Infection Prevention and Control Audit - Care Homes

Q1 | Unanswered

Is there a current infection prevention and control (IPC) policy and local procedure aligned to the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual for older people and adult care homes?

Q2 | Unanswered

Is there a nominated IPC lead with the knowledge, authority, time and support to monitor practice, advise staff, escalate concerns and lead improvement?

Q3 | Unanswered

Do governance arrangements bring together IPC audits, incidents, outbreaks, environmental checks, staff feedback and actions, with leaders checking that improvements are effective?

Q4 | Unanswered

Are all staff, including agency, bank, domestic and visiting staff, trained and able to apply Standard Infection Control Precautions in line with their role?

Q5 | Unanswered

During observation, do staff perform hand hygiene at the right moments and use the correct technique, with suitable hand-wash facilities and alcohol-based hand rub readily available?

Q6 | Unanswered

Are staff able to assess the task and select, put on, remove and dispose of personal protective equipment safely, without contaminating themselves, others or the environment?

Q7 | Unanswered

Are respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette promoted for people, visitors and staff, with practical support for anyone who is unwell or has communication or cognitive needs?

Q8 | Unanswered

Are safe procedures followed for exposure to blood and body fluids, including immediate action, cleaning, waste disposal, staff support and incident reporting?

Q9 | Unanswered

Are clinical, domestic and hazardous wastes segregated, stored, handled and removed safely, with bins correctly located, labelled and not overfilled?

Q10 | Unanswered

Are sharps risks assessed and controlled, with approved sharps containers correctly assembled, available at point of use, secure and disposed of safely?

Q11 | Unanswered

Are laundry processes and the handling, storage and transport of clean, used or infectious linen organised to prevent cross-contamination?

Q12 | Unanswered

Is the care environment visibly clean, well maintained and uncluttered, with suitable cleaning products, equipment and schedules that are followed in practice?

Q13 | Unanswered

Are frequently touched surfaces, bathrooms, toilets, communal areas, bedrooms, clinical areas and shared equipment cleaned at the right frequency and to the required standard?

Q14 | Unanswered

Are reusable care equipment and devices cleaned and decontaminated between people and after contamination, with staff clear about responsibility and method?

Q15 | Unanswered

Are cleaning equipment and products stored, maintained and used safely to avoid cross-contamination, including appropriate colour coding or local controls where used?

Q16 | Unanswered

Are food hygiene, hydration, oral care and safe support with eating and drinking considered alongside IPC measures for people at increased risk of infection?

Q17 | Unanswered

Are people at increased infection risk identified through their personal plans and assessments, including those with wounds, devices, reduced immunity, swallowing needs or long-term conditions?

Q18 | Unanswered

When a person has a suspected or confirmed infection, do staff use an individual risk assessment and appropriate Transmission Based Precautions while maintaining dignity, comfort, communication and wellbeing?

Q19 | Unanswered

Are infection-related changes in a person's condition recognised promptly, documented, escalated to the appropriate healthcare professional and reflected in their personal plan?

Q20 | Unanswered

Are infection incidents, clusters and outbreaks recognised early, reported through the required routes and managed with timely advice from the local NHS health protection team or other relevant professionals?

Q21 | Unanswered

During an outbreak or increased infection risk, are enhanced precautions, staffing, cleaning, monitoring, communication and contingency arrangements planned, recorded and reviewed?

Q22 | Unanswered

Are any restrictions on visiting or contact individually considered, proportionate, communicated clearly, reviewed promptly and managed in a way that supports meaningful connection and essential care support?

Q23 | Unanswered

Do staff, people living in the home, families, visitors and contractors receive clear, accessible IPC information and support that matches the current risk?

Q24 | Unanswered

Are staff health, vaccination, sickness and return-to-work arrangements managed appropriately to reduce infection risk while respecting confidentiality and employment requirements?

Q25 | Unanswered

Are antimicrobial use, recurrent infections and relevant health concerns reviewed with prescribers, pharmacy and other professionals to support safe, effective treatment and prevention?

Q26 | Unanswered

Are ventilation, water, maintenance, damaged surfaces, clutter and storage issues assessed and acted on where they could increase infection risks or prevent effective cleaning?

Q27 | Unanswered

Do IPC audits test real practice through observation, discussion and evidence review, including hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning, waste, laundry, equipment and outbreak readiness?

Q28 | Unanswered

Do learning from IPC audits, outbreaks, incidents, complaints and professional advice result in completed actions and sustained improvement to people's safety, rights and wellbeing?