Cleanliness Champions implementation
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.
- The Scottish Government's response confirmed that the HAI Taskforce delivery plan included education and training frameworks to ensure programmes such as Cleanliness Champions are implemented without delay. The Cleanliness Champions Programme, introduced in September 2003, has been completed by over 18,000 NHS Scotland staff.
- NHS Education for Scotland (NES) provides national education programmes for IPC, including specialist training for Infection Control Nurses and Doctors, mandatory induction training for all healthcare workers, and continuing professional development resources.
- The HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 includes workforce education as a priority, with ARHAI Scotland supporting training and competency development across NHS boards (Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-healthcare-associated-infection-hcai-strategy-2023-2025/)).
- Regulatory bodies (NMC, GMC) require continuing professional development as a condition of registration, reinforced through revalidation processes.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSection 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.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
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.