Healthcare Cleaning Operative

This apprenticeship has been designed to develop and support individuals who are responsible for infection control and safety and sanitation for the health and wellbeing of service users in healthcare and hygiene environments.

It covers the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for individuals working as healthcare cleaning operatives in both public and private sector environments. Individuals on this apprenticeship will be responsible for high levels of cleanliness to prevent the growth of bacteria and the spread of disease and viruses.  A healthcare operative may also work in establishments that require cleaning to a healthcare standard to prevent adverse effects on the health of high risk users.

Who is it For?

This apprenticeship can only completed by those whose role is solely the purpose of cleaning healthcare and/or hygiene establishments. Individuals must be able to achieve the full breadth of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to successful complete this apprenticeship within their everyday role and the 20% off the job hours.

This apprenticeship is suitable for the following establishments:

– Hospitals

– Care homes where the operative uses a range of cleaning methods

– Doctors/dentist surgeries where the operative role includes the cleaning of service user equipment

– Healthcare settings within prisons and schools where a range of cleaning methods are used and equipment used for providing a healthcare service is also cleaned

– Large childcare settings where cleaning operatives are responsible for deep cleans and cleaning service user equipment such as children’s toys

– Leisure facilities where the operative cleans areas, including the poolside and changing rooms

– Large first aid facilities in establishments such as airports where the cleaning operative has a broad range of duties

Establishments this Apprenticeship is not suitable for include:

– Hotels

– Restaurants

– Offices

– School areas unrelated to healthcare settings

– Any healthcare setting where the operative is not able to achieve the full breadth of knowledge, skills and behaviours required to successfully complete this Apprenticeship within their everyday role.

Typical job titles include:

Care hygiene operatives, cleaning services operative, domestic assistant, housekeepers

What is Covered?

During the programme you will be taught and assessed on the following knowledge, skills and behaviours:

Knowledge

K1: National and local standards, policies, guidelines and procedures which could include: • manual handling • use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • the NHS cleaning specification • waste disposal • safeguarding and data protection

K2: How to manage risk (i.e. follow out risk assessments, risk categories and colour coding) and identify when there is a need for change from routine to enhanced cleaning protocols in line with the Local and National standards and polices.

K3: Preparation for cleaning methodologies and techniques

K4: Chemical competence to include dilution ratios and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

K5: Selection and use of correct cleaning equipment and machinery for a range of routine and specialist cleans (e.g. hard floors, clinical areas, communal areas, dining areas) including cleaning of equipment after use and principles of PAT testing to ensure safe to use

K6: The roles and responsibilities in relation to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (e.g. schedules of work, recording of completed tasks, fault reporting and stock recording / ordering)

K7: The principles of infection prevention control and how these apply to the role. For example: • segregation of waste types • the correct identification and use of a range of waste storage containers (sacks and bags) • the safe disposal of waste and spent solutions, • the cleaning of rooms where a patient is being barrier nursed. • compliance with the cleaning and disinfecting policy as well as colour coding

K8: How to recognise the signs of pest infestation and the methods to deal with each e.g. rodents, cockroach, insects & pigeon waste. How to report according to local procedures and work with partners to eradicate them in line with local and national standards and policies.

K9: How to respond to different rapid response cleans e.g. bodily fluid, chemical spillage, hazardous waste

K10: The principles of scheduled and periodic cleaning, prioritisation of work and the escalation process

K11: Types of cleaning and the difference between disinfection and cleaning to include: • terminal cleans • barrier cleans • isolation cleans • discharge cleans • decontamination cleans

K12: The principles of personal hygiene and the implications for the role i.e. clean uniform, hand hygiene and cross contamination)) for example; • use of PPE • the bare below the elbow process, • hand hygiene requirements.

K13: How to assemble and disassemble a range of service user equipment for cleaning (e.g. hospital beds, trolleys and trays)

K14: Soil classification/contaminating material and removal methods to include: • organic soiling • inorganic soiling • microbiological residues

K15: Housekeeping of storage areas best practice, techniques and implications to include: • stock rotation • ordering of materials • optimum storage environment for chemicals and machinery

K16: Security of cleaning equipment and materials, reasons and implications

K17: Communication techniques which could include: • conflict management • dealing with patients with dementia • dealing with very young patients

K18: The principles of Equality & Diversity, the importance of culture awareness and implications for the role. e.g. age, race, religion, disability, those with dementia)

K19: Importance of portraying a positive corporate image (e.g. customer service, smart appearance)

Skills

S1: Comply with National and local standards, policies, guidelines and procedures to include: • manual handling, • use of PPE, • the NHS cleaning specification, • waste disposal, • safeguarding and data protection • the correct identification and use of a range of waste storage containers (sacks and bags) • the safe disposal of waste and spent solutions • compliance with the cleaning and disinfecting policy as well as colour coding

S2: Carry out risk assessments

S3: Identify risk categories and colour coding correctly in order to carry out cleaning appropriately

S4: Prepare cleaning materials and machinery appropriate to the task

S5: Select the correct chemicals for the task considering COSHH and using correct dilution rates and applicable data sheets

S6: Select and use correct cleaning equipment (fogging machine, floor machines) and equipment for a range of routine and specialist cleans (e.g. hard floors, clinical areas, communal areas, pool side, mortuary, operating theatres) including cleaning of equipment after use and applies principles of PAT testing to ensure equipment is safe to use.

S7: Carry out tasks according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (e.g. schedules of work, recording of completed tasks, fault reporting, stock recording / ordering)

S8: Recognise the signs of infestation and follow organisational procedures to appropriately address and eradicate the problem. e.g. rodents, insects, cockroach & pigeon waste, report according to local procedures and work with partners to eradicate them in line with local and national standards and policies.

S9: Carry out tasks to the appropriate standard to ensure infection prevention and control. For example the cleaning of rooms where a patient is being barrier nursed.

S10: Carry out different rapid response cleans (e.g. bodily fluid, chemical spillage, hazardous waste)

S11: Carry out scheduled and periodic cleaning, prioritising work where required

S12: Carry out a range of cleaning and disinfection tasks to include: • terminal cleans • barrier cleans • isolation cleans • discharge cleans • decontamination cleans

S13: Apply the principles of hygiene to the role (i.e. clean uniform, hand hygiene and cross contamination). Appropriately use PPE and apply the bare below the elbow process.

S14: Assemble and disassemble a range of service user equipment for cleaning (e.g. hospital beds, trolleys and trays)

S15: Demonstrate housekeeping of storage areas best practice, techniques and implications to include stock rotation, ordering of materials, optimum storage environment (temperature, humidity, ventilation) for chemicals and machinery.

S16: Ensure the security of cleaning equipment and materials

S17: Classify soils/contaminating matter correctly and apply the most appropriate removal methods which could include: • organic soiling, • inorganic soiling • microbiological residues

S18: Communicate with colleagues, patients and their families professionally

S19: Apply the principles of Equality & Diversity at all times being culturally aware and adapting tasks to suit the needs of the patient (e.g. age, race, religion, disability, those with dementia)

S20: Portray a positive Corporate image (e.g. customer service, smart appearance)

Behaviours

B1: Dignity, respect and professionalism

B2: Working independently and as part of a team; having the courage to challenge areas of concern and working to evidence based best practice

B3: Reliability and consistency, taking responsibility for the integrity of your own actions and completed work

B4: Time management and ability to complete work to schedule

B5: A flexible approach to your work when required

B6: Analytical thinker and problem solver