ICO1: The principles of infection prevention and control. Oct 2014 Written by Laura Shaw Q: 1.1 Explain employee’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. Employees roles and responsibilities in the care industry are all different but the one thing they all have a responsibility to do is they must always be aware of and report any individuals health changes and they also have a responsibility to keep all work areas and equipment clean, tidy and free from infection hazards. They are also encouraged to maintain good personal hygiene for themselves as well as their service users. For example when assisting a service user to have a bath, shower or to use the toilet you must always wear the PPE (personal protective equipment) provided when removing any soiled clothing you must dispose of it in the correct way using the sluice bags that are provided and the sluice bags should be tided shut thus preventing any infection among other service users clothes.
If employees are safe and healthy they can provide good service to service users. Every health and social care setting has its own policies, legislation, regulation and code of practice. All the employees are bound to follow those policies and they run their all kinds of work according to the code of practice. Employers will arrange proper training and supply sufficient information to employees to get the optimum outcomes. Management ensures all employees are following organizational regulations and all kinds of operations are conducting in prescribed way.
* To strictly follow the nursery discipline procedures. * To work within the team assisting in planning daily activities. * Promoting a ‘teamwork’ environment alongside other members of staff and the children within the nursery. * Maintaining confidentiality at all times. * Ensuring my manager is aware of any incidents affecting the welfare of children in our care.
Unit 304 1.1 A duty of care is the legal obligation on the individual ensuring that they keep to a reasonable standard of care. For example in my employment we have a weekly cleaning rota to ensure no spread of infections in the building. 1.2 Having a duty of care must ensure safety and protection of service user(s) that are in my care for example it is my duty of care to ensure I attend any training courses provided to ensure I am fully competent and up to date with all new legislations. Also carrying out and reviewing risk assessments would be a duty of care to ensure the environment is safe for all who are there. 2.1 Conflicts may arise whilst you are obligated to duty of care for example if a service user wants to do something such as a service user wanting to go out in cold weather wearing t-shirt and shorts as it is their human rights to make this decision (if they have capacity for decision) your duty of care would be to explain all risks in doing this and try to come up with a compromise if possible e.g.
All gloves and aprons that have been worn should be removed and disposed of correctly. All soiled items if disposable should be disposed of correctly. Effective hand washing is a good way to prevent infection from spreading. It is also important that all equipment is cleaned correctly to avoid cross infection, this is because infection can spread from one person to another through instruments, linen and equipment. 2: The employer has a responsibility to provide PPE equipment and to ensure the environment in which you work is safe, food preparation areas are clean and maintained to comply with food hygiene legislation.
They must also wash hands after using the toilet and before handling food. At all times they must be wearing appropriate PPE and must follow the procedures of disposing of waste safely. They must keep contact items clean and must always report any potential hazards. These things are a part of the code of conduct for care workers and they help with minimising the risk of an outbreak of infection. Care workers have a role in reporting infections or disease outbreaks.
RITA EVERTON 1.1 The employee has a responsibility to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene, especially in relation to the prevention and control of infection. Basic control measures are washing hands when appropriate, especially at the start and end of each call, wear PPE at all times and change for each customer or if they become soiled, making sure that everything is disposed of correctly, attend infection control training and keep yourself updated, keep vigilant and report any potential hazards, keep all equipment clean. 1.2 Employers have a responsibility to make sure that all staff are adequately trained in the prevention and control of infection, they follow and maintain the ‘Health and safety legislation’ as they have a duty to the employee to protect them, they can do this by providing a safe workplace, risk assess the dangers of ant work related activity, provide PPE, carry out regular health and safety checks. 2.1 The current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infection are the Health and social care act 2008, this act was put in place to help providers of care plan and implement prevention and control of infection. It also includes criteria which the CQC (Care Quality Commission) take into account when assessing compliance.
As one touches people, surfaces, and objects throughout the day, germs accumulate on ones hands. We have always been taught to wash our hands after using the restroom and before we eat. What about during and after preparing food, treating wounds or caring for a sick person? How about blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, handling garbage, household chemicals, or anything that could be contaminated or simply shaking hands with someone else? All of these situations call for proper hand washing technique.
The home is residents are safeguarded at all time from cross contamination by developing a strict habit of hand washing when hygiene is an issue using protective equipment to stop cross contamination. * 1.2) Employer’s roles and responsibilities- Employer’s must give us the correct training in all areas of infection control and provide us with the correct personal protective equipment to carry out our tasks. The workplace must be a safe environment for all with any risk assessments being recorded and being made aware of in a risk assessment folder. This applies to equipment and possible hazards with any work related activities in the home or for residents on leave. The home should be able to provide the materials and framework to allow the effective running of the home.
They would maintain all daily written documentation. While during the clients personal care or any other task required for any reason I was not happy and they need treatment I would call the nurse to examine them, always report issues to the nurse. b) Cleaner- The cleaner has to maintain a high standard of cleanness for the home they have to follow their coshh training, clean all clients’ rooms, staff room, lounge and toilets. If I have an issues with one of the clients rooms that the carpets or curtains need to be washed I would inform the cleaner when the room is available for them to enter and advise them when all bathrooms are free and finished with. c) Chef – The chef has to ensure that all clients dietary needs are met check stock, all equipment is in good working order and keep records of all temperatures are correct for the fridge and freezers.