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.
Providing a hygienically clean healthcare environment in which service users, staff and other users can thrive, work and develop.
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:
Establishments this Apprenticeship is not suitable for include:
| Duty | KSBs |
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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 |
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Duty 2 Undertake specialist cleaning projects, both scheduled or in response to an issue using area decontamination technology |
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Duty 3 Distinguish and demonstrate between cleaning and disinfection procedures to comply with processes to match requirements |
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Duty 4 Determine the classification of soil and contaminating material in order to apply appropriate techniques/methodology for its safe removal |
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Duty 5 Demonstrate organisational skills to prioritise workloads and respond to the changes of the working environment as required |
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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 |
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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 |
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Duty 8 Demonstrate good housekeeping practices within the storage area including a clean environment, stock rotation and control and reporting and recording as required |
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Duty 9 Use standard reporting formats and appropriate media to accurately record and report work carried out in accordance with cleaning specifications |
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Duty 10 Communicate with service users contributing to a positive service user experience maintaining confidentiality at all times |
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Duty 11 Follow infection prevention and control policy and procedures to prevent cross contamination risks and the spread of infection |
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Duty 12 Recognise signs of pest infestation and work with partners to eradicate them |
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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 |
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
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
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
2
12
| 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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