DS90. Head Lice and Nits
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Head Lice and Nits Policy
Aim of Policy
The policy is written to describe the response of {{org_field_name}} to any manifestation of head lice in people who use services and/or staff that could spread to others. There are two kinds of situation that might arise. Both require a common approach, but slightly different measures. One is where a care worker reports the presence of head lice in a person and it becomes important to prevent or restrict their spread to other people using services and/or care service staff. The other is where a care worker reports or is found to have head lice, which might originate from external sources, which could also spread to colleagues and people using services.
Policy Statement
{{org_field_name}} understands that head lice is a common problem with children and for adults in regular contact with them. They occur not because of poor hygiene or grooming, but through spread from one host to another by direct hair to hair contact or more indirectly, by sharing clothing, furniture, or belongings on to which lice or their eggs, (nits) might have fallen, and which are then picked up by someone else’s hair and they hatch into lice.
{{org_field_name}} understands that head lice are not a major health hazard, but they can be a nuisance through the irritation they cause, and their presence can be embarrassing to the carriers and concerning to others. It is possible that a carrier is unaware that they have head lice and are only spotted by other people. People should not be ostracised or stigmatised because their head lice become known, so {{org_field_name}} accepts it must take a sensitive, common-sense approach when there is evidence that a person who uses services or staff member has head lice.
{{org_field_name}} will also ensure that affected people are not subject to harassment or bullying that could escalate the issue into grievance and disciplinary actions having to be taken. At the same time, it accepts that it should take some action to prevent any epidemic and to address any health and social concerns.
Background
In the event of any evidence or concern about the presence of head lice during service delivery, {{org_field_name}} will ensure that everyone implicated is given or directed to the information they need to protect themselves and others from the head lice spreading. Useful information can be found on the NHS website. It is important that the people affected understand that:
- head to head contact is the most common way that head lice spread, therefore avoiding direct contact, or contact with places where the lice or their eggs might be spilt will be the best way of avoiding catching them
- head lice do not hop or fly, and are not caught from pets or animals
- they are very small, about the size of a sesame seed (1–4mms), and are only noticeable because of their movement, which is restricted to crawling
- they cling to hair shafts with their hooks and can lay eggs (called “nits”), which can be confused with dandruff, and lie close to the scalp or body
- getting rid of the nits is more difficult than getting off the hatched lice, which is often why they remain from one course of treatment to another, so persistence and patience are often required to eliminate the problem
- nits hatch as “nymphs”, which become adult in about 10 days
- the lice live for about 30 days on their hosts but die in a couple of days away from them
- there can be up to 30 lice in a typical infestation
- treatment involves getting rid of the live lice and the nits through a combination of methods.
Procedures
People who use services with head lice
If a care worker finds or thinks that a person who uses services has head lice or nits, they should ensure that they are protected from any possible spread by keeping the head well covered, if necessary using appropriate protective headgear, avoiding hair-to-hair contact and contact with surfaces with which the person’s hair might have been in contact. The person using services should be approached sensitively and encouraged to carry out a suitable recognised treatment, using medical advice as needed. The person using services permission should also be sought to treat or replace areas where his or her head has been (cushions, pillows, chairs, etc).
Depending on the circumstances, the person’s head lice treatment might be incorporated into his or her care plan.
Note:
In some domiciliary care situations, the person and their informal carers might prefer to take independent action or there might be issues, for example, if more than one family member is infected that fall outside the scope of the domiciliary care agreement. In these cases, protection of the agency’s care workers might be its priority on health and safety grounds. In care homes, there will be a similar aim of treating the individual and preventing spread to others, though the measures taken might be slightly different.
Employees with Head Lice
A care staff member, who self-reports head lice should be treated sympathetically. Depending on the causes and nature of the problem, there would seem to be no reason on health and safety grounds for preventing the person from carrying out their work, if they take all the necessary measures to prevent the lice spreading to other people by wearing suitable headgear and avoiding shared hair surface contact (including towels, chairs, clothing, etc). At the same time, the person will be expected to carry out all the recommended medical treatment to get rid of the problem.
In some circumstances, for example, where the staff member is concerned, where the head lice have been observed and are concerning to others, where there is a persistent problem, or there is a high risk of the head lice spreading, the service could ask the staff member to take sick leave to seek suitable medical advice and treatment and to confirm that they are free from infestation or of presenting a risk to others, before returning to work.
Information Giving
With some outbreaks, the service might think it helpful to inform all staff that there have been reports or evidence of sources of head life and of the measures to be taken to prevent or minimise its spread. The sources of the outbreak should not be identified in such communications, ie there will be no naming and shaming.
Training
All staff are expected to study and understand this policy in line with the service’s general approach to infection prevention and control.
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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