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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Pest Control Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the procedures and measures {{org_field_name}} implements to prevent, manage, and eradicate pest infestations in all areas where care is provided. Effective pest control is essential to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of service users, staff, and visitors, while maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations.

This policy supports compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (in particular Regulation 12 – Safe care and treatment, Regulation 15 – Premises and equipment, Regulation 17 – Good governance, Regulation 18 – Staffing and Regulation 20 – Duty of candour) and associated CQC guidance, alongside wider health and safety legislation including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All domiciliary care settings, including service users’ homes.
• All employees, including care staff, maintenance personnel, and management.
• Service users and their families, ensuring a pest-free and hygienic environment.
• Third-party contractors, such as pest control service providers.
• Because domiciliary care is delivered in people’s own homes, {{org_field_name}} may have limited control over the premises. We will work with the person, their representative/family and (where relevant) the landlord/housing provider and/or local authority to reduce pest risks, while respecting the person’s rights, choices and consent.
• Where pest infestation creates a significant and immediate risk to health and safety for the person or staff, we will implement additional controls (including changes to how care is delivered) and escalate in line with safeguarding and risk management processes.

3. Definitions and examples

• Pest: Any organism that may pose a hygiene, health, safety or property risk in the care environment (e.g., rodents, cockroaches, ants, fleas, bedbugs).
• Infestation: Evidence of ongoing pest activity (e.g., repeated sightings, droppings, nests, bites, structural entry points).
• Severe infestation / emergency: Activity posing an immediate risk to health/safety or preventing safe care delivery (e.g., extensive rodent activity in food areas, bedbug infestation affecting safe personal care, aggressive insects creating immediate risk).

4. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Our pest control procedures align with (as applicable):

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – including Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment), Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment), Regulation 17 (Good governance), Regulation 18 (Staffing) and Regulation 20 (Duty of candour).
• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 – including requirements relating to statutory notifications where relevant.
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (risk assessment and controls).
• COSHH Regulations 2002 – control of hazardous substances and use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
• Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and HSE requirements for the supply and use of biocidal products (only authorised/approved products used appropriately).
• Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 (rats and mice control framework) and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (statutory nuisance framework, where applicable via local authority action).
• Where staff handle/prepare food as part of care: Food Safety Act 1990 and relevant food hygiene requirements.

5. Responsibilities

• Registered Manager:
  • Oversees the implementation of pest control measures, liaises with professional pest control services, and ensures compliance with regulations.
  • Ensures pest-related risks are captured in environmental risk assessments and care planning where relevant, ensures learning and trends are reviewed through governance (audit/QA), and ensures statutory notifications and duty of candour processes are followed when thresholds are met.
• Care Staff: During each visit, remain alert to signs of pest activity relevant to the areas accessed as part of care, maintain hygiene/IPC practice, and report concerns immediately in line with Section 6. Care staff must not undertake pest treatment other than low-risk preventative hygiene measures within their role and training.
• Housekeeping and Maintenance Staff: Ensures effective waste management, cleanliness, and structural integrity of care environments.
• Pest Control Contractors: Provides professional pest management services, conducts risk assessments, and implements treatment plans.
• Service Users and Families: Encouraged to report pest sightings and maintain good hygiene practices within their living areas.

6. Pest Prevention Measures

{{org_field_name}} takes a proactive approach to pest control by implementing the following preventive measures:

• Risk-based environmental checks (domiciliary care):

 During care visits, staff will observe for visible signs of pest activity in the areas accessed for care delivery (e.g., kitchen/food storage used for meal preparation, bathroom, bedroom care area). Where concerns are identified, the Registered Manager will ensure an appropriate risk assessment is completed and actions agreed with the person/family/landlord (as applicable). {{org_field_name}} does not carry out intrusive inspections of a person’s home; actions are agreed with consent and documented.

• Hygiene and Cleanliness:
  • Ensuring all food storage areas are clean and dry, with perishable goods stored in sealed containers.
  • Daily waste disposal procedures, ensuring bins are emptied and cleaned regularly.
  • Staff training on best hygiene practices to prevent infestations.
• Structural Maintenance:
  • Sealing entry points, such as gaps in doors, windows, and walls to prevent pest intrusion.
  • Ensuring proper ventilation and moisture control to deter pest breeding grounds.
  • Routine checks for signs of rodent or insect activity in furniture, electrical fittings, and communal areas.
• Staff Training:
  • Regular training sessions on pest awareness, detection, and reporting procedures.
  • Educating staff and service users on pest-attracting behaviours and how to prevent infestations.

