Professional Infection Prevention Control Training UK

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Infection outbreaks in UK workplaces can close facilities, trigger regulatory enforcement, and in healthcare settings, cost lives—yet many organisations still rely on outdated or superficial training that leaves staff unprepared for real incidents. Proper infection prevention and control training equips teams with practical skills to break transmission chains, meet CQC and HSE requirements, and respond confidently when contamination occurs.

This guide covers who needs infection control training, what accredited courses teach, how to choose between on-site and online formats, and what documentation regulators expect during inspections.

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Why Infection Prevention and Control Training Matters

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Infection prevention and control (IPC) training teaches workplace staff how to stop infections from spreading through proper hygiene, equipment use, and evidence-based procedures. In the UK, this training covers hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), waste management, and controlling healthcare-associated infections like MRSA and E. coli—topics that help organisations meet requirements set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 places a legal duty on registered providers to protect patients, staff, and visitors from avoidable infections. Organisations that fail to meet infection control standards face enforcement action, and in severe cases, prosecution.

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Hand Hygiene and Infection Reduction

Hand hygiene breaks the chain of infection transmission more effectively than any other single action. The World Health Organization identifies five moments when handwashing matters most: before touching a patient, before clean procedures, after exposure to body fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.

Proper handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds removes microorganisms that cause infection. Alcohol-based hand rubs work quickly when hands aren't visibly dirty, though they don't eliminate all types of pathogens.

Meeting CQC and HSE Requirements

The Care Quality Commission inspects infection prevention practices when evaluating whether health and social care providers are "safe." Inspectors review training records, watch staff in action, and examine infection rates to determine if organisations have working systems to prevent infections.

The Health and Safety Executive enforces the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, which cover biological agents like bacteria and viruses. Employers have a legal responsibility to assess infection risks and provide appropriate training to protect staff from exposure at work.

Safeguarding Staff Visitors and Reputation

Infection outbreaks hit vulnerable populations hardest—elderly patients, people with weakened immune systems, and those recovering from surgery face the greatest risk. A single outbreak can close wards, cancel procedures, and in the worst cases, lead to deaths.

The reputational damage can last years. Public reporting of infection rates, negative CQC ratings, and media coverage of outbreaks erode the trust that organisations work hard to build.

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Who Needs Infection Control Training in the UK

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Training requirements vary based on your sector, role, and level of contact with infection risks. The UK Core Skills Training Framework lists IPC as essential learning for anyone working in or visiting healthcare environments, though the depth of training depends on individual circumstances.

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Healthcare and Social Care Teams

NHS trusts, private hospitals, care homes, dental practices, and home care providers require infection control training for clinical and non-clinical staff alike. Doctors, nurses, and support workers need regular updates to maintain professional registration and meet employer policies.

Receptionists, porters, and administrative staff also need training that matches their level of patient contact. Even staff who don't provide direct care can spread infections through contaminated surfaces, equipment, or paperwork.

Facilities Management Cleaning and FM Staff

Cleaners and maintenance teams working in healthcare settings face higher infection risks and play a critical role in keeping environments safe. The National Specifications for Cleanliness in the NHS requires specific training on colour-coded equipment, chemical dilution, cleaning frequencies, and which surfaces to prioritise.

Facilities staff who respond to spills, maintain ventilation systems, or handle waste need to understand how infections spread and how to control them. Their work directly impacts clinical safety, making their training as important as clinical colleagues.

Corporate and Office Workforces

General workplaces benefit from basic infection awareness, particularly businesses with customer-facing roles or shared facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly respiratory infections spread through offices, retail spaces, and hospitality venues.

Food businesses face additional requirements under food hygiene regulations, where infection control overlaps with food safety. Staff learn how infections transmit through contaminated food and surfaces, plus legal requirements for reporting illness.

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Accredited Course Options and Levels

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UK infection control training ranges from basic awareness to specialist certificates, typically aligned with the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). Awarding bodies including City & Guilds, NCFE CACHE, and TQUK accredit courses that meet national standards.

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Level 1 Awareness

Level 1 courses provide foundational understanding of infection risks and basic prevention measures for low-risk environments. This introductory training covers hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and when to stay home from work due to illness.

Level 2 Certificate

Level 2 represents the standard requirement for healthcare support workers, cleaning staff, and anyone with regular patient contact. This comprehensive qualification covers:

• Chain of infection: How pathogens spread from source to susceptible host through various routes
• Standard precautions: Universal measures applied to all patient interactions
• Isolation procedures: When and how to implement additional precautions for specific infections
• Decontamination principles: Differences between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation
• Waste segregation: Colour-coded bag systems and safe disposal of clinical waste
• Outbreak management: Recognition and reporting procedures

Annual Refresher Sessions

Infection control knowledge requires regular updating to maintain competency and awareness of emerging infections and changing guidelines. Most healthcare employers mandate annual refresher training, though some high-risk areas like intensive care may require six-monthly updates.

