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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 ensure that {{org_field_name}} takes appropriate and proportionate action where pests may affect the health, safety or well-being of individuals receiving care and support or persons working for the service.

This policy supports compliance with the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended. In particular, {{org_field_name}} will have regard to the requirements relating to the provision of care and support, policies and procedures, hygiene and infection control, health and safety, records and statutory notifications.

In accordance with Regulation 57, {{org_field_name}} will identify risks to the health and safety of individuals receiving care and support and will reduce those risks so far as is reasonably practicable. In accordance with Regulation 56, the service will maintain satisfactory standards of hygiene in the delivery of care and support and will operate appropriate infection prevention and control arrangements.

Pest infestations, including rodents, insects and other pests, may create risks through contamination of food or surfaces, bites, allergens, infection, unsafe waste accumulation, damage to the home environment or exposure to pest-control substances. Staff must therefore identify and report relevant risks encountered while carrying out their duties and the service must take appropriate action within the limits of its role as a domiciliary support provider.

Where care and support is provided in an individual’s own home, {{org_field_name}} does not assume responsibility for the ownership, repair or general management of that property merely because it provides domiciliary care there. The service will, however, take reasonable and proportionate steps where the condition of the home creates a risk to the individual receiving care and support or to staff, including liaison with the individual, their representative where appropriate, the landlord or housing provider, commissioners, Environmental Health, other relevant professionals or statutory agencies.

This policy must be read and implemented in conjunction with the service’s infection prevention and control, health and safety, risk assessment, safeguarding, incident reporting and business continuity arrangements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All employees of {{org_field_name}}, including care workers, managers, and administrative staff.
• Service users’ homes, particularly where pest risks may impact health and safety.
• Third-party contractors, including local authorities, landlords, pest control specialists, and environmental health officers.

This policy covers:

• Preventative pest control measures to minimise infestations.
• Identifying and reporting pest problems.
• Working with landlords and environmental health authorities to manage infestations.
• Safe use of pest control treatments that comply with health and safety regulations.
• Training staff to recognise and respond to pest risks.

3. Pest Control Responsibilities

3.1 Responsibilities of Care Staff

Care staff play a key role in identifying and reporting pest risks in service users’ homes. They must:

• Observe early signs of pest infestations, such as droppings, nests, or unusual odours.
• Report any concerns immediately to their line manager or the Registered Manager.
• Support service users with basic hygiene and waste disposal practices to prevent infestations.
• Follow guidance on safe pest control measures, ensuring no harm comes to service users, pets, or staff.

3.2 Responsibilities of the Registered Manager

The Registered Manager ensures that:

• All staff receive training on recognising and reporting pest issues.
• A pest control action plan is in place for dealing with infestations.
• Collaboration with pest control specialists is arranged when necessary.
• Service users and families receive guidance on preventing and managing pest issues.
• Records of pest control actions are maintained for CIW inspection purposes.

3.3 Responsibilities Relating to the Individual’s Home

Where an individual receives domiciliary support in rented accommodation, {{org_field_name}} will not make a definitive determination as to whether the landlord, housing provider or individual is legally responsible for the cause, treatment or cost of a pest infestation. Responsibility will depend on the circumstances of the individual case, including the cause of the infestation, the condition and repair of the dwelling, the terms of the occupation contract and the applicable housing legislation.

In Wales, landlords who are subject to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 are required to comply with their statutory repairing and fitness for human habitation obligations. Exposure to pests and inadequate arrangements relating to domestic hygiene and refuse are matters which may be relevant when determining whether a dwelling is fit for human habitation.

Where staff identify or reasonably suspect a pest infestation which may create a risk to the individual’s health, safety or well-being, they must:

• report the concern promptly to the Registered Manager or other designated manager;
• record the nature of the concern and any immediate risks identified;
• support the individual, where appropriate and with their agreement, to report the matter to their landlord, housing provider or other person responsible for the property;
• inform the individual’s representative where appropriate and lawful;
• liaise with the relevant service commissioner or other professionals where the individual’s care and support may be affected;
• consider referral to the local authority, including Environmental Health or housing services, where appropriate; and
• take any immediate steps reasonably practicable within the service’s responsibilities to protect the individual and staff from identified risks.

Where an individual owns their home, {{org_field_name}} will support the individual to obtain appropriate advice or assistance where this is required to protect their health, safety or well-being. The service will not undertake structural repairs or pest-control treatment unless this forms part of an expressly agreed and lawfully provided service.

Any disagreement concerning responsibility for treatment, repairs or costs must be referred to the appropriate landlord, housing provider, local authority or other competent body and must not be determined by care staff.

4. Prevention and Identification of Pest-Related Risks

{{org_field_name}} will take reasonable and proportionate steps to prevent and reduce pest-related risks arising in connection with the delivery of domiciliary support.

Care staff must remain alert to environmental conditions which may create a foreseeable risk to the health, safety or well-being of an individual or to staff while care and support is being provided. Staff are not responsible for carrying out structural inspections of an individual’s home unless a specific assessment forms part of the service being provided by {{org_field_name}}.

