Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a fundamental part of running a safe care home. For older people, many of whom live with conditions that affect their immune system, infections that would be manageable for a younger healthy adult can become serious or life-threatening very quickly.
Families choosing a care home in Leicester, Birmingham, Worcestershire or across Middlesex are right to ask how a home manages infection risk.
Why Infection Control Matters More in Care Settings
Care homes bring together groups of older people, many with complex health conditions, in shared living spaces. This creates a higher baseline risk of infection spreading compared to independent living. Common infections in care home settings include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Respiratory infections including influenza and pneumonia
- Norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses
- Skin and wound infections
- COVID-19 and its variants
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
Many of these can be prevented or contained with good practice. The difference between a well-managed care home and a poorly managed one often comes down to the consistency and rigour of daily infection control habits, not just what happens during an outbreak.
The Legal and Regulatory Framework
Infection prevention and control in care homes is governed by a combination of legislation and regulatory guidance:
- The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 require registered providers to have effective systems to assess and manage the risk of infection
- NHS England and UKHSA publish detailed IPC guidance for health and social care settings, which care homes are expected to follow
- The CQC assesses infection control as part of its Safe inspections
- Care homes must have a named IPC lead who is responsible for overseeing compliance
Families can check whether a home has been found to have IPC concerns in its CQC inspection reports, which are publicly available at cqc.org.uk.
Core Infection Prevention Practices
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent infection spreading in a care home. Every care home should have clear protocols for when and how hands must be washed or sanitised, including:
- Before and after every episode of personal care
- Before and after handling food
- After contact with any potentially contaminated surface
- On entry to and exit from the building
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser should be available at entry points, in corridors and in all care areas. Hand washing facilities with soap and warm water must be accessible to staff, residents and visitors throughout the building.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Appropriate PPE reduces the risk of cross-contamination between residents and between staff and residents. Care home staff should use:
- Disposable gloves for personal care and clinical tasks
- Aprons when providing hands-on care
- Fluid-resistant surgical masks in appropriate situations
- Eye protection where there is a risk of splashing
PPE must be disposed of correctly after each use and must never be reused between residents.
Environmental Cleaning
A clean environment is a fundamental part of infection control. Good practice includes:
- Daily cleaning of all communal areas and high-touch surfaces such as door handles, handrails and light switches
- Deep cleaning of bedrooms between residents
- Regular cleaning of equipment such as hoists, wheelchairs and commodes
- Specific cleaning protocols for outbreak situations, including the use of appropriate disinfectants
- Clear colour-coding of cleaning equipment to prevent cross-contamination between areas
“At Blissful Care Homes, we follow strict infection control measures across all of our homes. From appropriate use of PPE to frequent deep cleaning and regular testing for both staff and residents, the safety of the people in our care is always our first priority.”
Blissful Care Homes
Laundry and Linen Management
Soiled linen can carry pathogens and must be handled and laundered correctly. Care homes should have protocols covering:
- Segregation of soiled and clean linen
- Washing at appropriate temperatures
- Separate storage for clean and dirty items
- Safe handling to minimise staff exposure
Waste Management
Clinical and care waste must be disposed of separately from general waste. Sharps, used PPE and dressings require specific disposal procedures in line with current guidance.
Outbreak Management
When an infection outbreak occurs in a care home, the speed and quality of the response is critical. A well-prepared home will have an outbreak management plan that includes:
- Early identification and isolation of affected residents
- Immediate notification of the local health protection team
- Enhanced cleaning of affected areas
- Restriction of non-essential visitors
- Clear communication with families about the situation and the steps being taken
- Staff cohorting where possible, to prevent spread between affected and unaffected areas
In the Midlands, care homes work alongside NHS England Midlands and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regional teams. Homes in Middlesex and the London area liaise with UKHSA South East. Local authority public health teams across Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Birmingham and Hillingdon also provide support during outbreaks.