7. Reporting and Responding to Infestations

If a pest issue is identified, the following steps must be taken immediately:

• Step 1: Immediate Reporting
  • Any sightings or evidence of pests must be reported to the Registered Manager.
  • Staff should document findings, including location, type of pest, and severity.
• Step 2: Risk Assessment
  • The Registered Manager conducts a risk assessment to determine the extent of the infestation.
  • If necessary, a professional pest control service is engaged.
• Step 3: Implementation of Control Measures
  • Use of safe and approved pesticides, in line with COSHH regulations.
  • Where treatment (e.g., fogging/fumigation) creates a temporary access restriction or health risk, the Registered Manager will agree a safe interim care plan with the person/representative (and commissioners where relevant). This may include rescheduling visits, delivering care in an alternative safe area of the home, or arranging temporary alternative accommodation led by the person/family/landlord, as appropriate.
  • Preventative measures, such as deep cleaning and sealing entry points, are reinforced.
  • To prevent cross-contamination between homes (e.g., bedbugs/fleas), staff must follow infection prevention and control measures, including: keeping bags/coats off soft furnishings where possible; using only wipe-clean equipment where feasible; bagging/isolating potentially contaminated items as instructed; and escalating immediately if uniforms/equipment may have been contaminated so that laundering/decontamination and replacement equipment can be arranged.
• Step 4: Monitoring and Follow-up
  • Follow-up inspections are conducted weekly until the issue is fully resolved.
  • Staff and service users are advised on preventative actions to avoid recurrence.
  • All actions and findings are recorded in the Incident Log.

8. Use of Pesticides and Chemicals

• {{org_field_name}} staff must not apply professional-use pesticides/biocides or undertake fumigation treatments. Where treatment is required, a competent pest control contractor will be engaged.
• Any biocidal product used must be authorised/approved for use in Great Britain and applied strictly in accordance with the product label and the contractor’s risk assessment/method statement.
• Where hazardous substances are used, a COSHH assessment (or equivalent contractor assessment accepted by the Registered Manager) must be in place, and relevant Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be obtained and accessible to staff who may be affected.
• Priority will be given to non-chemical and least-toxic control measures where effective, particularly where people are clinically vulnerable, and any access restrictions/ventilation requirements will be followed.

 

9. Pest control contractor assurance

Where external contractors are used, {{org_field_name}} will obtain and retain evidence of suitability such as insurance, competence, risk assessment/method statement for the specific treatment, and confirmation that products used are authorised/approved for GB use. Contractors must provide post-treatment instructions, including re-entry times, ventilation requirements and any precautions for clinically vulnerable people.

10. Emergency Procedures

Where a pest infestation presents an immediate risk to a person’s health or prevents safe delivery of care, the Registered Manager will implement urgent controls, which may include:

• agreeing a temporary change to how/where care is delivered (within the home where safe),
• rescheduling visits, or temporarily pausing visits where staff safety cannot be assured (with escalation),
• arranging urgent contractor attendance, and
• contacting emergency services if there is a serious and immediate threat to life/health.

The Registered Manager will consider escalation to the local authority environmental health team where there is evidence of a wider public health risk, statutory nuisance issues, or where the person/landlord/housing provider requires formal enforcement support.

CQC notifications: Pest infestation itself is not automatically a notifiable event. The Registered Manager will submit a statutory notification to CQC only where the situation meets a notification threshold (for example, a serious injury/event, safeguarding incident, or other notifiable incident as defined in CQC notification guidance).

All actions, decisions, risk assessments and communications will be fully documented.

11. Monitoring and Record-Keeping

• Pest Control Logs:
  • Records of all pest inspections, reports, and treatments are maintained.
  • Logs include dates, locations, pest types, actions taken, and responsible personnel.
  • Each record must cross-reference: (a) the service user risk assessment/care plan where relevant, (b) contractor report/method statement, (c) any COSHH/SDS documentation received, and (d) actions allocated with owners and timescales.
  • The Registered Manager will review pest-related incidents for themes/trends (e.g., repeat infestations, specific locations/teams, training needs) and evidence actions taken and effectiveness.
• Audits and Quality Assurance:
  • Regular internal audits assess the effectiveness of pest control procedures.
  • External audits may be conducted by pest control specialists or environmental health officers.
  • Audit findings and action plans will be reviewed through governance meetings/supervision and retained as evidence of compliance with Regulation 17 (Good governance).

12. Policy Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed annually or earlier if there are changes in regulations or reported incidents requiring policy amendments. The policy will also be reviewed following any relevant CQC guidance update (including updates to Regulations 12, 15, 17, 18 or notifications guidance) or following any pest-related safeguarding concern or serious incident. Feedback from staff, service users, and pest control contractors informs updates to the policy.

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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}}
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