Summarise national and local policies for infection prevention and control. In your answer you could cover: national — e.g. the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections

AC 1.1 Summarise national and local policies for infection prevention and control. NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young Peoples Services (England) (Children and Young Peoples Advanced Practice) (601/4312/5) Level 5 – Unit Y/504/2208 IC 501: Lead and manage infection prevention and control within the work setting Unit

IC 501: Lead and manage infection prevention and control within the work setting

Unit reference

Y/504/2208

Level

5

Credit value

6

Guided learning hours (GLH)

38

Unit aim

The purpose of this unit is to assess the knowledge, understanding and skills of learners when leading and managing infection prevention and control within their own area of responsibility.

Learner name

Centre number

PIN

ULN

Assessor name

Date started

Date completed

How to complete this workbook This is a knowledge AND skills unit.

Eight assessment criteria carry knowledge command verbs and are completed as written Tasks 1–8 in this workbook (ACs 1.1–1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 3.1 and 4.1). The remaining fourteen are “be able to” criteria: under the Skills for Care and Development QCF Assessment Principles they are evidenced from your REAL work activity — your actual IPC leadership — through the Practice Records in this workbook, workplace observation, work products, witness testimony and professional discussion. Simulation is not accepted for competence. Set the portfolio up using the IPC Practice Agreement before starting LOs 2–6 evidence.

Write tasks in your own words; reference any sources you draw on. Your work may be checked for plagiarism and AI-generated content. Complete the Practice Record for each learning outcome as evidence accumulates — your account of what you did, referencing the evidence that proves it. Keep the Evidence Matrix live throughout; every AC must map to at least one piece of evidence and its location. Holistic assessment is expected. Confidentiality: infection information about individuals is special category data. Redact names and identifiers from every log extract or record entering this portfolio; original records are examined in the workplace by your assessor. Use anonymised examples from your own setting throughout — no identifying details of individuals, children, families, colleagues or settings. Your assessor will provide written feedback and record judgements on the sign-off grid at the end. Command verb guide Verb

What your assessor is looking for

Summarise

An organised, accurate overview of the main points — breadth with precision, not exhaustive detail.

Evaluate

A judgement with evidence — strengths and weaknesses weighed, conclusions drawn. Level 5 depth.

Analyse

Break the topic into parts and examine each — relationships, causes, the why beneath the what.

Explain

A clear account with reasons — the how and why, not just the what.

Skills verbs (communicate, allocate, manage, provide, support, monitor, assess, identify, make recommendations)

DOING verbs: evidenced by what you actually do in the workplace and the products it generates — observed practice, documents, testimony — not by writing about what you would do.

Part A — Knowledge tasks Task 1 (AC 1.1) Summarise national and local policies for infection prevention and control.

In your answer you could cover:

national — e.g. the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections (2022), Regulation 12(2)(h) of the 2014 Regulations, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, COSHH 2002, RIDDOR 2013, notifiable disease law and UKHSA, the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (SICPs and TBPs), NICE guidance, sector-specific guidance for care homes and for education and childcare settings local — UKHSA Health Protection Team protocols, local authority public health and outbreak management plans, ICB arrangements, and your own organisation’s IPC policy suite the hierarchy — statute to regulations to the Code to national manuals to local protocols to organisational policy Apply and reflect: Identify which of these your own setting’s IPC policy actually cites — and anything it should cite but doesn’t.

Task 2 (AC 1.2) Evaluate how policies, procedures and practices in your own work setting meet infection prevention and control regulatory requirements.

In your answer you could cover:

the Code of Practice criteria used as your audit framework — what your setting has against each, and how you know it works triangulation — policy documents versus audit results versus observed practice versus incident and outbreak history strengths AND gaps, with evidence — evaluation is judgement, not description the inspection connection — CQC’s Safe key question, or Ofsted’s welfare requirements for children’s settings Apply and reflect: State the two gaps you would prioritise and why — this evaluation seeds your LO6 review report.

Task 3 (AC 1.3) Explain your role and responsibilities in relation to infection prevention and control.

In your answer you could cover:

your accountable role — registered manager duties under Regulation 12(2)(h), and the designated IPC lead role the Code expects leadership responsibilities — policies, training, resources, audits, records, outbreak management, assurance employer duties (HSWA s2, COSHH) and every employee’s s7 duty — why IPC is everyone’s job external responsibilities — UKHSA notification, RIDDOR, CQC/Ofsted, working with health professionals boundaries — what you escalate rather than own Apply and reflect: Explain one situation from your practice (anonymised) where the boundary of your IPC role mattered.

Task 4 (AC 2.1) Analyse the differences between applying infection prevention policies and procedures in an individual’s own home to that of a residential care setting.