Families should expect a care home to communicate openly and promptly when an outbreak occurs. Delays in notifying families, or attempts to minimise the situation, are a red flag.
Vaccination
Vaccination is one of the most powerful tools available for protecting care home residents. Good practice includes:
- Annual influenza vaccinations offered to all residents and staff
- COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters in line with current national guidance
- Pneumococcal vaccination offered to eligible residents
- Staff encouraged and supported to maintain their own vaccination status
A care home that actively promotes vaccination among its workforce is demonstrating a genuine commitment to resident safety, not just compliance with minimum standards.
Visitor Policies
Visits from family and friends are vital to residents’ wellbeing and should never be restricted unnecessarily. However, visitor policies play a role in infection control, particularly during periods of heightened risk.
Reasonable infection control measures for visitors may include:
- Hand hygiene on entry
- Information provided about any current infections or outbreaks in the home
- Requests to postpone visits if a visitor has symptoms of illness
Blanket restrictions on visiting, beyond what is required by public health guidance, are not acceptable and should be challenged. The right to maintain relationships is a fundamental part of a resident’s quality of life.
What the CQC Looks for
During an inspection, CQC assessors will look at whether:
- The home has a current, reviewed IPC policy
- A designated IPC lead is in post
- Staff have received appropriate IPC training
- Hand hygiene audits are carried out regularly
- The environment is visibly clean and well maintained
- PPE is available, used correctly and disposed of appropriately
- Outbreak management procedures are in place and understood by staff
- Notifiable incidents have been reported to the relevant authorities
A home rated Good or Outstanding for Safe will typically demonstrate that IPC is embedded in daily practice, not just documented in policy.
At a Glance: IPC Standards a Good Care Home Should Meet
| Area | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Hand hygiene | Sanitiser stations throughout the building, visible protocols for staff |
| PPE | Gloves and aprons used for all personal care, disposed of between residents |
| Cleaning | Daily high-touch surface cleaning, colour-coded equipment, deep cleans between residents |
| Outbreak management | Written plan in place, staff trained, families notified promptly |
| Vaccination | Flu and COVID jabs offered to all residents and staff annually |
| IPC lead | Named person responsible for overseeing compliance and training |
Questions to Ask a Care Home About Infection Control
When visiting a care home for a loved one, it is worth asking directly about their approach to infection prevention. Good questions include:
- Who is the designated IPC lead and what is their training?
- How often are infection control audits carried out?
- How does the home communicate with families during an outbreak?
- What is the home’s policy on staff working while unwell?
- How are agency or bank staff briefed on IPC protocols?
“Good infection control is not something you see in a policy document. You see it in how a home is cleaned, how staff move between residents, and how quickly a concern is acted on. At Blissful, it is part of the culture.”
Blissful Care Homes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit if there is an infection outbreak at the home?
The home may ask you to postpone or modify your visit during an active outbreak, in line with public health guidance. Any restrictions should be explained clearly and should be lifted as soon as the situation allows.
How do I know if a care home has had recent infection control issues?
CQC inspection reports are publicly available and will flag any concerns identified during inspection. You can also ask the home directly about any recent outbreaks and how they were managed.
Are care home staff required to have flu vaccinations?
Flu vaccination is strongly encouraged and good homes will make it easy for staff to be vaccinated. It is not currently a legal requirement for care home workers, but uptake rates among staff are a reasonable indicator of a home’s commitment to resident safety.
What should I do if I am concerned about hygiene standards at a care home?
Raise the concern with the home manager in the first instance. If you are not satisfied, contact the CQC at cqc.org.uk or your local authority’s adult social care team.
Find Out More
If you would like to understand how infection prevention is managed at our homes across Leicester, Birmingham, Worcestershire and Middlesex, our team is happy to talk you through our approach. We welcome visits and encourage families to ask the questions that matter most to them.
You may also find our articles on what to look for when choosing a care home and the types of care we provide helpful as you research your options.
