Infection Prevention & Control

Is there an up-to-date Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policy that aligns with current national guidance and legislation for home care?

What we look for: Review the IPC policy to ensure it reflects current Dept of Health/UKHSA guidance for domiciliary care. A good policy outlines specific procedures for PPE, hand hygiene, and waste. It fails if the policy is generic, outdated, or relies on care-home specific language that doesn't apply to community settings.

Evidence: IPC Policy, COVID-19/Winter respiratory guidance, Manager's update logs

Have all care staff completed comprehensive training in IPC, and is their practical competency regularly assessed?

What we look for: Sample 5-10 staff training records to verify IPC and food hygiene training is up to date. Look for evidence of practical competency assessments (e.g., correct donning and doffing of PPE, hand washing technique). A fail would be expired training or a lack of practical competency checks.

Evidence: Training matrix, Training certificates, Competency assessment forms

Are there robust systems in place to ensure all field staff have continuous access to appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

What we look for: Check how the agency manages PPE distribution to field staff. Good practice involves staff having easy access to replacement stock (gloves, aprons, masks) without barriers. A fail would be staff running out of PPE, using inadequate substitutes, or having to purchase their own.

Evidence: PPE stock logs, PPE ordering process, Staff feedback/supervision notes

Does the management team conduct and record field spot checks to monitor staff adherence to safe IPC and hand hygiene practices?

What we look for: Review recent spot check records to confirm managers are actively observing staff hand hygiene and PPE use in clients' homes. Good practice includes immediate feedback and retraining if poor practice is spotted. A fail is a lack of field observations or spot checks that consistently fail to cover IPC elements.

Evidence: Spot check records, Field observation forms, Supervision notes

Are there clear, documented procedures followed for the safe management and disposal of clinical waste and sharps in people's homes?

What we look for: Check how staff are instructed to dispose of soiled pads, catheter bags, or sharps. Good practice requires clear agreements with the local authority for clinical waste collection where necessary. A fail would be staff disposing of hazardous waste in standard household bins against local guidelines.

Evidence: Waste management policy, Care plans, Staff training records

Is there clear guidance and adherence regarding staff dress codes, uniforms, and a 'bare below the elbows' policy during personal care?

What we look for: Review the uniform policy and spot check records to ensure staff are maintaining safe dress codes (e.g., no acrylic nails, no stoned rings, short sleeves during care). A fail would be observation records showing staff wearing heavy jewelry or long painted nails during personal care tasks without management challenge.

Evidence: Uniform policy, Staff handbook, Spot check forms

Do individual care plans include specific IPC risk assessments tailored to the person's home environment and health conditions?

What we look for: Sample 5 care records, including individuals with known infections or catheters/stomas. Look for specific risk assessments detailing how staff should manage infection risks in that specific home environment. A fail would be generic risk assessments that do not address known infections or poor home hygiene.

Evidence: Care plans, Environmental risk assessments, Infection risk assessments (e.g., MRSA, C.Diff)

Is there a documented procedure for reporting, managing, and learning from infectious disease outbreaks or IPC breaches?

What we look for: Review the outbreak management plan and recent incident logs regarding infections (e.g., a flu or COVID outbreak among staff/clients). Look for evidence of lessons learned, communication with local health protection teams, and CQC notifications where required. A fail is having no contingency plan for a localized outbreak.

Evidence: Incident logs, Outbreak management plan, Meeting minutes, Notifications