Unit 224 – The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control 1. Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections 2.1 Explain the employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. It is the duty of the employee to make sure that they follow the policies, procedures and guidelines that have been put in place in the prevention and control of infection 1.2 Explain the employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees. They are also responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public.
Unit ICO1 The principles of infection prevention and control Assessment Criteria Outcome 1 Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections The learner can: 1. explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of Infection They have to always be aware of and report changes in the health conditions of the individuals that they support. They also have a responsibility to assist with keeping 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, helping service users bathe, use the toilet and change remove and dispose of any soiled clothing. Another responsibility they hold is preparing and maintaining environment before and after episodes of patient care.
It is the responsibility of the employer to provide employees with information on such policies, as well as ensure all employees receive sufficient training where necessary. Also to provide PPE (personal protective equipment) to all members of staff. Understand legislation and policies relating to prevention and control of infections. Outline current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infection. The Health and Social Care Act 2008; Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
ICO1 Outcome 1 Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections 1. Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection All employees are responsible for the prevention of spread of infections. Employees should also, in the care industry, have a personal as well as a moral responsibility to follow infection control guidelines. Regular hand washing is a responsibility that all staff should follow as well as wearing all appropriate/available PPE. There is many roles within a health and social care environment where infection control is always important.
Roles and Responsibilities of Personnel In a health and social care setting each member of staff has a specific role when dealing with service users and the prevention and control of infections. Care workers such as nurses have a responsibility to keep the risk of infection to a minimum in a health and social care setting. They must consider themselves, their colleagues, their patients and visitors while on duty. Care workers must maintain a good personal hygiene at all times and wash hands thoroughly before and after contact with the patients that they are treating. They must also wash hands after using the toilet and before handling food.
There are a range of roles were the prevention and control of infection apply, here are the ones that apply to my line of work; working with hazardous substances, working in an environment that exposes me to infection, working with people who are vulnerable to infection and working in a place that is a communal living area. 2. The employer is responsible for ensuring that all employees’ know and apply the correct working procedures, this can be undertaken via providing adequate training. The employer is required to provide the appropriate personal protective equipment and the correct medical equipment as well as carrying out risk assessments. The employer is also responsible for the organisation of the workplace, ensuring that the risk of infection is minimised as much as possible.
If I have any concerns whatsoever regarding the management of infectious diseases in the workplace, I should contact my supervisor. All employees must also observe general Understand precautions, other rules specific to a particular work activity must also be observed. 1.2 Explain employers’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide employees with information on such policies, as well as ensure all employees receive sufficient training where necessary. Also to provide personal protective equipment to all members of staff.
1/1.2 The Employers responsibility to all employees is to, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, (NICE) guidelines provide everyone involved in providing care with education about the standard principles of infection prevention and control and trained in hand decontamination and the use of protective equipment. With regular updates and appropriate equipment available, whilst maintaining up to date policies that can be easily accessed by all employers. The most important outcome in relation to the NICE guidelines is to protect health care workers from health care associated infections and prevent cross contamination of infections from patient to patient. 2/2.1 The NICE guidelines state that health care workers are required by law to be provided with appropriate supplies of hand decontamination products, PPE and sharps disposal equipment (Health And Safety Work Act 1974, Health and Safety Regulations 2002, Control of Substances Harmful to Heath Regulations 2002, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Health and Social Care Act 2008). This recommendation complies to current
The policies and procedures are set out in the workplace in order to maintain a safe place for work and to ensure all aspects of care and legal framework are covered. The health and safety policies and procedures are also used in the workplace in order to check that employees are using them appropriately in practice. The health and safety policies and procedures also covers safeguarding, reporting of accidents, fire prevention, security, health and safety, food safety, storing medicines and waste disposal etc. The main health and safety responsibilities of social care worker: My responsibilities are to take all of the health and safety trainings relevant to my work role and cooperate with others on health and safety issues. Wear personal protective clothing and ensure that I know how to use equipment for doing care related tasks.
Also, to ensure that the relevant standards, policies and guidelines are available within the workplace.2.1 Outline current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infectionThe main legislation relating to infection prevention and control are; The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is a piece of legislation which has been put in place in order to ensure a workplace is safe for all employers, employees and visitors within the building or work area and that all risks posed are eliminated or minimised as much as possible. The Management of Health and Safety