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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Uniform Dress Code Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all staff at {{org_field_name}} present a professional, safe, and hygienic appearance at all times. Our uniform dress code reflects the high standards of care we provide, ensuring identifiability, professionalism, infection control, and safety. This policy aligns with Care Inspectorate Scotland regulations, SSSC Codes of Practice, and Health and Social Care Standards. It provides clear guidance on expectations regarding staff attire, including uniform requirements, personal hygiene, and professional presentation.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, and agency workers representing {{org_field_name}} in any official capacity, including home care visits, office work, training sessions, and external meetings where they are acting on behalf of the organisation. It covers uniform standards, personal presentation, hygiene, safety, and adherence to infection control measures.

3. Related Policies

• Health and Safety Policy
• Infection Prevention and Control Policy
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy
• Code of Conduct Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy

4. Principles of the Uniform Dress Code

• Professionalism – Ensuring that all staff present a clean, neat, and appropriate appearance.
• Safety – Wearing appropriate attire that does not pose risks to staff, service users, or colleagues.
• Hygiene & Infection Control – Complying with best practices to prevent the spread of infections.
• Comfort & Practicality – Ensuring uniforms allow ease of movement for work tasks.
• Dignity & Respect – Presenting an image that upholds the dignity of the profession and those we support.

5. Uniform and Personal Appearance Guidelines

5.1 General Uniform Requirements

Staff must wear the designated {{org_field_name}} uniform while on duty, which consists of:

• Company-branded tunics, polo shirts, or other approved tops.
• Dark-coloured trousers (e.g., black, navy) or appropriate work trousers – No jeans or leggings (except where part of the uniform).
• Closed-toe, non-slip shoes – Trainers or casual footwear are not permitted.
• Name badges and ID cards must be worn at all times for identification.
• PPE (e.g., gloves, aprons, masks) must be worn where required, as per the Infection Control Policy.

5.2 Personal Presentation

All staff must maintain a clean, professional and presentable appearance while on duty. Personal presentation must support effective infection prevention and control, staff safety and the dignity and comfort of people receiving care.

Staff must comply with the following requirements:

• Uniforms must be clean, in good condition and free from visible contamination.
• Hair must be clean and sufficiently secured where its length or style could interfere with care, effective hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), food preparation or any other work activity.
• Fingernails must be kept clean and short. Artificial nails, nail extensions, gel nails and nail varnish or other nail products must not be worn when providing care.
• Forearms must be capable of being fully exposed when undertaking hand hygiene and when required for direct care activities.
• All hand and wrist jewellery must be removed when undertaking care activities and hand hygiene. A single plain metal finger ring may be worn in accordance with current national infection prevention and control guidance.
• Wrist watches, bracelets and other wrist jewellery must not be worn during direct care activities.
• Earrings and other jewellery must not present an infection prevention and control, manual handling, entanglement or other health and safety risk.
• Visible tattoos do not normally require covering. Any tattoo containing material that is discriminatory, threatening, abusive or otherwise inconsistent with professional conduct must be appropriately covered while at work.
• Cosmetics must not interfere with effective infection prevention and control or the safe use of PPE.
• Perfumes, aftershaves and strongly scented personal products must be avoided where their use could adversely affect a person receiving care, including where an individual has an allergy, respiratory condition, sensory sensitivity or other relevant health need.

5.3 Footwear Requirements

Footwear must:

• Be closed-toe and non-slip for safety.
• Be clean and in good condition.
• Provide adequate arch support and comfort for long periods of standing and walking.

5.4 Identification and Name Badges

• Staff must wear identification badges and name tags at all times while on duty.
• Badges should be visible and not obstructed by clothing.
• If lost, staff must report missing ID badges immediately for replacement.

6. Hygiene and Infection Prevention and Control

All staff must comply with the organisation’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy and current national infection prevention and control guidance applicable to health and social care services in Scotland.

Uniforms and work clothing must be managed in a way that minimises the risk of transmission of infection.

Staff must comply with the following requirements:

