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CH166-Pest Control Policy

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Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Pest Control Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} provides, maintains and monitors a clean, safe, hygienic and well-maintained care home environment that prevents, detects and manages pest activity promptly and effectively. Pest activity, including rodents, insects, birds and other vermin, can present risks to health, infection prevention and control, food safety, dignity, comfort, property condition and the safety of people living in the care home, staff, visitors and contractors. This policy sets out the arrangements for prevention, inspection, reporting, escalation, treatment, record keeping, review and learning in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, CQC Regulation 12: Safe Care and Treatment, Regulation 15: Premises and Equipment, Regulation 17: Good Governance, relevant food hygiene requirements, health and safety legislation, COSHH requirements and environmental health expectations.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all areas of the care home premises owned, managed or operated by {{org_field_name}}, including bedrooms, en-suite facilities, communal lounges, dining rooms, kitchens, food storage areas, laundry areas, sluice rooms, bathrooms, clinical rooms, offices, staff areas, storage areas, refuse areas, gardens, external grounds and any outbuildings. It applies to all permanent staff, agency staff, volunteers, visiting professionals, contractors, visitors and any other person who may identify or be affected by pest activity within the care home. The policy applies to routine prevention and monitoring as well as suspected or confirmed pest activity.

3. Related Policies

4. Legal and Regulatory Framework

{{org_field_name}} will manage pest prevention and control in line with the following legal and regulatory requirements:

5. Definition of Pests

Pests are organisms that are considered harmful or a nuisance in care settings. Common pests include rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, flies, fleas, bedbugs, and pigeons. Pests may carry diseases, contaminate food or water sources, damage property, or cause distress to people. In a care home, pests may enter or spread through food deliveries, laundry, waste storage areas, refuse bins, drainage systems, gaps around doors, walls, floors, windows, vents, roof spaces, external vegetation, stored items, second-hand furniture, visitors’ belongings or contractor activity. Bedbugs, fleas and mites may also be introduced through clothing, bedding, luggage, furniture or personal belongings. Early identification and control are key to preventing infestations and maintaining a safe environment.

Pest activity must be treated as an environmental safety, infection prevention and governance concern. The level of response must be proportionate to the risk, the area affected, the vulnerability of residents and whether food, medicines, bedding, care equipment or personal items may have been contaminated.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

The Registered Manager {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}} holds overall responsibility for pest control arrangements and ensuring that policies and procedures are followed. The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring that pest prevention and control arrangements are implemented, monitored, audited and reviewed. This includes ensuring that pest-related risks are assessed, control measures are actioned, staff are trained, contractors are competent, records are maintained, and any learning from incidents is shared with staff.

A designated staff member or facilities contractor may act as the nominated Pest Control Coordinator and liaise with professional pest control companies when necessary. The Pest Control Coordinator, where appointed, is responsible for maintaining the pest control folder or digital record, arranging routine inspections, escalating urgent concerns, checking that contractor recommendations are completed, ensuring bait plans or treatment plans are available where applicable, and reporting outstanding actions to the Registered Manager.

All staff, including agency staff, have a duty to remain vigilant for signs of pest activity, report concerns immediately, protect residents from avoidable harm, follow food hygiene and waste procedures, and avoid taking unapproved action such as moving bait boxes, applying chemicals or disposing of evidence before it has been recorded, unless immediate action is required to protect safety. Cleaners and domestic staff must follow agreed hygiene and waste disposal procedures to minimise risk.

Pest control contractors must be competent, appropriately insured, and able to provide evidence of safe systems of work, risk assessments, COSHH information, product safety data sheets, treatment records, bait plans where used, recommendations and follow-up arrangements. Contractors must sign in and out of the home and must be supervised or escorted in resident-accessible areas unless otherwise authorised by the Registered Manager.

7. Preventative Measures

To minimise the risk of pests, {{org_field_name}} implements the following preventive controls:

We promote good housekeeping and hygiene among staff and the people we support to further reduce risk.

8. Monitoring and Inspection

Regular premises inspections are carried out by the designated team or contractor to monitor for signs of pest activity. Routine internal pest checks will be completed at least monthly, or more frequently where risk assessment, previous pest activity, contractor advice or environmental health advice indicates this is required. High-risk areas, including kitchens, food stores, dining areas, laundry areas, sluice rooms, waste areas and external bin stores, must be checked more frequently as part of housekeeping, cleaning, maintenance and food safety checks.

Inspections include checking for droppings, chewed materials, nests, insect casings, strong odours, or unusual staff or resident reports. Any signs of pests are recorded and escalated immediately to the Registered Manager. Records must include the date and time of the check, area inspected, findings, action taken, person responsible, target completion date, follow-up outcome and whether contractor or environmental health input was required. “No activity found” checks must also be recorded where routine monitoring is in place, as this provides evidence of ongoing prevention and governance.

In settings where there is a history of pest issues, more frequent inspections may be required. Pest control contractors may also conduct routine checks under service agreements.

The Registered Manager will review pest control records as part of the home’s quality assurance system. Trends, repeat locations, delayed actions, repeat infestations or contractor recommendations must be discussed in management meetings and used to improve the environment.

