Unit name: Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Care Settings
Learning outcome: 4. Be able to reduce the spread of infection
Assessment criteria: 4.5 Demonstrate ways to ensure that own health and hygiene do not pose a risk to others at work
It is your responsibility to ensure that your own health and hygiene does not pose a risk to others at work.
If you are sick, you should inform your manager immediately so that they can get your shifts covered. Similarly, if you have a physical injury or a mental health condition, you should also inform your manager. If you are not mentally and physically fit, you are more likely to make mistakes or you could pass on an infection, which puts others at risk.
You should maintain a high level of personal hygiene, washing every day and ensuring that your hair is washed regularly. Clean clothes should also be worn daily and long hair should be tied back.
Hands should be washed regularly and fingernails kept trimmed and filed. Hands may also need to be moisturised to prevent dry cracked skin. Nail varnish, nail extensions, rings and bracelets should be avoided.