
the Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
(2015), this can be accessed here
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449049
/Code_of_practice_280715_acc.pdf.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for the registration, inspection and
regulation of Adult Social Care providers. They set out Fundamental Standards below
which the standard of care must never fall http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/fundamental-
standards.
The CQC uses five key questions as a framework for its inspections and rating of services.
Each of the questions is supported by statements of Characteristics that inspectors would
expect to find in services that are good or outstanding. The following one is particularly
relevant:
Are they safe? Safe means how well are people protected by the prevention and control
of infection?.
The Providers Handbook Appendix B contains the Characteristics of each rating level and
can be found here http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/provider-handbooks.
COVID-19 is also a reportable disease under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (known as RIDDOR) which strengthens employers’
encouragement that employees should agree to vaccination.
Data Protection Act 2018 sets out the framework for processing personal data including
special categories of data which includes health data. This Act sets out the framework
for when and how special categories of data can be processed. The full Act can be
found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted
DEFINITIONS
Standard infection control precautions (SICPs) - SICPs are the basic infection prevention
and control measures necessary to reduce the risk of transmitting infectious agents
from both recognised and unrecognised sources of infection.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - PPE is equipment that will protect the user
against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as masks, gloves, apron
and eye protection.
RESPONSIBILITY
The Registered Manager as Infection Prevention and Control Lead must ensure that:
• All clients are assessed for Infection Risk as part of the Care Consultation
Process. This risk assessment will vary depending on the specific infection risk,
there can be multiple risk assessments for different exposure risks.
• All CAREGivers are familiar with this policy and the Health and Social Care Act
2008 (Revised July 2015) Code of Practice on the prevention and control of
infections and related guidance in so far as they relate to domiciliary care.
• All CAREGivers have had instruction and training in infection control and any
related training that would assist in the prevention and control of any infection
such as hand hygiene and ensure that such training is included and noted in
personal development plans.
• All CAREGivers have adequate resources and support to put into practice
infection control procedures, this includes providing all forms of personal
protective equipment (PPE) that may be necessary or advised by guidance
issued by the government or Public Health England (PHE)
• Appropriate Risk Assessments are carried out for any CAREGivers which may
put them at increased risk of disease and illness associated with any infection
that may be circulating within a general population or that may have been
identified as either present or possibly present with a CAREGivers client.
• Recognise that what may put a CAREGiver at increased risk may be different
for each infection depending on any health concern, pregnany or any other
relevant risk factors and appropriate control measures must be put in place.
• Any CAREGiver who receives an occupational exposure to infective materials
should receive a timely referral to GP, Accident and Emergency Department
or other appropriate screening and support services.
• Information and guidance is provided to family and carers of clients when and
where appropriate to do so.
OPERATIONAL
The following Standard Infection Control Procedures map to the Code of Practice
on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance (2015) and are
adapted for the setting within which Home Instead provides care and support – in
the client’s own home or in the community. (Only the criteria applicable to or
relevant to Home Instead activities are included).
Home Instead provides care and support in clients’ own homes and provides
support to access community and social activities. As such the care
environment is outside of the control of the service and its staff. CAREGivers
should endeavour to ensure good practices of hygiene where possible,
supporting the client with cleaning, appropriate management of risks (e.g.
ensuring pets do not contaminate food or soil the home) and ensuring as safe
management of care environment as is practicable without interfering with
client choice of lifestyle. With respect to community activities, CAREGivers
should discuss choice of activity with the client if there is any presenting issue
related to infection control which indicates that the usual activity might be
unwise and support them in whatever they choose to do. Any concerns
regarding hygiene in the home, infestations or risky activities should be
reported to the Registered Manager.
6. Have and adhere to policies, designed for the individual’s care and
provider organisations that will help to prevent and control infections.
Hand Hygiene: Hand washing is considered an important practice in the
control of infection. All CAREGivers should follow the recommended
procedure which is to avoid wearing any watches or jewellery (except for
wedding rings) and to ensure any cuts or wounds are covered with waterproof
dressings. Nails should be kept short and free of cosmetic products. Hands
should be washed with hot water and soap using an appropriate technique
for the recommended duration. The use of single-use disposable paper
towels for drying is recommended, do not share the client’s personal towels.
If out in the community, the use of antibacterial hand gel is acceptable unless
hands are visibly dirty, in which case they should be washed.
Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves and aprons will be provided for use by
the franchise owner. Before undertaking any tasks associated with personal
care CAREGivers must put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the use of
gloves and aprons protects the client from any contamination which might be
present on the CAREGiver’s hands or clothing and protects the CAREGiver
from exposure to bodily fluids. Masks are worn there is a risk of respiratory
infections being transferred and spread from one person to another.
Normally a fluid resistant mask id required, Registered managers must ensure
they are aware of the correct PPE to be worn in the correct circumstances to
ensure that staff, clienst and te wider team are protected for person to person
transmission of communicable diseases. Before undertaking any domestic
duties, the CAREGiver should assess if PPE is required and use if appropriate.
Gloves and aprons must be worn if there is a likelihood of coming into contact
with any bodily fluids (e.g. through soiled laundry). CAREGivers should report
to the Registered Manager any instances where additional PPE might be
required (e.g. facemasks might be indicated for domestic duties in particularly
dusty environments). All PPE provided is disposable and should be disposed
of in accordance with the relevant local authority guidance, under no
circumstances should any item be used on more than one occasion unless this
is allowed within government guidance as a response to PPE supply levels
within the community.
Management of Linen: PPE should be worn when sorting linen and handling
soiled linen. Linen which is contaminated with bodily fluids (vomit, blood,
faeces or urine) should be washed separately from other linen. Specific
infections may also require linens to be washed separately. All relevant
guidance issued by bodies such as the Public Health England must be followed
to prevent cross contamination. Safe Management of Body Fluids: There
maybe circumstances where cleaning up body fluids might be part of a
CAREGivers role, such as an episode of incontinence or vomiting, or failure of
catheter bags for example. In such circumstances PPE should be worn and
the contamination should be cleaned up and the area disinfected. Any
Staff Presentation and Personal Hygiene: Staff should practice and maintain
good personal hygiene at all times. Clothing and footwear should be in line
with company requirements and should be clean and practical. Common
sense should be applied if clothing becomes soiled during duties and
arrangements made to change them if necessary to prevent spread of
contamination.
SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES
STAFF TRAINING
All staff should receive training on Infection Control as part of their induction and
continue to update their knowledge and practice throughout their employment.
Home Instead will provide appropriate and relevant training for all staff. Registered
Managers will ensure that Infection Control is part of CPD and is recorded on staff
personnel records. Registered Managers should ensure their own knowledge is up
to date and they maintain that knowledge in respect of any specific outbreak of an
infectious disease and seek the information from required from relevant sources
such as government websites, Public Health England and Department of Health and
Social Care.
Staff should practice good personal hygiene at all times. Clothing and footwear
should be in line with company requirements and should be clean and practical.
Common sense should be applied if clothing becomes soiled during duties and
arrangements made to change them if necessary to prevent spread of
contamination.
FAMILY INFORMATION/GUIDANCE