Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Core Capabilities Framework for the Health & Care Workforce
Capabilities Frameworks
Introduction
Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) are the basic infection prevention and control measures necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents from both recognised and unrecognised sources of infection. SICPs must be consistently applied by all staff, in all health and care settings, at all times, for all patients and service users, whether infection is known to be present or not, to ensure the safety of those being cared for, staff and visitors in the care environment.
The UK 5-year Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan recognises that equipping professionals for effective infection prevention and control (IPC) practice is not easy. Healthcare in the NHS is provided through a large and disparate system, and the four UK countries vary in their arrangements for improving quality. The social care sector is also fragmented across many providers making it difficult to ensure consistency in policy and practice.
Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic have highlighted variation in practice and a need for a robust educational framework.
Purpose and scope of the framework
NHS England commissioned Skills for Health to review and develop an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Framework for those individuals who would be considered part of the IPC Practitioner workforce, to improve the quality of IPC practice and health outcomes, as well as promote IPC as a positive place to work and increase its reach to those who would consider a career in IPC.
The Framework provides clear outcomes for the development and growth of a skilled workforce, promoting confidence and leadership skills to ensure practitioners can lead, challenge, and implement safe standards of IPC practice for the patients we serve.
This Framework supports the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan in promoting IPC as a career option for a wide range of individuals, giving clear direction for career progression and supporting recruitment and retention of the IPC workforce. This in turn contributes to the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, supporting and empowering IPC Practitioners with the skills, confidence and mechanisms to improve safety and saving lives.