Refresher training reinforces core principles while introducing new content. Recent years have brought updates on antimicrobial resistance, Clostridioides difficile prevention, and respiratory infection control following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specialist Modules for High-Risk Areas

Staff in intensive care units, operating theatres, and isolation facilities need enhanced training beyond standard Level 2 content. Specialist modules cover additional precautions for immunocompromised patients, aseptic technique for invasive procedures, and management of patients with multi-drug resistant organisms.

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Core Infection Control Syllabus

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Professional IPC training balances theory with practical skills, helping participants apply learning directly in their work environment. The curriculum addresses both routine practices that prevent everyday infections and emergency procedures for high-risk situations.

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Personal Protective Equipment

PPE selection depends on the anticipated exposure risk and how the infection spreads. Gloves protect hands from contamination but need changing between tasks—they're never a substitute for hand hygiene. Fluid-resistant surgical masks protect against large respiratory droplets, while FFP3 respirators filter smaller aerosol particles during high-risk procedures.

The sequence of putting on and removing PPE matters critically. Incorrect removal can contaminate clean skin and clothing, defeating the protective purpose. Training includes practical demonstration to build muscle memory, particularly for removing contaminated gloves without touching the outer surface.

Cleaning Decontamination and Waste

Cleaning removes visible dirt and organic matter, reducing microorganisms by up to 80% through physical action. Disinfection uses chemical agents to kill most microorganisms on surfaces, while sterilisation eliminates all microbial life—a process typically reserved for surgical instruments.

The UK uses a colour-coded waste segregation system:

Waste TypeColourExamplesDisposalInfectious clinicalOrange/yellow stripeBlood, body fluidsIncinerationAnatomicalRedHuman tissueIncinerationMedicinalBlueExpired medicationsSpecialist disposalSharpsYellow rigid boxNeedles, bladesIncinerationDomesticBlack/clearOffice wasteLandfill/recycling

Sharps and Spill Response

Needlestick injuries carry risk of bloodborne virus transmission including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Prevention centres on safe handling: never resheath needles, dispose immediately at point of use, and never fill sharps bins beyond the marked line.

After exposure, immediate first aid involves encouraging bleeding from puncture wounds, washing with soap and water, and covering with a waterproof dressing. Following first aid, staff report to occupational health for risk assessment and potential post-exposure prophylaxis—time-critical interventions that work best when started within hours.

Blood spillages require prompt action using appropriate PPE and spill kits containing absorbent granules and disinfectant. The process involves containing the spill, absorbing liquid, disinfecting the area, and disposing of all materials as infectious waste.

Outbreak Reporting and Isolation Procedures

An outbreak is two or more linked cases of infection, or a rate above the expected baseline for that setting. Early recognition and reporting to infection control teams and the UK Health Security Agency enables rapid investigation before widespread transmission occurs.

Isolation separates infected patients from others to interrupt transmission. Source isolation protects others from an infected patient, while protective isolation shields vulnerable patients from environmental pathogens. Both require single rooms when possible, dedicated equipment, and additional PPE for anyone entering.

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On-Site vs Online IPC Training Formats

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Training delivery methods each offer distinct advantages, and the optimal choice depends on workforce needs and regulatory requirements. Many organisations now combine online theory with face-to-face practical sessions.

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Engagement and Practical Skills

Hands-on practice remains essential for developing competency in physical skills like PPE use, hand hygiene technique, and spill management. Online training can demonstrate procedures through video, but participants need supervised practice with feedback to identify and correct errors.

Interactive scenarios help staff apply decision-making skills in realistic situations—determining appropriate PPE for different tasks, recognising when to escalate concerns, or managing a simulated outbreak. This active learning typically achieves better knowledge retention than passive information delivery.

Compliance Documentation and CPD Hours

Valid training certificates provide audit evidence that staff have met mandatory requirements, with most IPC certificates remaining current for 12 months. Documentation specifies course content, learning outcomes, assessment method, and trainer qualifications—details that inspectors examine during compliance reviews.

Many infection control courses carry Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit, contributing toward annual CPD requirements for registered healthcare professionals. A typical Level 2 course awards 6-8 CPD hours, though exact allocation varies by course duration.

Scheduling and Cost Efficiency

Group training delivers significant cost advantages when multiple staff require the same qualification. Online courses typically charge per person at £25-£50 for basic Level 2 certificates, meaning a team of 12 would cost £300-£600.

On-site group training offers flat-rate pricing regardless of participant numbers up to the maximum group size, often representing better value for larger teams. Workplace-based training eliminates travel time and costs while minimising service disruption.

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How Kasorb Delivers Hands-On Compliance

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Kasorb's infection control training prioritises practical application over theory alone, giving teams skills they'll actually use when facing real infection risks. Flat-rate pricing for up to 12 participants makes comprehensive training accessible for teams of any size.

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Frontline Clinician Instructors

Kasorb courses are delivered by paramedics, emergency department nurses, and NHS staff who bring years of frontline clinical experience. These instructors have managed real infection outbreaks, responded to contamination incidents, and applied IPC principles in high-pressure healthcare environments.

This clinical background enables trainers to answer complex questions, share relevant case studies, and adapt content to address specific scenarios your team encounters. Rather than reading from generic slides, instructors facilitate discussions about actual workplace challenges.