Where relevant to the individual’s assessed care and support needs and personal plan, staff may support the individual with:

• safe disposal of household waste;
• appropriate storage of food;
• routine domestic hygiene tasks which are included within the agreed care and support;
• identifying visible signs of pests encountered during the provision of care; and
• reporting repair, environmental or pest concerns to the appropriate person or organisation.

Where staff observe conditions that may permit pest entry or harbourage, including damaged structures, gaps around doors or pipework, drainage problems, accumulated waste or other environmental hazards, the concern must be reported to the Registered Manager or designated manager where it presents or may present a risk relevant to the provision of care and support.

The manager must ensure that identified risks are assessed and that reasonably practicable measures are taken within the service’s control. Where action falls outside the responsibility of {{org_field_name}}, the service must appropriately involve the individual and, where relevant, their representative, landlord or housing provider, service commissioner, local authority, Environmental Health or other relevant professional or statutory body.

Any pest-related control measure must respect the individual’s rights, privacy, dignity, choices and control over their own home, unless intervention is otherwise required or authorised by law to address an identified risk.

5. Identifying and Reporting Pest Infestations

5.1 Common Signs of Pest Infestations

Care staff must be vigilant for:

• Rodents (rats/mice): Droppings, gnawed furniture, scratching noises, nests.
• Insects (cockroaches, bedbugs, ants): Sightings of insects, shed skins, bites on service users.
• Bird infestations: Bird droppings, nests in chimneys or roofs.

If a pest problem is identified, it must be reported immediately using the incident reporting procedure.

5.2 Action Following Identification of a Pest Infestation

Where a pest infestation is identified or reasonably suspected and may affect the health, safety or well-being of an individual receiving care and support, the following action must be taken:

1. Immediate risk assessment
   The Registered Manager or designated competent person must assess the risks associated with the infestation. The assessment must consider the nature and severity of the infestation, contamination, infection risk, food safety, the individual’s health and vulnerability, the safety of staff, any animals in the home, the proposed treatment and whether care and support can continue to be provided safely.
2. Immediate protective action
   Any measures reasonably practicable and within the control of {{org_field_name}} must be taken to reduce immediate risks. This may include avoiding contaminated areas, using appropriate personal protective equipment where indicated by risk assessment, altering the way specific care tasks are delivered or seeking urgent advice from an appropriate professional or statutory agency.
3. Notification of relevant persons or organisations
   With due regard to confidentiality, consent, mental capacity and safeguarding responsibilities, the service must contact the appropriate person or organisation where action outside the service’s responsibility is required. This may include the individual, their representative, landlord or housing provider, service commissioner, local authority Environmental Health service, public health professionals or a competent pest-control contractor.
4. Review of care and support arrangements
   Where the infestation affects the safe delivery of the individual’s care and support, the Registered Manager must review the individual’s risk assessments and, where necessary, their personal plan and service arrangements. Relevant commissioners and professionals must be informed where the service cannot safely meet the individual’s assessed needs or where alternative arrangements are required.
5. Monitoring and review
   The service must monitor whether the identified risks have been adequately addressed and must take further action where risks remain.
6. Recording
   The service must keep an accurate record of the concern identified, the risk assessment undertaken, decisions made, persons or organisations contacted, action taken, any treatment relevant to the delivery of care, subsequent monitoring and the outcome.
7. Regulatory notification
   A pest infestation does not automatically require notification to Care Inspectorate Wales. The Registered Manager and Responsible Individual must consider whether the circumstances constitute a notifiable event under Regulation 60 and Schedule 3 of the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended. Where the notification criteria are met, the service must notify Care Inspectorate Wales without delay and in the manner required by the regulator.

6. Safe Management of Pest-Control Treatments

Care staff employed or engaged by {{org_field_name}} must not apply pesticides, rodenticides, insecticides or other pest-control chemical treatments as part of their care duties unless their use has been specifically authorised by {{org_field_name}}, is lawful for the intended use, has been subject to an appropriate risk assessment and the staff member has received the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to use the product safely. As a general operational rule, pest eradication requiring specialist treatment will be referred to an appropriately competent pest-control contractor or other competent person.

Where a pest-control product is used in premises in which care and support is provided, {{org_field_name}} must take reasonable steps to ensure that its use does not expose an individual receiving care and support or a member of staff to an unacceptable risk.

Where the service arranges or commissions pest-control treatment, the Registered Manager or designated competent person must ensure, as applicable, that:

• the person or contractor carrying out the treatment is competent to undertake the work;
• any pesticide, rodenticide, insecticide or biocidal product is authorised for the intended use and is used in accordance with its conditions of authorisation, label instructions and applicable legislation;
• relevant risks to individuals, staff, visitors and animals are assessed before treatment;
• information provided by the contractor or product manufacturer concerning exclusion periods, ventilation, cleaning, contaminated materials, food safety and re-entry to treated areas is followed;
• staff are informed of any control measures necessary for them to work safely;
• substances hazardous to health arising from activities undertaken by {{org_field_name}} are assessed and controlled in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, as amended; and
• relevant treatment and risk-management information is recorded where it affects the individual’s care and support or the safety of staff.

