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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Infection Prevention and Control Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} provides the highest standard of infection prevention and control (IPC) within our community-based, domiciliary care services.

We aim to:

• Protect people we support, staff, visitors, and contractors from the risk of infection.
• Apply robust, evidence-based infection prevention measures.
• Comply with all relevant legislation, national guidance, and best practice standards.
• Promote the safety, dignity, health, and wellbeing of people receiving care.

This policy reflects the specific challenges of delivering safe care in people’s own homes, where infection prevention requires close cooperation with individuals, families, and healthcare partners.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All {{org_field_name}} employees.
• All agency workers, volunteers, contractors, and professionals engaged by {{org_field_name}}.
• All people we support who receive care within their own home.

It applies to all activities related to:

• Personal care.
• Medication administration.
• Meal preparation.
• Infection prevention interventions.
• Management of outbreaks.

3. Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside:

• Health and Safety Policy
• Risk Assessment Policy
• Personal Care Policy
• Personal Plans Policy
• COVID-19 Management Policy
• Staff Training and Development Policy
• Safeguarding and Adult Protection Policy
• Incident Reporting Policy

4. Legislative and Best Practice Framework

This policy is informed by and complies with relevant Scottish legislation and current national guidance, including (but not limited to):

• Health and Social Care Standards: My Support, My Life (2017)
• Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
• The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210) (and associated statutory guidance)
• Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (including duties relating to the control of infection and public health protection)
• Health and safety legislation applicable to infection risks, including COSHH and RIDDOR (as applicable to work activities)
• NHSScotland National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) (living online guidance, updated regularly)
• Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual (CH IPCM) and Care Inspectorate IPC resources (where relevant to the setting and risk)

Where specific outbreak/pandemic legal measures or Scottish Government direction are in force, we will follow the current requirements and the latest national guidance applicable at that time.

5. Infection Prevention and Control Standards

5.1 The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)

{{org_field_name}} adopts the NHSScotland National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) as the primary evidence-based framework for Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) and Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs). We apply NIPCM principles proportionately in domiciliary care, using task-based and person-specific risk assessment for each visit and each care activity.

Where additional context-specific tools are helpful (for example, respiratory illness resources or outbreak checklists), we also refer to the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual (CH IPCM) resources as aligned good practice, adapting them appropriately for care delivered in a person’s own home.

5.2 Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)

The SICPs are mandatory for all staff, at all times, for all people we support, regardless of infection status. The SICPs include:

• Hand hygiene: Following the WHO ‘5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’ before and after every care interaction.
• Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gloves, aprons, masks and eye protection based on task-specific risk assessment.
• Safe management of care equipment: Cleaning and disinfection between uses.
• Safe management of care environment: Cleanliness of the service user’s home.
• Safe linen handling: Proper segregation and laundering.
• Safe waste disposal: Segregation of household and clinical waste.
• Occupational safety: Staff protection from bloodborne viruses, needlestick injuries, and contaminated sharps.

Compliance with SICPs is monitored through training, supervision, audits and spot checks.

5.3 Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs)

Where known or suspected infections exist, Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs) are implemented in addition to SICPs. TBPs include:

• Additional PPE (e.g. Type IIR surgical masks, face shields).
• Enhanced environmental cleaning.
• Use of single-use or single-patient dedicated equipment where possible.
• Temporary isolation measures within the home, where feasible.
• Liaison with health protection teams for outbreak management.

6. Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is the single most important action to prevent infection transmission.

• Staff must wash hands with liquid soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds.
• Alcohol-based hand rub (minimum 60% alcohol) may be used if hands are not visibly soiled.
• Staff must always carry hand hygiene supplies for use in domiciliary settings.
• Nails must be short, and artificial nails, extensions or nail varnish are prohibited.

7. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Appropriate PPE will always be worn based on task-specific risk assessment:

Task/Exposure	Gloves	Apron	Mask	Eye Protection
Personal care	✔	✔	Situational	Situational
Cleaning	✔	✔	✖	Situational
Suspected infection	✔	✔	✔	✔
Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs)	✔	✔	FFP3 or equivalent	✔

• PPE is single-use and disposed of safely after each task.
• PPE stock levels are checked daily and re-ordered by {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}.
• Donning and doffing procedures are taught to all staff as part of mandatory training.

8. Environmental Cleaning in Home Care

Although domiciliary services operate within people’s private homes, staff still have duties to ensure a clean care environment during service provision.

• Frequently touched surfaces (door handles, light switches, mobility aids) are wiped with disinfectant wipes before and after care activities.
• Equipment used by staff (hoists, commodes, slings) is decontaminated between each use.
• Cleaning products conform to BS EN 14476 standards (virucidal effectiveness).
• Colour-coded cloths are used for different areas where possible to avoid cross-contamination.
• Staff promote general household cleanliness to families and individuals to support infection prevention.

9. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

Staff and service users are educated and supported to follow:

• Covering mouth and nose with tissue or elbow when coughing/sneezing.
• Disposing of tissues immediately in household waste.
• Performing hand hygiene after coughing or sneezing.
• Maximising ventilation where feasible by opening windows during care visits.

10. Safe Waste Management in Home Care

• Clinical waste (e.g. PPE, dressings, contaminated materials): Placed in yellow clinical waste bags where service user arrangements permit collection.
• General waste: Segregated into normal household refuse where safe to do so.
• Sharps: Disposed of in approved sharps containers, collected by licenced clinical waste contractors.