Scenario-Based Practical Drills

Training sessions incorporate realistic infection control scenarios tailored to workplace risks. Participants practice PPE procedures with actual equipment, respond to simulated spills, and work through decision-making exercises based on common challenges in their roles.

This hands-on approach builds confidence that passive learning cannot achieve. When staff have physically practiced a procedure multiple times during training, they're far more likely to perform it correctly under pressure.

Customised Risk-Based Content

While core IPC principles remain consistent, infection risks vary significantly between a dental practice, care home, and corporate office. Kasorb trainers assess your specific environment and adapt course content to address your most relevant risks—whether respiratory infection control in open-plan offices, bloodborne virus exposure in healthcare settings, or food hygiene in catering facilities.

This customisation means training time focuses on knowledge and skills your team actually needs. The result is more engaged participants and better practical outcomes.

Ready to book practical infection control training? Schedule your on-site session today

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Certification CPD and Audit Evidence

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Proper documentation of infection control training protects organisations and individual staff during regulatory inspections and professional revalidation. Understanding what records you need prevents compliance gaps.

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Instant Digital Certificates

Upon completion of Kasorb training, participants receive digital certificates immediately via email. Certificates include unique verification codes, allowing employers and regulators to confirm authenticity through secure online systems.

Digital certificates offer practical advantages: they can't be lost or damaged, they're easily stored in electronic training records, and staff can access copies whenever needed for job applications or professional portfolios.

CPD Accreditation and Logbooks

Kasorb infection control courses carry CPD accreditation, with hours allocated based on course duration. Healthcare professionals registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and General Medical Council (GMC) can log these hours toward annual revalidation requirements.

Audit-Ready Compliance Packs

Kasorb provides comprehensive training documentation: attendance registers with signatures, course content outlines, trainer qualification certificates, and individual participant certificates. This complete audit trail demonstrates due diligence in meeting legal training obligations.

When CQC inspectors or HSE enforcement officers request training records, having organised documentation readily available demonstrates professional training management. Missing records often trigger further scrutiny, even when training actually occurred.

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Steps to Book Professional IPC Training Today

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Arranging infection control training involves several straightforward steps that help you select appropriate courses and schedule sessions that minimise workplace disruption.

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1. Select Format and Level

Start by assessing your team's training needs based on their roles, current knowledge, and regulatory requirements. Healthcare support workers typically need Level 2 certificates, while general office staff may only require basic awareness training.

Consider whether your team would benefit more from on-site group training or individual online courses. If you have six or more staff requiring the same training, on-site delivery usually offers better value and engagement.

2. Schedule Your On-Site Session

Contact Kasorb with your preferred training dates, location, and participant numbers. We'll confirm trainer availability and work with you to schedule sessions that minimise operational disruption—early mornings, evenings, or split sessions can accommodate shift patterns.

For urgent training needs, Kasorb often accommodates short-notice bookings within days. However, booking 2-4 weeks ahead provides more date flexibility.

3. Receive Pre-Course Materials

Once your booking is confirmed, participants receive pre-course information including venue details, timing, and any preparatory reading materials. This advance preparation helps participants arrive ready to engage fully.

Learner handbooks outline course objectives, competencies covered, and assessment criteria. Reviewing materials beforehand allows participants to identify questions and areas they'd like to explore during the session.

4. Train Your Team and Download Certificates

On training day, your team receives engaging instruction from experienced clinical professionals. Interactive exercises, realistic scenarios, and hands-on practice give participants usable skills rather than just theoretical knowledge.

Following successful completion, certificates are issued immediately via email. Participants can download and save their certificates right away, and employers receive a complete training record for compliance documentation.

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FAQs About Infection Control Training

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How often should staff renew infection control training?

Annual refresher training is recommended for most healthcare and social care roles, with some high-risk positions like intensive care nurses requiring six-monthly updates. General workplace staff with minimal infection exposure may extend renewal to every two or three years.

Is online-only training accepted by CQC inspectors?

CQC accepts blended learning combining online theory with practical skills demonstration, but purely online training without hands-on practice may not satisfy requirements for clinical roles. Inspectors assess whether training methods are appropriate for the competencies required.

What documentation is required during an audit?

Training records demonstrate who attended, when training occurred, what content was covered, how competency was assessed, and trainer qualifications. Complete documentation includes signed attendance registers, individual certificates, course syllabi, and trainer CVs or certificates.

Can infection control courses be tailored for non-clinical roles?

Yes, effective training adapts content to match actual job roles and infection risks. Facilities management staff need emphasis on environmental cleaning and spill response, catering teams focus on food safety interfaces, and office administrators learn about surface hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

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Protect Your Team With Expert On-Site Training

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Comprehensive infection control training protects staff, clients, and organisational reputation while meeting legal requirements and regulatory standards. Kasorb's practical, scenario-based approach delivered by experienced clinical instructors gives teams the confidence to prevent infections effectively in actual workplace environments.

Flat-rate group pricing makes professional training accessible for teams of all sizes, while instant digital certification and complete audit documentation streamline compliance management. Rather than generic online courses, Kasorb delivers engaging training that genuinely improves practice.

Book your team's infection control training session now

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