9. Pest Reporting and Escalation

If pest activity is observed or suspected, staff must:

The following must be escalated to the Registered Manager immediately:

All pest incidents must be logged, investigated and reviewed. The record must include the suspected pest type, exact location, photographs where appropriate, immediate control measures, residents affected, food or equipment affected, contractor advice, environmental cleaning completed, items disposed of, communication with residents or relatives where appropriate, follow-up inspection dates and confirmation that the area is safe to use.

10. Immediate Action Following Suspected Pest Activity

Where pest activity is suspected or confirmed, staff must take proportionate immediate action to protect residents, staff and visitors. This may include:

Staff must not use domestic pest sprays, powders, traps, bait or chemicals unless authorised, trained and risk assessed. Professional pest control advice must be sought where treatment is required.

11. Professional Pest Control Services

{{org_field_name}} works with qualified and accredited pest control providers for prevention, treatment, and emergency response. Contractors must provide evidence of competence and safe working arrangements appropriate to the treatment being undertaken. Before treatment starts, the contractor and Registered Manager, or delegated responsible person, must agree any controls required to protect residents, staff, visitors, food, medicines, equipment, laundry and the environment. All contractors must comply with health and safety legislation, COSHH regulations, and relevant environmental protection guidance. COSHH assessments, safety data sheets and product information must be available for any hazardous substances used on site. Any pesticide, rodenticide, insecticide or biocide must be used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, legal requirements and the contractor’s risk assessment. Bait boxes, traps or monitoring points must be tamper-resistant where required, clearly recorded on a site plan, and positioned to prevent access by residents, visitors, pets or unauthorised staff. Treatments are only carried out with the least disruptive and safest methods, avoiding toxic substances unless necessary.

Integrated pest management principles must be followed. This means that prevention, proofing, housekeeping, waste control, monitoring and environmental management must be considered before, during and after the use of chemical treatment. Rodenticides must only be used where justified by risk assessment and professional advice, and must be managed to reduce risks to people, non-target animals and the environment. Service reports, inspection outcomes, and recommendations are retained and reviewed during audits. Repeat infestations are investigated, and structural or behavioural issues contributing to the recurrence are addressed.

12. Supporting Residents During Pest Prevention and Treatment

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that pest prevention and treatment are carried out in a way that protects residents’ safety, privacy, dignity, comfort and rights. Residents must be informed in a sensitive and appropriate way where pest activity or treatment affects their room, belongings, routines, meals, access to communal areas or visitors.

Where a resident’s bedroom or belongings are affected, staff must:

Any resident who appears to have bites, skin irritation, infection symptoms, anxiety or distress linked to pest activity must be referred for appropriate clinical review in line with the home’s usual procedures.

13. Infection Control and Remedial Action

In the event of suspected or confirmed pest activity, the affected area must be risk assessed, cleaned, decontaminated and returned to use only when it is safe to do so. Cleaning and disinfection must follow CH17 – Infection Prevention and Control Policy, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections, contractor advice and any relevant environmental health advice.

Contaminated food or soft furnishings may need to be discarded safely. Food that may have been contaminated by pests, droppings, urine, insects, larvae, bait, chemicals or pest control activity must not be used and must be disposed of safely. Food preparation or service areas affected by pest activity must not be used until they have been cleaned, disinfected and assessed as safe. Laundry exposed to pests must be washed at the appropriate temperature or treated professionally.

Bedding, clothing, curtains, cushions, pressure-relieving covers and other soft items must be handled in a way that prevents spread to other areas. Where bedbugs, fleas, mites or similar pests are suspected, laundry arrangements must be agreed with the pest control contractor and infection prevention lead before items are moved. Where a health risk is identified, temporary suspension of service delivery may be considered until the area is safe. Follow-up inspections are conducted to confirm the effectiveness of treatment and prevent recurrence.

14. Food Safety and Pest Control

Pest control in kitchens, food stores and dining areas is part of the home’s food safety management system. The cook, kitchen staff, domestic staff and management team must ensure that:

Food preparation, storage or service must stop in an affected area where there is a risk of contamination until the area has been cleaned, checked and confirmed safe.

15. Waste Management and External Areas

Waste must be managed in a way that reduces pest attraction and prevents environmental health risks. {{org_field_name}} will ensure that:

16. Staff Training and Awareness

All staff receive induction training that includes environmental health, cleanliness, and pest reporting procedures. Refresher training is provided annually and includes:

Training records must be maintained and reviewed through supervision, competency checks, audits and incident reviews. Additional briefings must be provided after any pest incident, contractor recommendation, environmental health advice, CQC feedback or change to the procedure.

17. Governance, Audit and Continuous Improvement

{{org_field_name}} will ensure effective governance of pest prevention and control through:

Pest control records must be accurate, complete, contemporaneous and available for inspection by the provider, CQC, environmental health officers or other authorised bodies where required.

18. Records to be Kept

The following records must be maintained:

Records must be retained in line with {{org_field_name}}’s records retention policy and must be stored securely.

19. Notifications and External Reporting

The Registered Manager must consider whether external reporting is required following any significant pest incident. This may include:

All external advice, reports and notifications must be recorded.

20. Business Continuity

Where pest activity affects the safe operation of the care home, the Registered Manager must consider whether the Business Continuity Plan needs to be activated. This may include arrangements for:

Any business continuity action must prioritise residents’ safety, dignity, comfort, nutrition, hydration, infection prevention and continuity of care.

21. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner where required due to:

The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring that the policy remains current, implemented and understood by staff.

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.

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