Apprenticeship training course

Healthcare cleaning operative (level 2)

Providing a hygienically clean healthcare environment in which service users, staff and other users can thrive, work and develop.

• Qualification level: 2 ; Equivalent to GCSE.
• Typical duration: 12 months
• Apprenticeship category: Health and science
• Maximum funding: £4,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Care hygiene operatives
  • Cleaning services operative
  • Domestic assistant
  • Housekeepers
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Comply with National and local standards, policies, guidelines and procedures to include: • manual handling, • use of PPE, • the NHS cleaning specification, • waste disposal, • safeguarding and data protection • the correct identification and use of a range of waste storage containers (sacks and bags) • the safe disposal of waste and spent solutions • compliance with the cleaning and disinfecting policy as well as colour coding
  • Carry out risk assessments
  • Identify risk categories and colour coding correctly in order to carry out cleaning appropriately
  • Prepare cleaning materials and machinery appropriate to the task
  • Select the correct chemicals for the task considering COSHH and using correct dilution rates and applicable data sheets
  • Select and use correct cleaning equipment (fogging machine, floor machines) and equipment for a range of routine and specialist cleans (e.g. hard floors, clinical areas, communal areas, pool side, mortuary, operating theatres) including cleaning of equipment after use and applies principles of PAT testing to ensure equipment is safe to use.
  • Carry out tasks according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (e.g. schedules of work, recording of completed tasks, fault reporting, stock recording / ordering)
  • Recognise the signs of infestation and follow organisational procedures to appropriately address and eradicate the problem. e.g. rodents, insects, cockroach & pigeon waste, report according to local procedures and work with partners to eradicate them in line with local and national standards and policies.
  • Carry out tasks to the appropriate standard to ensure infection prevention and control. For example the cleaning of rooms where a patient is being barrier nursed.
  • Carry out different rapid response cleans (e.g. bodily fluid, chemical spillage, hazardous waste)
  • Carry out scheduled and periodic cleaning, prioritising work where required
  • Carry out a range of cleaning and disinfection tasks to include: • terminal cleans • barrier cleans • isolation cleans • discharge cleans • decontamination cleans
  • Apply the principles of hygiene to the role (i.e. clean uniform, hand hygiene and cross contamination). Appropriately use PPE and apply the bare below the elbow process.
  • Assemble and disassemble a range of service user equipment for cleaning (e.g. hospital beds, trolleys and trays)
  • Demonstrate housekeeping of storage areas best practice, techniques and implications to include stock rotation, ordering of materials, optimum storage environment (temperature, humidity, ventilation) for chemicals and machinery.
  • Ensure the security of cleaning equipment and materials
  • Classify soils/contaminating matter correctly and apply the most appropriate removal methods which could include: • organic soiling, • inorganic soiling • microbiological residues
  • Communicate with colleagues, patients and their families professionally
  • Apply the principles of Equality & Diversity at all times being culturally aware and adapting tasks to suit the needs of the patient (e.g. age, race, religion, disability, those with dementia)
  • Portray a positive Corporate image (e.g. customer service, smart appearance)

Full information on Healthcare cleaning operative (level 2) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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