1.7 Describe own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection

This guide will help you answer 1.7 Describe own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection.

In health and social care, infection prevention is vital to safeguard individuals, staff, and the wider community. Workers are not only responsible for following these practices themselves but also for supporting others in doing so. This ensures everyone understands their role in reducing the spread of infection. By working together and sharing knowledge, a safe environment can be maintained.

What are Infection Prevention Practices?

Infection prevention practices include methods, behaviours, and protocols that reduce the likelihood of harmful pathogens spreading. Examples include hand hygiene, correct use of PPE, cleaning procedures, waste disposal, and social distancing (if required). Workers must be familiar with these practices before supporting others.

Key practices:

• Hand hygiene: Washing hands thoroughly and using hand sanitiser when necessary.
• Using PPE: Ensuring gloves, masks, and aprons are worn and removed correctly.
• Cleaning protocols: Ensuring surfaces and equipment are disinfected as required.
• Avoiding cross-contamination: Keeping clean and contaminated items separate.
• Waste disposal: Following procedures for disposing of clinical and general waste.

Understanding these practices allows workers to guide and support others effectively.

Providing Training and Practical Demonstration

One of the ways workers support others is by providing training or demonstrating correct practices. This could involve showing colleagues how to wash their hands properly, guiding volunteers on PPE use, or teaching new staff cleaning procedures.

Steps involved include:

• Demonstrating: Showing others how to perform tasks, such as removing gloves safely to avoid contamination.
• Explaining: Providing clear instructions and answering questions about infection prevention practices.
• Encouraging: Reminding others about protocols and reinforcing good habits.

Practical demonstrations ensure that others learn effectively and follow correct procedures.

Monitoring Compliance and Offering Feedback

Workers must actively observe whether others are following infection prevention practices. If someone is not meeting the required standards, it is the worker’s responsibility to highlight this and offer corrective guidance.

Examples of monitoring and feedback:

• Watching if staff wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Checking that bins for clinical waste are sealed correctly.
• Ensuring equipment is cleaned before reuse.

Feedback should be constructive and supportive rather than critical, helping others improve their practices without fear or embarrassment.

Promoting a Safe Culture and Positive Attitudes

It is essential to promote a culture where infection prevention is seen as everyone’s responsibility. Workers can encourage positive attitudes and collaboration among colleagues. This creates an environment where everyone understands the importance of following practices, rather than viewing them as burdensome.

Ways of promoting a safe culture:

• Leading by example, such as consistently wearing PPE.
• Praising others who follow procedures correctly.
• Creating an open environment where people feel comfortable asking questions about infection control.

When everyone values infection prevention, it results in better outcomes for all involved.

Supporting Service Users and Visitors

Beyond supporting colleagues, workers must also assist service users and visitors in reducing infection risks. Service users may be unaware of infection prevention protocols, especially in care settings, hospitals, or clinics. Visitors may need guidance on how to minimise risks during their stay in the facility.

Responsibilities include:

• Explaining practices to service users, such as washing their hands or covering their mouth when coughing.
• Asking visitors to wear masks or use hand sanitiser when entering the building.
• Assisting service users or visitors who struggle with hygiene routines due to disability or illness.

Supporting service users and visitors requires patience, empathy, and clear communication.

Sharing Knowledge and Updates

Guidelines for infection prevention may change over time based on new health threats or updates from organisations such as Public Health England. Workers should regularly share updates with colleagues and service users to ensure everyone is aware of the latest recommendations.

Examples of sharing knowledge:

• Informing colleagues about updated PPE protocols.
• Updating posters or handouts on infection control.
• Explaining new cleaning procedures to service users.

Workers must stay informed themselves so they can confidently pass on accurate information to others.

Encouraging Teamwork and Collaboration

Infection prevention works best when teams collaborate effectively. Workers must support their colleagues and foster teamwork to ensure infection prevention practices are followed consistently. This involves helping others when they need assistance and sharing responsibilities.

Roles in teamwork include:

• Communicating with colleagues about shared cleaning tasks.
• Offering to help a team member who is struggling with PPE usage.
• Organising group sessions to revise protocols with colleagues.

Collaboration builds stronger routines and reduces the risk of mistakes.

Identifying and Addressing Barriers

Sometimes others may face barriers that prevent them from following infection prevention practices. These barriers could be physical (e.g., lack of equipment), emotional (e.g., anxiety), or knowledge-based (e.g., misunderstanding procedures). Workers must identify these challenges and find solutions to support others.

Examples of barriers:

• Lack of access to hand sanitiser or PPE.
• Confusion about cleaning and waste disposal processes.
• Hesitation about using new protocols, such as wearing masks.

Roles include:

• Informing managers about equipment shortages.
• Offering reassurance and guidance to those struggling with infection practices.
• Teaching colleagues or service users who are unsure how to follow protocols.

Addressing barriers is key to improving infection prevention outcomes.

Legal and Ethical Duties

Supporting others to follow infection prevention practices is not just a practical role—it is tied to legal and ethical responsibilities. Workers are bound by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to protect individuals from harm. Ethically, workers must ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity while promoting a safe environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Advocating for infection prevention as a requirement, not a choice.
• Respecting colleagues and service users while offering guidance and feedback.
• Ensuring health and safety regulations are consistently followed.

Ethical and legal considerations strengthen the importance of this role in health and social care.

Final Thoughts

Workers in health and social care play a key role in supporting others to follow infection prevention practices. This involves training, monitoring, promoting positive attitudes, and sharing knowledge. By identifying barriers and fostering teamwork, workers help build safer environments and reduce risks for everyone involved.