Staff are trained in safe waste handling, and waste management arrangements are risk-assessed for each person.

11. Linen and Laundry Management

• Used linens, towels, and clothing are handled with minimal agitation.
• Items are laundered on a hot wash cycle (60°C or above) where possible.
• Soiled laundry is placed directly into designated laundry bags or washing machines.
• Gloves and aprons are worn when handling soiled linens.

12. Infection Prevention During Personal Care

• Every person has an individual Infection Control Risk Assessment as part of their personal plan.
• Personal care tasks involve hand hygiene before and after each contact.
• Gloves and aprons are worn for all personal care.
• Equipment such as hoists, slings, and commodes are decontaminated after each use.
• Disposable wipes are used where applicable.

13. Training and Competency

All staff receive:

• Initial induction training covering all aspects of infection prevention.
• Annual refresher training including any updates from CH NIPCM or Scottish Government.
• Competency assessments including hand hygiene audits, PPE donning/doffing observation, and cleaning protocols.

Failure to comply with infection prevention policies will result in retraining, supervision, and disciplinary action if necessary.

14. Monitoring and Quality Assurance

Infection prevention performance is monitored through:

• Monthly audits of hand hygiene, PPE use, environmental cleaning, and waste management.
• Unannounced spot checks by management.
• Infection incident reporting and investigation.
• Regular supervision sessions addressing infection control performance.
• Service user and family feedback on infection safety.

Audit findings are reviewed by the management team to identify trends, learning and improvements.

15. Management of Infections and Outbreaks

15.1 Identification and Reporting

Staff must report immediately to the Care Manager if:

• A person we support displays symptoms of infectious illness.
• A staff member has a suspected or confirmed infection.
• Multiple cases are identified suggesting a potential outbreak.

Reporting routes include:

• Verbal to manager on shift.
• Telephone call to {{org_field_phone_no}}.
• Email to {{org_field_registered_manager_email}}.
• Out of hours contact via {{out_of_hours}}.

15.2 Infection Control Lead

Infection Control Lead: {{org_field_infection_control_lead_name}}, {{org_field_infection_control_lead_role}}
Responsible for coordinating outbreak responses and liaising with external agencies.

15.3 Isolation and Enhanced Precautions

• Isolation measures will be implemented where possible within the person’s home.
• Enhanced PPE will be worn.
• Visits will be adjusted to minimise staff contact where safe.

15.4 Outbreak Management and Notifications

We will take immediate steps to reduce transmission risk, including enhanced cleaning, appropriate PPE, and review of staffing arrangements and visit scheduling where safe to do so.

We will notify the local NHS Board Health Protection Team promptly for advice and support where an outbreak is suspected or confirmed.

We will notify the Care Inspectorate immediately of an outbreak of infectious disease in line with Care Inspectorate notification requirements and will keep clear records of actions taken, advice received, and notifications submitted.

15.5 Notifiable diseases and public health reporting

Where a person we support or a member of staff is suspected or confirmed to have a notifiable disease (or where symptoms/cases suggest a wider public health risk), {{org_field_name}} will escalate promptly to the local NHS Board Health Protection Team for advice on infection control measures, contact management and outbreak response.

We will support the person to access appropriate clinical assessment and treatment, and we will co-operate fully with any public health actions (for example, providing relevant information, implementing additional precautions, and supporting communication with those at risk).

Our approach aligns with the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 framework for notification and follow-up of infectious diseases.

16. Pandemic Contingency Plan

{{org_field_name}} maintains an active pandemic response plan, including but not limited to COVID-19.

Key elements include:

• Continuous risk assessments of service provision.
• Ensuring adequate PPE stockpiles.
• Workforce contingency planning for staff shortages.
• Remote working arrangements for office staff where possible.
• Enhanced PPE and hygiene protocols based on Government guidance.
• Daily monitoring of updates from Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland and Care Inspectorate.
• Ensuring people we support remain informed and involved in contingency measures.
• Escalation processes for multi-agency pandemic control coordination.
• Psychological wellbeing support for staff and people we support during prolonged pandemic periods.

17. Communication and Engagement

• Service users are provided with infection prevention information in accessible formats.
• Families are kept informed of outbreak status and contingency measures.
• Staff receive regular updates via email, team meetings, bulletins and policy updates.
• Any regulatory changes or legal obligations are shared immediately with all staff.

18. Roles and Responsibilities

Registered Manager

• Overall accountability for infection prevention compliance.
• Policy implementation, training coordination, outbreak management.
• Reports directly to regulators.

Infection Control Lead

• Day-to-day infection prevention oversight.
• Ensures staff are compliant with SICPs and TBPs.
• Coordinates audits, training, outbreak response.

Care Staff

• Follow infection prevention procedures at all times.
• Report any breaches, incidents or symptoms.
• Engage fully with training, audits, and supervision.

People We Support

• Encouraged and supported to follow good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
• Informed participants in infection prevention planning.

19. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if:

Service user or staff feedback identifies improvement areas.

New guidance is issued by Public Health Scotland, Scottish Government or the Care Inspectorate.

Significant infection incidents occur.

National or global pandemic situations emerge.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}}{{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.