The National Care Forum (NCF), Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) and Standards Wise International have launched an infection prevention and control audit tool for not-for-profit care providers.
The audit tool supports organisations to assess their own practices and prepare evidence for audit that meets Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and conforms to international standards.
The tool incorporates the latest Covid learnings emerging from infection prevention and control specialists and takes account of the newly developed CQC inspection methodology,
The tool is structured around eight questions and prompts that inspectors will use to assess infection prevention and control procedures in all care settings in England from September.
It breaks down each of the eight subject areas into easily digestible points and includes an ‘evidence of good practice’ section.
NCF said the guidance enables providers to identify areas of improvement and rectify them using bespoke policies and procedures crafted and curated by QCS.
“As we enter into the new ‘Covid-normal’ it becomes ever more central to being ready and 'here to care',” added NCF executive director Vic Rayner (pictured).
QCS chief executive Mat Whittingham said: “The ability to constantly gather and evaluate information is the litmus test of any audit tool. When we created this one, we decided to integrate the knowledge and experience of major care and compliance leaders into one holistic system."
He added: “In doing so, we have created a person-centred tool, which ensures carers can achieve the delicate balance of striving for the highest safety standards without negatively affecting the quality of life of service users, staff or family members.”
