Hampshire Shared Lives Scheme Policy and Procedure 25
Shared Lives Guidance
Cleanliness and Infection Control
The Hampshire Shared Lives Scheme will always promote the health, safety and well-being
of all those in a Shared Lives arrangement. It is vital to provide guidelines and information to
everyone about cleanliness and infection control so that safe practices are developed and
maintained.
Maintaining high standards is an essential requirement in order to provide an environment
that is safe and hygienic for everyone. Understanding how infectious diseases develop and
spread is crucial in the management and control of infections some of which can be life
threatening.
The purpose of cleanliness and infection control is to reduce the occurrence of infectious
diseases.
The Hampshire Shared Lives Scheme follows evidenced based guidelines from the
Department Of Health and Care Quality Commission and the legal requirements for infection
control guidance.
How will this happen?
Some examples of infectious diseases that can be spread from person to person include
stomach bugs, vomiting bugs , influenza, MRSA, E-coli, C.difficile, food poisoning , hepatitis,
tuberculosis, childhood infections such as measles or mumps, HIV/Aids.
To ensure that everyone understands the importance of cleanliness and infection control the
Scheme can provide comprehensive training to Shared Lives Carers, Managers and
volunteers.
Everyone has a responsibility to maintain standards that can reduce or prevent the
development or spread of infectious diseases. In a Shared Lives arrangement it is important
that information about a person’s health and health care needs are recorded and reviewed
as required.
It is also essential that advice and guidance is sought from health care professionals if a
person has or develops an infectious condition and that guidelines are followed at all times.
Understanding how to reduce or manage existing infectious conditions is very important. In
a Shared Lives arrangement service users may require additional support in managing their
condition and maintaining regular contact and advice from the health care professional
involved in their care
Service Users should have information about their condition and care needs provided in a
format they can understand.
It is also very important that in the event of anyone in the Shared Lives arrangement
developing an infectious disease that the appropriate people are informed immediately,
relevant information should be shared and recorded appropriately.
June 2014
Hampshire Shared Lives Scheme Policy and Procedure 25
Some diseases and infections are known as “Notifiable” and therefore should be reported
immediately to Health Authority infection control in line with current guidelines and
regulations. Regulatory bodies include:



Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations1995
(RIDDOR)
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code Of Practice On The Control Of Infections
And Related Guidelines
Care Quality Commission
June 2014