Overview
The Covid-19 pandemic left us all acutely aware of how easily infection can silently spread, putting the most vulnerable amongst us at risk. Some people are more at risk of contracting infection than others, due to the nature of their jobs; for instance, if you work in a hospital, school or care setting. If this applies to you, then gaining a solid understanding of how infection is controlled is essential. As this course is a nationally recognised RQF, it will make a great addition to your CV!
Infection Prevention & Control Level 3 – what you’ll learn
You’ll learn how the spread of infection can be controlled through the maintenance of personal hygiene, understand the importance of effective hand washing and wear personal protective equipment (PPE). You delve into the principles of decontamination, cleaning, and waste management, as well as learn the standardised procedures used within healthcare settings. Plus, you’ll be able to study infection control in your own time, and at a pace that suits you – ideal if you’ve work or family commitments.
What you'll learn
Delve into the exciting world of microorganisms and gain an understanding of the four key types: bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. You will learn how they spread and which environmental conditions foster their colonisation. This section also teaches you about contagions, how to distinguish direct and indirect contact through real life outbreak scenarios and case studies. You will also learn about cross contamination, infection chains and preventative measures needed. Unit 1 closes with touching upon HCAIs, identifying groups who are most susceptible to infections, the spread within a clinical setting and how to mitigate infection risk.
Explore the important role personal hygiene plays in preventing infection, control and the risks associated with poor hygiene practises. In this unit you’ll learn best hygiene practises, the correct hand washing procedure promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hygiene expectations within a professional setting. You’ll be able to identify in which circumstances employees shouldn’t enter the workplace, the use of cleansers and the risks associated with fake nails/nail polish. You will also learn about the current legislation and regulation of PPE and the employee’s responsibility to adhere to these.
Build upon knowledge gained in the previous units with information highlighting the significance of a clean clinical/healthcare environment. This section will examine and explain the code of practise for the prevention and control of infections how this can be implemented through cleaning schedules and inform you of the national colour coding scheme for cleaning materials within a healthcare setting.
You will learn about the three stages of decontamination, the six stages cleaning procedures and best practise disinfecting procedures. Discover more about the sterilisation processes, handling/storage of clean and contaminated laundry supplemented by real life case studies. Acquire key knowledge of the environment and waste legislation, taking into account clinical and hazardous waste management. Learn through first hand experiences the actions to take when dealing with biological spillages and deepen your understanding of sharp management.
In this penultimate section of the course, expand your knowledge with clear insights of the impact and significance of infection control within a healthcare environment. You’ll learn more about the legal implications of infection control such as the current legislation, code of practise, standards/guidelines, policies, roles and responsibilities. The unit also covers how to undertake risk assessments in accordance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
Extra info
Awarding Body
CACHE stands for the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education, and are the leading specialist Awarding Organisation for the Care and Education Sector.
Endorsed by
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Course Outcome
At the end of this course, successful learners will receive the following qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. This means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to Level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NCFE CACHE has been developing courses in the childcare, education and healthcare sectors since 1945 and is one of the most reputable awarding bodies for qualifications in the UK and overseas. Practitioners working in these areas are much more employable having gained NCFE CACHE certification and many employers specifically ask for their qualifications when taking on members of staff.
How is this course assessed or examined?
Each unit is followed by a written tutor-marked assignment (TMA), which is submitted and then marked by your tutor. You will not be required to take an external exam.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write English. There is a minimum study age of 16.
