Infection Prevention and Control Policy

Policies & Procedures

Infection Prevention & Control Policy v2.0

Infection Prevention & Control Policy

Policy Lead Mrs. Tavleen Sharma - Registered Manager

Version No. 2.0

Date of issue May 2026

Date to be reviewed May 2027

Purpose

VCare Consultancy Services Limited (“VCare”) is committed to maintaining high standards of infection prevention and control (“IPC”) to protect:

• service users;
• staff;
• families and visitors;
• healthcare professionals;
• wider communities.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• minimise the risk of infection transmission;
• ensure safe and hygienic care practices;
• comply with legal and regulatory requirements;
• support safe delivery of care within home and community settings;
• promote a culture of infection prevention awareness and accountability.

This policy is aligned with:

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014;
• CQC Fundamental Standards;
• Regulation 12 – Safe Care and Treatment;
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974;
• COSHH Regulations 2002;
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance;
• NICE guidance;
• South Gloucestershire Council commissioning and quality expectations.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• domiciliary care services;
• community support services;
• live-in care;
• supported living services;
• all VCare employees and representatives.

The policy applies during:

• direct care delivery;
• medication support;
• personal care;
• moving and handling;
• food preparation support;
• community-based support activities.

Principles

VCare is committed to:

• maintaining clean and safe care practices;
• reducing avoidable infection risks;
• promoting hand hygiene;
• using appropriate PPE;
• ensuring staff training and competency;
• responding promptly to outbreaks and concerns;
• protecting vulnerable adults;
• promoting dignity and person-centred care.

All staff have a responsibility to prevent infection transmission.

Responsibilities

Registered Manager

Responsible for:

• implementing this policy;
• ensuring staff training;
• ensuring PPE availability;
• monitoring compliance;
• responding to outbreaks and incidents;
• liaising with public health professionals where required;
• maintaining infection control audits.

Employees

Responsible for:

• following IPC procedures;
• maintaining good personal hygiene;
• using PPE correctly;
• reporting illness and concerns;
• completing training;
• protecting service users and colleagues.

Standard Infection Control Precautions

VCare staff must apply standard infection control precautions at all times.

This includes:

• effective hand hygiene;
• appropriate PPE use;
• safe disposal of waste;
• cleaning of equipment;
• safe handling of bodily fluids;
• respiratory hygiene;
• safe laundry handling.

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective methods of preventing infection transmission.

Staff must wash or sanitise hands:

• before and after providing care;
• before handling food;
• after personal care tasks;
• after glove removal;
• after contact with bodily fluids;
• after touching contaminated surfaces;
• before medication support.

Hands must be washed using:

• soap and water where visibly soiled;
• alcohol hand sanitiser where appropriate.

Jewellery, long nails and poor hand hygiene practices are discouraged.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

VCare will provide appropriate PPE including:

• disposable gloves;
• disposable aprons;
• masks where appropriate;
• eye protection where risk assessments identify need.

PPE must be:

• used appropriately;
• changed between tasks/service users;
• disposed of safely.

PPE use will be guided by:

• risk assessments;
• infection risks;
• current public health guidance.

Staff Illness and Fitness to Work

Staff must not attend work where they may place service users or colleagues at risk.

Staff must report:

• vomiting;
• diarrhoea;
• infectious illnesses;
• skin infections;
• flu-like symptoms;
• COVID-19 symptoms where applicable.

VCare may require exclusion from work in accordance with public health guidance.

Return-to-work arrangements may include risk assessments.

Cleaning and Environmental Hygiene

Staff must maintain clean and hygienic working practices.

This includes:

• cleaning frequently touched surfaces;
• cleaning equipment after use;
• safe disposal of waste;
• maintaining clean care environments where part of care support.

Cleaning products must be used in accordance with COSHH guidance.

Safe Handling of Waste

Waste must be handled safely and appropriately.

This includes:

• disposal of PPE;
• disposal of contaminated waste;
• management of sharps where applicable.

Clinical waste arrangements will follow local procedures and risk assessments.

Laundry and Linen

Where staff support laundry activities, they must:

• wear appropriate PPE;
• avoid contamination spread;
• handle soiled linen safely;
• wash laundry at appropriate temperatures where applicable.

Food Hygiene

Where staff assist with food preparation or nutrition support, they must:

• follow food hygiene procedures;
• maintain hand hygiene;
• prevent cross-contamination;
• ensure safe food storage.

Staff involved in food support must complete food hygiene awareness training.

Management of Infectious Outbreaks

VCare will respond promptly to suspected outbreaks including:

• influenza;
• COVID-19;
• norovirus;
• gastrointestinal infections;
• respiratory infections.

Actions may include:

• enhanced PPE use;
• isolation precautions where appropriate;
• increased cleaning;
• staff exclusion from work;
• liaison with healthcare professionals and public health authorities.

VCare will follow current UKHSA and NHS guidance.

Service User Infection Risks

Care plans and risk assessments will identify:

• known infections;
• vulnerability to infection;
• immunocompromised conditions;
• required precautions.

Staff must follow individual risk management arrangements.

Training and Competency

All staff will complete infection prevention and control training during induction and refresher training thereafter.

Training may include:

• hand hygiene;
• PPE use;
• outbreak management;
• waste disposal;
• cleaning procedures;
• respiratory hygiene;
• food hygiene awareness.

Competency may be monitored through:

• spot checks;
• supervision;
• observations;
• audits.

Infection Control Audits

VCare will undertake audits relating to:

• PPE compliance;
• hand hygiene;
• training compliance;
• cleaning standards;
• incident reporting.

Learning identified through audits will support continuous improvement.

Incident Reporting

Staff must report:

• infection outbreaks;
• contamination incidents;
• sharps injuries;
• PPE shortages;
• unsafe hygiene practices.

Incidents will be investigated and managed appropriately.

Safeguarding referrals may be made where neglect or unsafe practice is identified.

Vaccination and Immunisation

VCare encourages staff to access recommended vaccinations in line with public health guidance.

Vaccination discussions may form part of risk assessments and workforce wellbeing arrangements.

Equality and Diversity

Infection prevention and control measures will be implemented in a manner that:

• respects dignity;
• supports cultural needs;
• avoids discrimination;
• promotes person-centred care.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate.

Confidentiality and GDPR

Information relating to infections or health conditions will be handled confidentially and in accordance with:

• UK GDPR;
• Data Protection Act 2018;
• confidentiality obligations.

Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside:

• Health and Safety Policy
• Medication Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• COSHH Policy
• Incident Reporting Policy
• Business Continuity Policy
• GDPR and Confidentiality Policy
• Staff Training Matrix

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be:

• reviewed annually;
• reviewed following outbreaks or incidents;
• updated following legislative or guidance changes.

Compliance will be monitored through:

• audits;
• spot checks;
• supervision;
• governance reviews.