Ensuring a clean and hygienic environment is paramount in care homes, where the health and wellbeing of residents are the top priority. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical aspect of this, and within IPC, mattress hygiene plays a vital role. Mattresses, being frequently used and in close contact with residents, can harbour bacteria and contribute to the spread of infections if not properly maintained and audited. To support care homes in upholding the highest standards of cleanliness, the infection prevention and control team at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly provides a comprehensive service, including resources and guidance on utilizing effective mattress audit tools for care homes.
This guide outlines the support available from the NHS team, emphasizing how care homes can leverage these resources to enhance their IPC practices, specifically focusing on mattress hygiene and audit processes.
NHS Support for Infection Prevention and Control in Care Homes
The NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly infection prevention and control team offers a range of services designed to assist care homes in maintaining robust IPC protocols. These services are invaluable for ensuring resident safety and regulatory compliance.
- Education and Training for IPC Champions: The NHS team provides a structured programme for care home staff to become IPC champions and link practitioners. This training, detailed on the IPC network page, equips staff with the knowledge and skills to implement effective IPC measures, including mattress hygiene protocols. Contact the team directly for more information on how to enroll your staff.
- Support for Transmissible Infection Cases: In the event of transmissible infection outbreaks, the NHS team offers crucial support and guidance to manage and contain the spread, ensuring prompt and effective intervention.
- IPC Resource Development and Support: Staying up-to-date with national guidance is essential. The NHS team develops and provides IPC resources aligned with the latest national standards. They also offer support in effectively utilizing these resources within care home settings, which includes guidance on mattress cleaning and auditing.
- Bespoke IPC Advice: Recognizing that each care home has unique needs, the NHS team offers tailored IPC advice on request. This personalized support can address specific concerns related to mattress hygiene, audit tool implementation, and other IPC challenges.
- Site Visits and IPC Audits: To provide hands-on support, the team conducts site visits to assist with IPC audits. These visits can be instrumental in assessing current mattress hygiene practices and implementing effective mattress audit tools for care homes.
For any inquiries or to access these services, please contact the NHS team via email: [email protected].
Outbreak Management and Reporting
For specific guidance and resources related to care home outbreaks, the South West Councils: UKHSA infection prevention and control and winter readiness toolkit for care homes and other residential care settings is an essential resource. It provides valuable information on managing outbreaks and maintaining hygiene standards, which indirectly relates to mattress hygiene as part of overall infection control.
All suspected or confirmed outbreaks must be reported to UKHSA via telephone: 0300 303 8162. For updates on existing outbreaks, use the same number 0300 303 8162 or email [email protected].
Regulatory Compliance and Standards
Care homes are mandated to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and demonstrate compliance with various standards, including those related to infection prevention and control. The care home annual report template is designed to assist providers in evidencing their CQC compliance. This template can be adapted to include specific sections on mattress hygiene audits and the use of mattress audit tools for care homes. For support with using this template, email the infection prevention and control team .
The fundamental standard for infection prevention and control stems from the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice, commonly known as the hygiene code. This code provides the framework for maintaining hygiene standards across all aspects of care, including mattress management.
Training and Resources for Enhanced IPC
Beyond the IPC Network, the NHS team offers virtual annual updates for care homes, held quarterly via Kernow Health CIC. Details can be found on the poster for virtual annual IPC updates for care homes (held quarterly). These updates often cover key aspects of IPC, including advancements in audit methodologies and best practices for using mattress audit tools for care homes.
Useful Resources for IPC Improvement
The NHS team and associated organizations provide a wealth of resources to support care homes in enhancing their IPC practices.
Cleaning and Hygiene Standards
To ensure cleaning processes align with national standards, the care home cleaning specification template offers a valuable framework. This template can be adapted to specifically address mattress cleaning frequencies and responsibilities, ensuring mattress hygiene is integrated into routine cleaning schedules.
National standards for healthcare cleanliness are detailed in NHSE the national standards of healthcare cleanliness 2021. These standards emphasize risk categorization for different areas to determine cleaning protocols. For local guidance on implementing these standards, the 18-minute YouTube presentation the national standards of healthcare cleanliness 2021 implementation guidance provides further clarity. Understanding and applying these standards is crucial for developing effective mattress cleaning and audit procedures.
Audit and Competency Assessment Tools
The care home audit calendar template includes recommended audit and competency assessment tools from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Community Infection Prevention and Control. While not explicitly named as “mattress audit tools,” these resources can be adapted and utilized to create a bespoke Mattress Audit Tool For Care Homes. By focusing on hygiene and cleanliness sections within these tools, care homes can effectively monitor and improve mattress hygiene standards.
The Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Community Infection Prevention and Control website offers a wide array of additional resources at Harrogate and District NHS Community Infection Prevention and Control resources for care homes. . This website is a valuable hub for further information and tools that can support the development and implementation of mattress audit tools for care homes.
Clinical Support and Professional Lines
For broader clinical support, the clinical care home support team, part of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, enhances care led by general practice. This team offers virtual clinical advice, site visits, and support with various aspects of resident health, indirectly contributing to effective IPC.
The team provides:
- Education and personalized support in enhancing resident health, including training on tools like NEWS2 or RESTORE2 for recognizing and managing deterioration.
- Support for care transitions out of hospital.
- Clinical and pastoral advice and guidance.
- Shared clinical decision-making and risk management.
- Support with monitoring clinical conditions.
- Professional staff development.
- Escalation of unsafe staffing issues.
- On-site clinical support when appropriate.
- Ongoing COVID-19 support.
- Navigation to other relevant teams and professionals.
For non-urgent queries, contact the team via email: [email protected].
For urgent professional support, the 24/7 care home professionals’ line is available, supported by NHS 111 (out of hours) and the care home support team (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm). This line, 01872 303770, is not a replacement for GP support but offers crucial immediate assistance.
By utilizing these NHS resources and focusing on proactive hygiene practices, including the implementation of mattress audit tools for care homes, care homes can significantly enhance their infection prevention and control measures, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for their residents.
