DS88. Handwashing and Hand Hygiene for Domiciliary Care Staff
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Handwashing and Hand Hygiene for Domiciliary Care Staff Policy
Policy Statement
This home care agency believes that adherence to strict guidelines on infection control is of paramount importance in ensuring the safety of both people who use the service and staff. It also believes that good, basic hygiene is the most powerful weapon against infection, particularly with respect to handwashing and hand hygiene.
Aim
The aim of the home care agency is to prevent the spread of infection among staff, people who use the service and the local community. The goals of the agency are to ensure the following.
- People who use the service, their families and staff are as safe as possible from acquiring infections.
- All staff at the home care agency are aware of and put into practice the basic principles of infection control, including effective handwashing and hand hygiene.
Effective Handwashing
The home care agency believes that, consistent with modern infection control evidence and knowledge, handwashing is the single most important method of preventing the spread of infection.
The majority of cross-infection or infection spread in a care setting is caused by unwashed or poorly washed hands, which provide a transfer route for microorganisms.
All staff should therefore ensure that their hands are thoroughly washed and dried:
- between seeing every person where direct contact is involved, no matter how minor the contact
- after handling any body fluids or waste or soiled items
- after handling specimens
- before putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) and after removing it
- after using the toilet
- after blowing their nose
- before handling foodstuffs.
{{org_field_name}} is aware that, in domiciliary care, hand washing can be difficult if staff are placed in a setting that lacks hygienic facilities. In such cases, managers must assess the risks and do the best they can to introduce adequate facilities which allow acceptable levels of hand hygiene.
Antiseptic Alcohol Rubs and Gels
Ordinary soap is considered to be perfectly effective for routine use in removing dirt and reducing levels of transient microorganisms on the skin to acceptably safe levels. However, also available for additional hand hygiene use are antiseptic rubs and sanitiser gels.
Hand rubs are anti-microbial preparations and sanitising gels applied to the hands to reduce the number of viable microorganisms present. Hand rubs are usually alcohol-based and come in a variety of dispensers and tubes. Gels and rubs containing 60–80% alcohol are most effective in killing microorganisms.
In {{org_field_name}} home care staff will be provided with portable alcohol hand rubs which they should take with them during any home visits. These should be used in situations where adequate handwashing facilities are unavailable. They can also be used for additional hand hygiene.
Additionally, hand gels will be provided in washrooms and at entrances and exits in the agencies’ offices.
Importantly, antiseptic hand rubs are less effective where hands are visibly soiled. If hands are soiled the dirt should be washed off first. After hand rubbing or handwashing staff should let their hands dry completely.
Covid-19 Infection and Prevention Measures
{{org_field_name}} understands that the current guidance in England can be found in Infection Prevention and Control in Adult Social Care: Covid-19 Supplement, published in March 2022 (and last updated in June 2023) by DHSC. The current requirements of this guidance are described in the service’s Covid-specific policies and procedures.
All staff are required to familiarise themselves with the guidance and keep themselves updated with changes as they occur.
Public health guidance is to wash hands with soap and water often during the day. Handwashing should be thorough and last about 20–30 seconds each time. Hand sanitiser gel (at least 60% alcohol) can be used if soap and water are not available.
In {{org_field_name}} home care staff will be provided with sufficient supplies of antiseptic alcohol hand rubs to carry with them during visits. Care staff should inform their line manager if their stock runs low.
Training
All new staff should be encouraged to read the policies on infection control and handwashing as part of their induction process. Existing staff should be offered training about infection control that is relevant to their role and responsibilities. In-house training sessions should be conducted at least annually and all relevant staff should attend.
_______________________________ is responsible for organising and co-ordinating training.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next review date: this policy is reviewed annually (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.
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