R60 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Cleanliness Champions implementation

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that programmes designed to improve staff knowledge of good infection prevention and control practice, such as Cleanliness Champions Programme, are implemented without undue delay.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to NHS Education for Scotland (2025-01-01), the Cleanliness Champions Programme, which trained over 18,000 healthcare workers, is now integrated into the Scottish Infection Prevention and Control Education Pathway (SIPCEP). According to NHS Education for Scotland (2025-01-01), this pathway provides a staged approach to IPC education via the Turas Learn platform, ensuring ongoing staff knowledge of good IPC practice. According to the Scottish Government's response, this recommendation was accepted in 2015.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
18 Jun 2015

Section 4.3 of the Scottish Government's response confirms that the Cleanliness Champions Programme was introduced in September 2003, with over 18,000 NHS Scotland staff having completed it. The program aims to prepare staff to promote and maintain a healthcare culture where patient safety related to infection prevention and control is paramount. The HAI Taskforce also supports the extension of this program to a wider range of healthcare staff and has a strategy to ensure all healthcare workers receive appropriate HAI-related education and training.

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Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Confirmed Completed
01 Jan 2025
NHS Education for Scotland Other

Cleanliness Champions Programme trained over 18000 healthcare workers. Now integrated into the Scottish Infection Prevention and Control Education Pathway (SIPCEP) providing a staged pathway of IPC education via the Turas Learn platform.

View detailed findings

The programme was fully implemented and then evolved into the broader SIPCEP framework providing ongoing IPC training for all staff.

NES IPC Education Team - SIPCEP View Source
Source
Inquiry Vale of Leven Inquiry
Report The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report 24 Nov 2014
View Source
Responsible Bodies
NHS Health Boards (Scotland) Primary
Themes & Tags
Care home infection control Staff training and development Infection Control Training
Recommendation age 11.3 yrs
Last formal update 3932 days ago