Responsibilities for content of the manual 

ARHAI Scotland to ensure:

• that the content of this manual remains evidence based or where evidence is lacking, content is based on consensus of expert opinion

Stakeholders of ARHAI Scotland programme working groups to ensure:

• full participation in the working groups including full engagement with the consultation process outlined in the Terms of Reference associated with each working group

Responsibilities for the adoption and implementation of this manual

The manual should be used by:

• care home organisations
• care home staff including permanent, agency and where required external contractors
• health protection teams
• infection prevention and control teams
• professionals providing support
• individuals visiting the care home

Care home providers to ensure:

• adoption and implementation of this manual in accordance with existing local governance processes
• local systems and resources are in place to facilitate implementation and compliance monitoring of IPC as specified in this manual
  • compliance monitoring includes all staff (permanent, agency and where required external contractors)
• there is an organisational culture which promotes incident reporting and focuses on improving systemic failures that encourage safe IPC working practices including near misses
• there is a nominated local lead with responsibility for IPC 
• implementation of the hierarchy of controls (appendix 16)
• that risk assessments are undertaken and documented for any deviations from the manual.  Risk assessments must include information regarding local mitigation measures which have been approved by appropriate personnel and the local governance processes for the continual monitoring of any deviations and mitigations
• that application of risk management systems and risk assessment in the workplace to control occupational hazards are in place

  • Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) toolkit

  • The Hierarchy of controls (appendix 16)

Care home managers to ensure that all staff:

• are aware of and have access to this manual
• have completed IPC induction, education and training which is appropriate to their roles and that training and education records are centrally recorded for inspection, assurance and monitoring purposes. Training may include resources developed by your organisation, your local NHS board, Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) or the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• have adequate support and resources available to enable them to implement, monitor and take corrective action to ensure full compliance with this manual
• with health concerns (including pregnancy) or those who have had an occupational exposure to any infectious agents are timeously referred to the relevant agency, for example general practitioner (GP or doctor), occupational health or if required accident and emergency
• have undergone the required occupational immunisations, health checks or clearance 
• include IPC as an objective in their personal development plans (or equivalent)

Individuals providing care must ensure that:

• they understand, adopt and implement the principles of IPC as set out in this manual
• maintain IPC competence, skills, and knowledge through completion of appropriate training including NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• communicate the IPC practices to be taken to colleagues, residents, relatives and visitors without breaching confidentiality
• have up to date occupational immunisations, health checks and clearance requirements as appropriate
• report to line managers any gaps in IPC knowledge, resources, equipment and facilities or incidents that may result in the potential transmission of infectious agents including near misses, for example incidents involving sharps, an interruption to the water supply or PPE failings
• should not attend work if they would be providing care whilst at risk of potentially transmitting infectious agents to residents or others 
• are aware they should contact their line manager, the person in charge, and (if necessary) the occupational health service, the local IPC team or Health Protection Team to obtain advice regarding infectious illnesses  
• are aware they should contact the local NHS Board IPCT/HPT if there is a suspected or actual outbreak of infection within the care home 

Local infection prevention and control teams (IPCTs) and health protection teams (HPTs) to: 

• engage with staff to develop systems and processes that lead to sustainable and reliable improvements in relation to the application of IPC practice within the care home
• provide expert advice on the application of IPC and support to develop individual or organisational risk assessments where deviations from the manual are deemed necessary
• provide local support and advice (when necessary and/or requested) when an incident or outbreak is suspected

Please note. formal notification of any incidents and outbreaks for the care home sector is undertaken by the local HPT.