In your answer you could cover:

whose domain it is — the individual’s private home versus the provider’s registered premises, and what each means for authority, rights and negotiation transmission risk — one household versus communal living, and staff as the connecting route between homes control of the environment, systems and statutory duties in each what happens when infection strikes in each setting the why beneath the differences — ownership, density and duty, and the rights balance Apply and reflect: Analyse how one specific procedure (e.g. PPE use or laundry) would apply differently across the two settings for the same individual.

Task 5 (AC 2.2) Explain how to ensure a proportionate approach to the implementation of policies and procedures in a range of settings.

In your answer you could cover:

what proportionality means — measures in proportion to the setting, its activities and staffing, as the Code of Practice and its appendix set out the range of settings — individual’s own home, community environments, residential care homes, nursing homes, hospitals — and the rising gradient of control how to ensure it — risk-based decisions, measures matched to activity, procedures scaled to staffing, normal life preserved and restored quickly both failure modes — under-protection and over-protection, including lessons about blanket restrictions and their human cost governance — recording rationale, reviewing, and seeking advice when the balance is hard Apply and reflect: Explain one proportionality decision you have made or would make in your own setting, and its rationale.

Task 6 (AC 2.6) Explain actions to take when infection prevention and control procedures and practices are not being complied with.

In your answer you could cover:

immediate action — make it safe now, protect individuals first understanding the cause — awareness, ability, resources, technique or attitude — and matching the response to it the graduated management response — coaching, supervision, retraining, and formal performance or disciplinary processes where needed the systemic response when non-compliance is widespread — fixing procedures, resources or pressures recording, pattern review, and when candour, safeguarding or notification duties are engaged Apply and reflect: Explain how you handled (anonymised) or would handle one real instance of non-compliance in your setting.

Task 7 (AC 3.1) Explain why it is important to share information with others.

In your answer you could cover:

protection of staff, individuals, families, visitors and other professionals continuity as people move between services, and early sharing as the key to outbreak control legal and regulatory duties — notifiable diseases, UKHSA thresholds, RIDDOR, CQC/Ofsted, commissioners the balance with confidentiality — need-to-know sharing of special category data, with dignity protected Apply and reflect: Explain one situation in your setting where the sharing/confidentiality balance would need careful judgement.

Task 8 (AC 4.1) Explain why infection prevention and control practice should be included in job descriptions and performance management.

In your answer you could cover:

job descriptions — contractual expectation from day one, role-specific duties, the hook for recruitment, induction and capability performance management — across the range: key performance indicators, the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, performance management processes; appraisal objectives; the fair basis for recognition and for action the deeper why — IPC fails through drift, and this machinery anchors the standard between training events Apply and reflect: Review one real job description from your setting (anonymised): does it carry IPC adequately, and what would you change?

IPC Practice Agreement (complete before gathering LOs 2–6 evidence) Your IPC role and area of responsibility

Current position (policy suite, audit programme, known gaps — link to Task 2)

Planned evidence opportunities (briefings/training, audits and walk-rounds, supervision cycle, risk assessment reviews, the IPC review report and review meeting)

Planned assessor visits (indicative: visit 1 — leading implementation: staff briefing/training or walk-round audit (LO2/LO4); visit 2 — leading review: audit-results or IPC review meeting (LO4/LO6)); professional discussion planned for systems ACs (3.3, 3.4, 5.3)

Confidentiality confirmed (all infection records redacted in portfolio copies; originals examined in the workplace)

Learner signature / date

Manager approval — name, signature / date

Assessor approval — name, signature / date

Part B — Practice Records (LOs 2–6) LO2: Lead the implementation of policies and procedures (practice ACs) You must demonstrate through real work activity:

2.3 Communicate policies and procedures for infection prevention and control to others within the work setting 2.4 Allocate roles and responsibilities to meet infection prevention and control procedures within own work setting 2.5 Manage compliance with procedures for infection prevention and control In your Practice Record and evidence you could show:

how you communicated to the full “others” range — staff, individuals and children in their formats, families, visitors, contractors, volunteers, professionals — briefings, induction, point-of-use materials the allocation of IPC roles — IPC lead, champions, cleaning and audit ownership, outbreak roles — confirmed in writing your compliance management — the audit and walk-round programme, findings to actions with owners and dates, compliance tracked over time Typical evidence: observed briefing/training or walk-round (visit 1); communication materials and induction records; allocation records and minutes; audit calendar, completed audits and action plans; witness testimony.

