Achieving and maintaining high standards of cleanliness is essential in care setting, and it is a statutory requirement in accordance with Health and Social Care Act (2008) – IPC code of practice and related guidance.
It is seen as a sign of the overall quality and safety of the care within the setting, and it contributes to a safe environment. Undertaking a regular infection prevention and control audit will enable you to monitor your IPC environmental and practice standards as part of best practice and can be retained by your setting as part of your CQC evidence.
It is recommended that all health and social care providers undertake a IPC self-audit documenting and reviewing improvement. The IPC service has produced a rapid self-audit tool (recommended to be undertaken quarterly i.e every 3-6 months), and also a quality and safety audit tool (recommended to be undertaken anually).
A series of checklists have also been designed to aid managers with monitoring compliance (recommended to be undertaken at least monthly, and frequency increased during outbreaks of infection).