Staff must not move, interfere with or dispose of bait stations, traps, rodenticides, pesticides or other pest-control substances installed by a contractor unless they have been specifically instructed and are competent and authorised to do so.

Where staff discover damaged, displaced, incorrectly stored or potentially misused pest-control substances, they must avoid unnecessary contact, protect the individual from exposure so far as reasonably practicable and report the matter immediately to the Registered Manager or designated manager.

7. Supporting Vulnerable Service Users

Certain service users are more vulnerable to pest-related health risks, including those with:

• Respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma, COPD).
• Reduced mobility that prevents cleaning or food storage maintenance.
• Cognitive impairments (e.g., dementia) that may cause poor hygiene habits.

In these cases, {{org_field_name}} will:

• Provide enhanced home hygiene support through care workers.
• Liaise with family members, housing support, or advocacy services to ensure proper intervention.
• Ensure professional pest control services prioritise health and safety during treatment.

8. Emergency Response to Serious Pest-Related Risks

Where a pest infestation creates or is reasonably suspected to create an immediate or serious risk to an individual’s health, safety or well-being, or prevents care and support from being delivered safely, staff must immediately inform the Registered Manager or the manager responsible for the service at that time.

The Registered Manager or designated manager must ensure that:

• immediate risks to the individual and staff are assessed;
• emergency action within the service’s control is taken to reduce the risk so far as reasonably practicable;
• urgent medical assistance is obtained where an individual has been exposed to a harmful substance, has been bitten, has become unwell or otherwise requires medical assessment;
• the local authority Environmental Health service, landlord, housing provider or other relevant agency is contacted where urgent environmental intervention is required;
• the service commissioner is informed without delay where the infestation prevents or materially affects the safe delivery of commissioned care and support;
• the individual’s personal plan and relevant risk assessments are reviewed where care arrangements need to change; and
• alternative care arrangements are agreed with the appropriate person or organisation where care cannot safely be provided in the individual’s home.

{{org_field_name}} must not require or independently arrange the removal of an individual from their home unless it has lawful authority and responsibility to do so. Where remaining in the home presents an immediate risk and alternative accommodation may be required, the service must urgently liaise with the individual, their representative where appropriate, the relevant local authority, housing provider, commissioner, emergency services or other responsible statutory body according to the circumstances.

The Registered Manager and Responsible Individual must consider whether the event is notifiable to Care Inspectorate Wales under Regulation 60 and Schedule 3 of the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended. A notification must be submitted without delay through CIW Online where the statutory notification criteria are met. This may include an event which prevents, or could prevent, {{org_field_name}} from continuing to provide the service safely, an outbreak of infectious disease, or another event specifically listed in Schedule 3.

A pest infestation which does not meet a Schedule 3 notification criterion must still be appropriately assessed, managed and recorded but does not require notification to Care Inspectorate Wales solely because pests are present.

9. Monitoring and Compliance

To ensure that pest-related risks are appropriately managed, {{org_field_name}} will:

• ensure staff receive information, instruction and training appropriate to their role on identifying and reporting pest-related health and safety risks;
• maintain accurate records of significant pest concerns, associated risk assessments, actions taken, referrals or contacts made and outcomes where the matter affects the health, safety or well-being of an individual or the safe delivery of care and support;
• ensure identified risks and required improvements are acted upon according to the level of risk;
• review relevant personal plans and risk assessments where pest-related circumstances affect an individual’s care and support;
• monitor whether agreed control measures have been implemented and remain effective;
• conduct annual audits of the operation of this policy as part of the service’s internal quality assurance arrangements;
• review relevant incidents, concerns and complaints to identify learning and necessary improvements; and
• review this policy following relevant changes in legislation, statutory guidance, CIW requirements or significant incidents.

Where an incident arising from or associated with a pest infestation meets the criteria for notification under Regulation 60 and Schedule 3 of the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended, the service must ensure that the required notification is submitted to Care Inspectorate Wales without delay.

Failure by staff to follow this policy may be addressed through the service’s supervision, capability or disciplinary procedures as appropriate to the circumstances.

10. Related Policies and Procedures

This policy must be read alongside the following policies and procedures, where applicable:

• Health and Safety at Work Policy (DCW16);
• Infection Prevention and Control Policy (DCW17);
• Risk Management and Assessment Policy (DCW18);
• Safe Care and Treatment Policy (DCW11);
• Emergency and Business Continuity Plan (DCW19);
• Safeguarding Policy and Procedures;
• Incident and Accident Reporting Procedure;
• COSHH Policy or Procedure, where applicable; and
• CIW Notification Procedure.

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislation, CIW regulations, or best practices change. Updates will be communicated to all staff.

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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.