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Handwashing and Hand Hygiene in Care Homes Policy

Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} 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 is to prevent the spread of infection among staff, people who use the service and the local community. The goals of the home are to ensure the following.

1. People who use the service, their families and staff are as safe as possible from acquiring infections at the home.
2. All staff at the home are aware of and put into practice the basic principles of infection control, including effective handwashing and hand hygiene.

Effective Handwashing

The home 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.

In {{org_field_name}}, the following applies.

1. An adequate number of sinks will be supplied around the home and maintained in good condition.
2. Sinks in clinical areas will have elbow-operated taps, allowing staff to wash their hands and not touch the taps with their fingers, and foot-operated waste bins for used towels and other waste.
3. All handwashing sinks will be kept in good condition according to a planned preventive maintenance programme and an ongoing programme of home improvement.
4. All sinks will be subject to a regular programme of cleaning, which will include the restocking of liquid soaps and disposable paper towels.
5. Hands should be washed according to the guidelines posted by each sink.
6. Liquid soaps and disposable paper towels will be used rather than bar soaps and fabric towels.
7. All cuts or abrasions, particularly on the hands, should be covered with waterproof dressings at all times.
8. All wrist and ideally all hand jewellery, including watches, should be removed.

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.

Antiseptic Alcohol Rubs and 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}} hand gels will be deployed in numerous places around the premises, including provision in toilets and washrooms and at entrances and exits. Where indicated by a risk assessment, care staff may also be provided with portable alcohol hand rubs which they should carry with them while providing care. These should be used in situations where additional hand hygiene is required.

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.

Procurement

Liquid soaps will be procured in preference to bar soaps. The best option is a mild, cosmetically acceptable liquid soap which contains emollients to prevent chapping of the skin from frequent washing. Disposable paper towels are also preferable to the use of linen towels which, like bar soaps, can become soiled and damp.

_______________________________ is responsible for the procurement of handwashing supplies and materials and for ensuring adequate stock control.

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.

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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: 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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