Is Your Care Home Ready for its 2023 CQC Inspection?
For any care home, the laundry process is critical to maintaining stringent hygiene standards and is therefore service area that will be closely evaluated upon inspection by the Care Quality Commission. In order to ensure that your care home has efficient and CQC compliant procedures in place, Forbes Professional advises that imperatives go beyond the need for commercial laundry equipment that provides the requisite disinfection.
The CQC state on their website that for care homes to achieve their ‘Good’ rating, there is an expectation of a ‘designated room for storage and managing laundry.’ They will also require that ‘laundry processes follow national guidance and correctly manage’ and clean ‘used and infectious laundry to minimise risk of infection.’ Efficient segregation of clean and soiled laundry is essential at all times, with a clean and dirty flow system to avoid recontamination. Surfaces must also be kept decluttered and equipment must be well maintained. Laundry operators must be familiarised with the correct laundry and infection control processes and must know how to use the laundry equipment to its best potential. Additionally, the CQC expect there to be a designated lead for cleaning and decontamination, to whom any hygiene concerns would be immediately escalated. As standard, proper hand hygiene must be maintained, with ready access to wash basins, and appropriate PPE is required for all laundry handling.
Forbes Professional works with clients to help them establish a fully compliant laundry operation. Our consultants offer complimentary site surveys and can advise upon on the relevant legislation, IPC policy expectations and industry requirements. Forbes provides care homes with Miele’s energy and water efficient commercial laundry and offers comprehensive user training to ensure the machines’ features are fully optimised. All of our products adhere to the requirements of WRAS and the CQC and are protected by our multi-award winning service support, at no extra cost for the life of the contract.
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