Resources
The practical resources below can help you to strengthen this area of CQC inspection.
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Resource creator: Skills for Care
A range of Infection, prevention and control related training is available to purchase from Skills for Care’s Endorsed learning providers.
You can search for quality learning across different parts of the country and find courses to meet your staff needs.
Date published: April 2023
Resource creator: Care Quality Commission
Sepsis is not uncommon. It is important that it is identified as early as possible so that the appropriate treatment in hospital can be started. People should be assessed by a skilled and competent healthcare professional using agreed tools and processes. The CQC has compiled guidance and advice to help regulated care providers protect the people you support from Sepsis.
Date published: September 2022
Resource creator: Care Quality Commission
This CQC webpage combines the questions that the CQC inspectors will be looking at in their monitoring and inspection processes, combined with examples of Infection, prevention and control (IPC) good practice.
The list of good practice includes general IPC recommendations and more specific examples related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, the combination of the two is a useful checklist for residential care and nursing homes to meet the CQC expectations.
Date published: September 2021
Resource creator: Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has adapted the 'Every Action Counts' suite of resources to support adult social care providers achieve excellence in infection prevention and control.
The resources include posters, digital key cards and hints and tips, supporting compliance and awareness, leadership, morale and wellbeing, training, and operational interventions.
The Every Action Counts toolkit has been developed to support adult social care providers to use the resources effectively.
Date published: June 2021
Resource creator: Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS, Public Health England (PHE)
To support the on-going COVID-19 vaccination programme, a number of key guidance and advice has been compiled together. This includes for frontline care managers and staff, as well as consent documents and other resources to help get your people vaccinated.
There is also a section related to legal vaccination requirements for care homes covering:
- Department for Health and Social Care Operational Guidance
- recruitment and retention resources
- ACAS guidance and advice
- case studies
- FAQ
Date published: April 2021
Resource creator: Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The CQC revised their inspection focus during the COVID-19 pandemic to look more acutely at some areas of infection, prevention, and control. Their website explains what additional areas inspectors may focus on and associated examples of good practice.
The revised questions the CQC will look at include:
- Are all types of visitors prevented from catching and spreading infection?
- Are shielding and social distancing rules complied with?
- Are people admitted into the service safely?
- Does the service use PPE effectively to safeguard staff and people using services?
- Is there adequate access and take up of testing for staff and people using services?
- Does the layout of premises, use of space and hygiene practice promote safety?
- Do staff training, practices and deployment show the service can prevent transmission of infection and/or manage outbreaks?
- Is IPC policy up to date and implemented effectively to prevent and control infection?
Date published: March 2021
Resource creator: Skills for Care
This webpage provides an overview of the flu jab process, including employer responsibilities, what they are important to protect staff and the people you support and who should be vaccinated. It includes:
- employer responsibilities
- why is it important?
- who should get the flu jab?
- FAQ
Date published: October 2020
Resource creator: National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
This quality standard covers increasing the uptake of flu vaccination among people who are eligible. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. The statements are specific and concise and focus on priorities for quality improvement. In particular, please see statement 4.
Date published: January 2020
Resource creator: National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
This is a short and visually appealing guide for managers and staff in care homes.
Delivering clean, safe care is essential to preventing infection. This short guide from NICE provides an overview on some practical steps for managers to consider:
- hand decontamination
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- sharps
- waste disposal
- education
Date published: January 2018
Resource creator: Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)
This revised version of the code of practice replaces the edition published in 2010. It applies to NHS bodies and providers of independent healthcare and adult social care in England, including primary dental care, independent sector ambulance providers and primary medical care providers.
Date published: July 2015
Resource creator: Skills for Care, Skills for Health, Health Education England
The Care Certificate is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. It's made up of the 15 minimum standards that should be covered if you’re new to care and should form part of a robust induction programme.
Standard 6 focuses on communication, the importance of using different communication styles when required, and of being aware of potential barriers to communication.
Date published: April 2015
Resource creator: National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
This NICE Quality Standard advocates that organisations have a strategy for continuous improvement in infection prevention and control, including accountable leadership, multi-agency working and the use of surveillance systems.
Date published: April 2014
Resource creator: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
RIDDOR puts duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses).
Date published: December 2013
Resource creator: Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Information resource for care home workers about preventing and controlling infection in care homes. This information pack helps staff to protect care home residents and staff from acquiring infections and prevent cross-infection.
It provides guidance on infection prevention and control and will help care home managers to carry out risk assessments and develop policies. The guidance includes:
- guidance on the prevention and control of infection
- roles and responsibilities
- monitoring and reporting of infections
- risk assessment
- outbreak recognition and management
- root Cause Analysis
Date published: February 2013
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