• A clean uniform or clean work clothing must be worn for each working period and must be changed sooner if it becomes visibly soiled or contaminated.
• Used uniforms intended for domestic laundering should normally be washed at 60°C or at the highest temperature that can be tolerated by the fabric, in accordance with the manufacturer’s care instructions and current national infection prevention and control guidance.
• Uniforms must be dried thoroughly before reuse. Tumble drying and ironing should be undertaken in accordance with the manufacturer’s care instructions.
• Clean uniforms must be transported to work in a clean bag.
• Used uniforms being taken home for laundering must be transported in a suitable clean bag. A bag used to transport a used uniform must not subsequently be used to transport a clean uniform unless the bag itself can be and has been appropriately laundered.
• Domestic washing machines and tumble driers used for laundering uniforms must be appropriately cleaned and maintained.
• A uniform that is visibly contaminated with blood or body fluids, or which otherwise meets the definition of infectious linen under current national infection prevention and control guidance, must not be taken home for domestic laundering. The member of staff must follow the organisation’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy and seek management advice regarding its safe containment, laundering or disposal.
• Staff must not shake contaminated uniforms or clothing.
• Hand hygiene must be carried out in accordance with the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual and the organisation’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy.
• Forearms must be exposed when carrying out hand hygiene. Fingernails must be clean and short and artificial nails or nail products must not be worn.
• Hand and wrist jewellery must be removed for hand hygiene, with the exception of a single plain metal finger ring permitted by current national guidance.
• When handwashing is required in a person’s own home, staff must use available running water and soap and wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Staff must use disposable paper towels supplied for this purpose rather than a household hand towel. Hand rub must be available for use at the point of care in accordance with current national guidance.
• PPE must be selected following assessment of the task and the anticipated risk of exposure. It must be worn, removed and disposed of or managed in accordance with current infection prevention and control guidance and the organisation’s PPE and Infection Prevention and Control Policies.
• Staff must receive appropriate information, instruction and training in the correct selection and use of PPE.
• Any PPE identified as necessary following risk assessment must be supplied by the employer without charge to the worker.
• Staff must immediately report any shortage, damage, contamination or other concern relating to uniforms, PPE or infection prevention and control to their line manager.

7. Equality, Religious, Cultural and Disability Considerations

{{org_field_name}} will apply this policy consistently and in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Uniform and dress requirements must not unlawfully discriminate against a worker because of a protected characteristic.

Reasonable adjustments must be considered and made where required by law for a disabled worker. Requests relating to religion or belief, disability, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, sex or any other protected characteristic must be considered fairly and individually.

Religious or cultural clothing and head coverings may be worn provided that they:

• do not prevent staff from carrying out their duties safely;
• do not compromise infection prevention and control requirements;
• do not prevent the correct fitting or safe use of required PPE; and
• do not create an identified health and safety risk that cannot reasonably be controlled.

Where sleeves are worn for religious, cultural or other reasons, staff must be able to expose their forearms when required for effective hand hygiene and direct care activities in accordance with current national infection prevention and control guidance.

Any restriction placed on religious, cultural or other clothing must be based on an identified and proportionate safety, infection prevention and control or operational requirement and not merely on personal preference or appearance.

Staff who require an adjustment to the standard uniform should discuss this with their line manager. The organisation will consider the individual’s circumstances, applicable equality duties, infection prevention and control requirements, health and safety requirements and, where necessary, occupational health advice before reaching a decision.

8. Non-Compliance with Uniform Policy

Failure to adhere to the uniform dress code policy may result in:

• Verbal or written warnings for repeated non-compliance.
• Being sent home to change if the attire is deemed inappropriate.
• Further disciplinary action for continued breaches.

9. Staff Responsibilities

All staff members are responsible for:

• Wearing the correct uniform at all times.
• Ensuring their appearance meets professional standards.
• Following hygiene and infection control guidelines.

• Complying with current hand-hygiene, uniform laundering and PPE requirements.
• Changing a uniform promptly where it becomes visibly soiled or contaminated.
• Not taking a uniform that is categorised as infectious linen home for domestic laundering.
• Reporting contamination of a uniform by blood or body fluids to their line manager and following the organisation’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy.
• Reporting shortages, defects or damage affecting required PPE.
• Informing their manager where a disability, health condition, pregnancy, religious requirement or other relevant circumstance may require an adjustment to the standard uniform arrangements.
• Reporting any issues with uniforms (e.g., damaged, lost, or ill-fitting uniforms).

10. Management Responsibilities

Managers are responsible for:

• Ensuring all staff are provided with the correct uniform.

• Ensuring that suitable PPE identified as necessary through risk assessment is provided to workers without charge.
• Ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place for the storage, replacement and safe disposal or decontamination of PPE.
• Ensuring staff receive appropriate information, instruction and training in infection prevention and control and the correct use of PPE.
• Ensuring staff have access to sufficient supplies required to comply with hand-hygiene requirements during domiciliary care visits, including appropriate hand rub and disposable paper towels where required.
• Ensuring arrangements are in place for the safe management of uniforms that become contaminated with blood, body fluids or other infectious material.
• Ensuring that reasonable adjustments to uniform requirements are considered and implemented where required under the Equality Act 2010.

• Addressing uniform-related concerns raised by staff.
• Enforcing uniform policy adherence.
• Supporting staff with reasonable uniform adjustments where required.

11. Complaints and Exemptions

If a staff member has concerns about uniform requirements, they should:

1. Speak to their line manager.
2. Request reasonable adjustments where necessary.
3. Follow the Complaints and Grievance Procedure if needed.

12. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier if there are legislative changes, feedback from staff, or operational requirements. Any amendments will be communicated to all employees.

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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.