Practice Record — your account of what you did for LO2, with dates and references to evidence

AC

Evidence reference(s) and location

Method (WP / OBS / WT / PD / PR)

2.3

2.4

2.5

LO3: Manage the exchange of information about infections (practice ACs) You must demonstrate through real work activity:

3.2 Provide information on infections to others 3.3 Manage processes for the exchange of information about infection between others 3.4 Manage systems for keeping records of suspected or diagnosed infections In your Practice Record and evidence you could show:

the information you provided — staff briefings on current risks, accessible information for individuals and children, family communications, visitor and contractor information the exchange processes you manage — handovers carrying infection status, transfer documentation between services, routes to and from GPs, community nursing, schools and UKHSA, outbreak communication cascades the records system you manage — the infection log, symptom monitoring, secure need-to-know storage, retention, and its feed into surveillance (LO6) Typical evidence: the materials and briefing records; transfer documentation templates; redacted infection log extracts; professional discussion walking your live systems in the workplace — the main method for 3.3–3.4; witness testimony.

Practice Record – your account of what you did for LO3, with dates and references to evidence

AC

Evidence reference(s) and location

Method (WP / OBS / WT / PD / PR)

3.2

3.3

3.4

LO4: Lead the practice of infection prevention and control (practice ACs) You must demonstrate through real work activity:

4.2 Support staff to recognise their role in minimising the risk of spreading infection through supervision and appraisal 4.3 Provide access to resources for staff to minimise the risks of infection 4.4 Monitor infection prevention and control practice 4.5 Provide feedback to staff on their practice of infection prevention and control 4.6 Manage the learning and development needs for staff about infection prevention and control during induction and continuing professional development In your Practice Record and evidence you could show:

IPC embedded in your supervision and appraisal practice — standing prompts, objectives, KPIs (range: KPIs, KSF, performance management) the resources you ensure — equipment (PPE, hand hygiene, spill kits), information, changing facilities (the range) — stocked, working and at the point of use your monitoring of practice — hand hygiene observation, PPE technique, cleaning standards — recorded over time the feedback you give — individual and team, catching good practice as deliberately as poor your management of induction (Care Certificate Standard 15 before unsupervised practice) and CPD (range: refresher training, updates, team meetings, reading) — with a training matrix tracking currency Typical evidence: anonymised supervision/appraisal extracts and templates; stock and check systems; monitoring records; observed feedback session (visit 2); training matrix and induction records; witness testimony from staff you supervise.

Practice Record — your account of what you did for LO4, with dates and references to evidence

AC

Evidence reference(s) and location

Method (WP / OBS / WT / PD / PR)

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

LO5: Manage risk management in infection prevention and control You must demonstrate through real work activity:

5.1 Manage the implementation of risk assessment processes to minimise infection 5.2 Manage the implementation of controls identified from risk assessment processes in partnership with the individual and others 5.3 Manage risk management records 5.4 Manage the reporting of risks and hazards that are outside your area of responsibility In your Practice Record and evidence you could show:

the risk assessment programme you manage — COSHH, environmental and activity, individual, and dynamic outbreak assessment — with competent assessors and scheduled reviews controls implemented in PARTNERSHIP — the individual’s routines, choices and dignity shaping application; staff, families and professionals engaged; hierarchy-of-controls thinking the records you manage — version control, dated reviews, actions tracked to closure, need-to-know access your reporting beyond your responsibility — estates and landlord issues, organisational risks, statutory reports (RIDDOR, UKHSA, CQC/Ofsted) — in writing, chased to resolution Typical evidence: the risk assessment suite with examples you led; assessments showing the individual’s voice; records system examined in the workplace; escalation and reporting examples (anonymised); professional discussion — the main method for 5.3; witness testimony.

Practice Record — your account of what you did for LO5, with dates and references to evidence

AC

Evidence reference(s) and location

Method (WP / OBS / WT / PD / PR)

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

LO6: Review the effectiveness of policies, procedures and practices You must demonstrate through real work activity:

6.1 Assess trends of reported patterns of infections in own work setting 6.2 Identify factors that contribute to spread and/or reduction of infection in own work setting 6.3 Evaluate the implementation of infection prevention and control procedures in own work setting 6.4 Make recommendations for changes to infection prevention and control policies, procedures and practices in own work setting In your Practice Record and evidence you could show:

your IPC review report — the central work product: trends from your infection log and monitoring data (6.1); contributing and protective factors (6.2); honest evaluation of implementation drawing on audits, incidents and feedback (6.3); specific, prioritised, owned recommendations (6.4) the review meeting where you worked it through with your team and governance — typically observed as visit 2 recommendations tracked into action — the loop closing Typical evidence: the IPC review report; observed review meeting (visit 2); underpinning data (redacted); governance minutes receiving the recommendations; actions tracked; professional discussion.

Practice Record — your account of what you did for LO6, with dates and references to evidence