SAFE (Standards Assurance Framework for Excellence)
Unfortunately due to changes within the IPC Team, we are no longer able to provide you with face to face training to use SAFE.
Please contact the IPC Team via email to request login details to SAFE, giving your full name and the setting you work at: [email protected]
Your log in details will be emailed to you along with a link to a video on how to complete your audits, a Managers User Guide, copy of a PowerPoint presentation to explain about SAFE, ideas for evidence list and the downloading to PDFs guidance.
Infection Protection and Control – here to support you
Find out more from the Infection Protection and Control (IPC) Team on the WCHC website. There you will find helpful resources and videos covering key topics, such as:
Auditing
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.
In addition to the quarterly IPC self-audits ( currently on SAFE) that you are recommended to undertake, the IPC service has produced a rapid self-audit tool that can be used more frequently:
IPC training
Please access the below training sections for the following topics:
- Preventing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Improving Hydration
- Control of cross contamination
- Hand Hygiene
Preventing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Improving Hydration
Urinary tract infections cause a significant burden of infections in our older people and a high rate of hospital admissions. This can be improved by implementing some relatively simple measures.
Please watch BOTH the training animation (entitled ‘To Dip of Not to Dip’, YouTube video) AND training presentation below (total time 30 minutes).
It is helpful to download the UTI infection assessment tool and the Hydration Risk Assessment Tool from the ‘Resources for staff’ section below as both the video and training presentation will guide you through scenarios on how to complete the assessments.
Please also remember to complete the surveys (links below). The pre-session survey to record your attendance (setting and numbers attending only) and knowledge prior to training and the post-session survey to test your knowledge following the training and to access a certificate of attendance.
To access the surveys as mentioned in the training above, click the following:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UTI_Pre_SessionSurvey/
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UTI_Post_SessionSurvey/
Resources for staff:
To dip or not to dip – training handbook
Hydration Risk Assessment Tool
Hydration and fluid balance monitoring chart
How to take a urine sample for care staff
Beat the heat – keeping residents safe during heatwaves
Competency assessment for staff
Resources for residents/relatives
How to take a urine sample for patients
To dip or not to dip – patient and relative leaflet
Other useful resources
Safety Soundbite – Preventing UTIs and Improving Hydration
Wirral working together to improve hydration and prevent and improve treatment of UTIs
Video – Out of hospital management of UTIs in elderly patients – YouTube
Think Kidney – AKI Home – Acute Kidney Injury (thinkkidneys.nhs.uk)
Keeping Kidneys Safe – Know How Medicines Affect the Kidneys – YouTube
Antibiotic resistance – Why not become an antibiotic guardian?
Hand Hygiene
To access the survey links as mentioned in the training above, click the following:
- https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HandHygienePresession/
- https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/handhygienepostsession/
If the above video is not compatible with your screen reader, you can access it at the bottom of the page.
Hand Hygiene Competency Assessment Tool
Hand Hygiene Competency Assessment Tool
This tool will support you to assess your staff competency in carrying out effective hand hygiene. It is recommended that, for assurance purposes, an annual competency to assess the standard of staff techniques are carried out.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Competency Assessment Tool
Personal Protective Equipment Competency Assessment Tool
This tool will support you to assess your staff competency in appropriate use of PPE. It is recommended that, for assurance purposes, an annual competency to assess the standard of staff techniques are carried out.
Annual Infection Prevention and Control Statement
It is a requirement of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance that the Infection Prevention and Control Lead produces an annual statement with regard to compliance with good practice on infection prevention and control and makes it available for anyone who wishes to see it, including patients and regulatory authorities. The community IPC Team have produced a template that you may wish to use to support you with this.
Care Homes Winter Preparedness
IPC Standard Precautions Training for Adult Social Care
This training video lasts approximately 45 minutes
Aims and outcomes of this session
- To improve your knowledge around preventing and controlling the spread of infection
- To promote evidence based best practice amongst all staff
- To understand your own responsibilities in relation to infection prevention and control
- To gain a greater awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), outbreak management and other organisms
- To promote Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) prevention and the importance of hydration
Please ensure you have completed the pre session survey – underneath the video below or by scanning the QR code by pausing the video on the 2nd slide.
You will also be asked to complete a post session survey after the training – underneath the video below or by scanning the QR code by pausing the video on the last slide.
IPC training Adult Social Care – survey links & resources links March 2023
Pre-session survey
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/IPC_Training_Pre_Survey/
Post-session survey
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/IPC_Training_Post_Survey/
IPC manual
NHS England » National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) for England
National standards of healthcare cleanliness
Antibiotic Guardian
https://antibioticguardian.com/
For further information:
Infection prevention and control in care homes – Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
NHS England » (HTM 07-01) Management and disposal of healthcare waste
Further IPC training and additional resources
Further recognised, reliable IPC training for care homes can be accessed free of charge through the Learning Hub. All you need to do is email [email protected] to find out the different options on how you can register and access the training.
You can also visit the Infection Prevention and Control section here, which provides advice and support on all matters relating to infection prevention and control to the wider community of Wirral.
