Infection prevention and control in care is not an extra job on your shift list. It is the way you work from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. Older people and those living with long-term conditions often have weaker immune systems, so an infection that would give you a mild cold can mean a hospital admission for them. Every small habit counts: how you clean your hands, when you change your gloves, where you put soiled linen.
This guide sets out the basic routine every care worker in the UK should follow on every shift, what the official guidance says, and how training helps you get it right. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is part of your mandatory training in care and one of the standards of the Care Certificate.
Why infection prevention matters so much
Infections spread mainly through hands, shared equipment, surfaces and body fluids. In a care home or in someone’s own home, a care worker touches dozens of surfaces and supports several people in a single shift, which means you can unknowingly become the bridge that carries germs from one person to another.
In England, NHS England publishes the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM). It is mandatory in NHS services and is considered best practice across other care settings. On top of that, every registered care provider must show it complies with the Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections. Your employer sets the policies; you are the person who puts them into practice every day.
Standard infection control precautions: the foundation
The guidance talks about Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs). They apply to everyone you support, at all times, whether or not you know they have an infection. In short, they cover:
- assessing infection risk and placing the person appropriately;
- hand hygiene;
- respiratory and cough hygiene;
- personal protective equipment (PPE);
- safe management of care equipment;
- safe management of the care environment;
- safe management of linen;
- blood and body fluid spillages;
- safe disposal of waste;
- occupational safety, including sharps injuries.
When someone has, or is suspected of having, a specific infection (diarrhoea and vomiting, for example), transmission-based precautions are added on top, following your workplace policy and your senior’s instructions.
Hand hygiene: the five moments
Hand hygiene is the single most important way to stop infections spreading. UK care home policies use the five moments at the point of care:
- before touching the person you support;
- before a clean or aseptic procedure;
- after any risk of exposure to body fluids, including after removing gloves;
- after touching the person;
- after touching objects in the person’s immediate surroundings, even if you did not touch them.
Clean your hands at the start of your shift, before and after breaks, after using the toilet, after handling laundry or emptying a commode or catheter bag, and before you go home. Thorough handwashing takes around 15 to 30 seconds in total and covers palms, backs of hands, between the fingers, thumbs, fingertips and wrists.
When hand rub is not enough
Alcohol hand rub is convenient, but use liquid soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty, when you are caring for someone with vomiting or diarrhoea, and when a gastrointestinal infection such as norovirus or C. difficile is suspected or confirmed. Alcohol does not work well against these organisms.
Bare below the elbows
Short or rolled-up sleeves, short clean nails with no false nails, and no hand or wrist jewellery (usually a plain wedding band is allowed) let you clean your hands properly. Cover any cuts with a waterproof dressing.
Using PPE properly
Gloves and aprons do not replace hand hygiene. The basics:
- choose PPE according to risk: disposable gloves and apron where there is contact with body fluids, and a mask or eye protection where there is a splash risk or your policy requires it;
- change gloves and apron between people, and between different tasks for the same person (for example, after personal care and before helping with a meal);
- take PPE off in the order your employer trains you to, without touching the contaminated outer surface, then clean your hands straight away;
- never walk down the corridor in gloves or touch door handles, phones or care records with them.
A simple routine for every shift
- Start: clean uniform, bare below the elbows, clean hands, and check the handover notes for any infection risks.
- During care: the five moments, fresh PPE between people, and shared equipment (hoists, shower chairs, thermometers) cleaned after every use.
- Linen and waste: place soiled linen straight into the correct bag without shaking it or holding it against your uniform; segregate waste using your employer’s colour coding.
- Spillages: deal with them promptly, wearing PPE and using the spill kit your policy specifies.
- Observe and report: a temperature, diarrhoea, vomiting, a new cough, cloudy urine or sudden confusion should be reported to your senior or nurse straight away. You are not diagnosing, but your observation could stop an outbreak.
- End: clean hands, and handle your uniform for washing as your workplace policy says.
Infection prevention also links to everyday care such as nutrition and hydration: a well-hydrated person is at lower risk of urinary tract infections.
Looking after yourself too
If you have diarrhoea or vomiting, tell your employer before your shift and follow the return-to-work policy (often a symptom-free period is required). Taking up the vaccinations offered to care staff and reporting any needlestick injury immediately protect you and the people around you. Check what your employer and GP advise.
How Rafidin Education helps
Rafidin Education offers Infection Prevention and Control training as part of its Health and Social Care courses, alongside the rest of your mandatory training. Founder Mirela Simona Anghelache has worked in UK care for more than 11 years and knows first-hand how much these habits matter on every shift.
- CPD accredited – a certificate that counts in your training record.
- Bilingual RO/EN – learn the English terminology while understanding every detail.
- Online, at your own pace – study between shifts on your phone or laptop.
- Instant certificate on completion, ready to show your employer.
- 1:1 consultancy for your care career.
- B2B training for whole care teams.
Want to be confident you are working safely on every shift? Start your infection prevention training today and complete your mandatory training. Managing a team? Get in touch for a tailored training plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is infection control training mandatory for care workers in the UK?
Infection prevention and control is part of the mandatory training care employers expect and is one of the Care Certificate standards. How often you refresh it is set by your employer’s training policy.
Can I just use hand gel instead of soap and water?
Not always. Alcohol hand rub is fine for hands that are not visibly dirty, but you must use soap and water when hands are soiled or when caring for someone with diarrhoea, vomiting or infections such as norovirus or C. difficile.
What should I do if I notice signs of infection in someone I support?
Record what you observed and report it straight away to your senior, nurse or manager, following your policy. Do not try to diagnose; the clinical team will decide the next steps.
