Is it the rule that we have to wear gloves and aprons when doing personal care?

Answered by Sheila Scott

Dear June,

The reasons for wearing gloves and aprons relates, of course, to the prevention and control of infection.

The Department of Health has issued the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.

I would advise every registered provider to have a copy of this Code of Practice and make sure all their staff are familiar with it, either through formal training or by training delivered in house.

The law says that CQC must take the Code into account when making decisions about registration and by any court during legal proceedings about registration.

The point of wearing gloves and aprons is the prevention of cross infection as the care worker moves from service user to service user and also to protect the care worker.

You must have a policy and risk assessments in place if you decide not to use gloves and aprons, but this will be part of your wider policy and procedure on the prevention and control of infection.

If the care worker is working with more than one service user on a shift, then I would expect there to be protective aprons and gloves available and that they will be used and changed between service users.

You can read more about this on Page 23 of the Code of Practice.

If you have the QCS system then you will have in place their Infection Control Policy and Procedure.

Best wishes.

Sheila