This apprenticeship is in revision

A revised version of this has been agreed and is available for information only at present. It will replace the version below for new starts from 1st January 2024 with a funding band of £5000. Further details of this and other apprenticeship in revision are available in the revisions status report.

Overview of the role

Providing a hygienically clean healthcare environment in which service users, staff and other users can thrive, work and develop.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

healthcare and hygiene environments that require specific attention to infection control, safety and sanitation for the health and wellbeing of service users. This includes a range of both public and private sector environments that require high levels of cleanliness to avoid the growth of bacteria and the spread of diseases and viruses. The Healthcare Cleaning Operative may also work in establishments that require cleaning to a healthcare standard to prevent adverse effects on the health of high-risk service users.

For those undertaking this apprenticeship, their role must solely be for the purpose of cleaning such areas and they must be able to achieve the full breadth of the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to successfully complete this apprenticeship within their everyday role.

Establishments this apprenticeship is suitable for include:

  • 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

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Provide routine hygienic cleaning of the healthcare environment to maintain all standards in compliance with the National Standard of Healthcare Cleanliness 2019 as a minimum as well as local standards policy, guidelines and operating procedures

K1 K2 K3 K5 K10

S1 S3 S4 S7 S11

B2 B4

Duty 2 Undertake specialist cleaning projects, both scheduled or in response to an issue using area decontamination technology

K2 K9 K11

S5 S6 S9 S11

B5 B6

Duty 3 Distinguish and demonstrate between cleaning and disinfection procedures to comply with processes to match requirements

K9 K11

S3 S6 S11 S12

Duty 4 Determine the classification of soil and contaminating material in order to apply appropriate techniques/methodology for its safe removal

K9 K10 K14

S5 S10 S17

B1

Duty 5 Demonstrate organisational skills to prioritise workloads and respond to the changes of the working environment as required

K9 K10

S10 S11

B4 B6

Duty 6 Select and use the most appropriate chemical or biochemical cleaning product to be used for the task to be undertaken in accordance with the legal and organisational requirements and compliance with legislation

K3 K4

S3 S4 S5

B6

Duty 7 Safely use, store and maintain cleaning equipment, materials and products in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, legal and organisational requirements. Ensure their decontamination and safe preparation for next use

K5 K16

S4 S6 S16

B3

Duty 8 Demonstrate good housekeeping practices within the storage area including a clean environment, stock rotation and control and reporting and recording as required

K15 K16

S15

B3

Duty 9 Use standard reporting formats and appropriate media to accurately record and report work carried out in accordance with cleaning specifications

K6 K10

S7

B2

Duty 10 Communicate with service users contributing to a positive service user experience maintaining confidentiality at all times

K17 K18 K19

S18 S19 S20

B1 B2

Duty 11 Follow infection prevention and control policy and procedures to prevent cross contamination risks and the spread of infection

K2 K7 K12

S2 S3 S9 S13

B4 B5

Duty 12 Recognise signs of pest infestation and work with partners to eradicate them

K8

S8

B6

Duty 13 Assemble and disassemble a significant range of healthcare service user equipment for cleaning purposes in line with manufacturers standard operating procedures and national standards 2019

K13

S14

B6


KSBs

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 Back to Duty

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. Back to Duty

K3: Preparation for cleaning methodologies and techniques Back to Duty

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

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 Back to Duty

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) Back to Duty

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 Back to Duty

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. Back to Duty

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

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

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

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. Back to Duty

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

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

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

K16: Security of cleaning equipment and materials, reasons and implications Back to Duty

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

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) Back to Duty

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

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 Back to Duty

S2: Carry out risk assessments Back to Duty

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

S4: Prepare cleaning materials and machinery appropriate to the task Back to Duty

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

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. Back to Duty

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

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. Back to Duty

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. Back to Duty

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

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

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

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. Back to Duty

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

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. Back to Duty

S16: Ensure the security of cleaning equipment and materials Back to Duty

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

S18: Communicate with colleagues, patients and their families professionally Back to Duty

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) Back to Duty

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

Behaviours

B1: Dignity, respect and professionalism Back to Duty

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

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

B4: Time management and ability to complete work to schedule Back to Duty

B5: A flexible approach to your work when required Back to Duty

B6: Analytical thinker and problem solver Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths


Additional details

Occupational Level:

2

Duration (months):

12

Review

Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
Level: 2
Reference: ST0843
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 26/10/2023
Approved for delivery: 3 February 2020
Route: Health and science
Minimum duration to gateway: 12 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £4000
LARS Code: 532
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: 3EEE, Wamitab, Fidelis, Sodexo, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol NHS Trust, Excel Care Holdings, Royal College of Nursing, Serco, Nuffield Health, Vision Homes, NHS Property, University of Northampton, Connect 2 care, HEE, Killis

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
Revised version awaiting implementation In revision 01/01/2024 Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery 03/02/2020 31/12/2023

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