Knights Care Ltd infection control standards are met from compliance with high standards of environmental cleaning, sharps maintenance, staff training on infection control, hand hygiene, use of personal protection equipment and waste control. We aim to keep our care homes clean and tidy and offer a safe environment to our residents and staff.
In line with the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice on prevention and control of infection and its related guidance, this statement will be generated annually. It will summarise:
- Any infection transmission incidents and action taken in accordance with the Company’s significant incident procedure.
- Reference any infection prevention and control audits undertaken, and any subsequent actions taken arising from these audits.
- Reference any issues that may challenge infection prevention and control including risk assessment undertaken and subsequent actions implemented.
- Assurance of staff IPC training.
- Review and update of IPC policies, procedures, and guidance.
Three members of staff lead in Infection control in each home. We encourage all staff and residents to raise any issues or report incidents relating to cleanliness and infection control to the Management of the homes or any of the reception staff.
The infection control leads carry out the following:
- Ensure systems to manage and monitor the prevention and control of infection.
- Carry out appropriate risk assessments.
- Increase awareness of the infection control issues amongst staff and residents by use of posters and training.
- Help to motivate staff to improve practice and acts as a role model.
- Ensure implementation of local and national infection control policies
- Implement practice-based infection control audits annually.
- Disseminate key infection control messages to all staff within the practice.
- Attend regular updates provided by ICB.
The environmental control lead is responsible for the following:
- Providing and maintaining a clean and appropriate environment in the homes that facilitates the prevention and control of infections.
Significant Events
A significant event meeting is held annually and attended by all members of staff. This is to see what can be learnt from challenging events and how to make changes that might lead to future improvements. In the past year there have been no events raised relating to infection control.
Audits
Infection control lead, undertakes an annual internal audit of the environment every Year using the SICP’s Assurance Annual IPC Audit tool for Care Homes. Results of the audit and action required is discussed with the team.
Quarterly audits on handwashing, decontamination of equipment, correct use of PPE and sharps are currently undertaken along with an audit of the fridges and cold chain.
Staff Training
All reception staff have completed a online infection control module. This training covers hand hygiene, use of PPE, safe handling of waste, how to deal with spillages and needlestick injuries. Certificates are issued and available for inspection.
Policies, Protocols and Guidelines
All protocols are available to all staff and are reviewed and updated annually or more frequently if current advice or legislation changes.
Review date – July 2026
