Infection prevention and control procedure checklist

Source anchors

How to use this checklist

Use this checklist to audit whether the service can show infection prevention and control in practice: risk assessment, standard precautions, cleaning, decontamination, waste, staff health, outbreak response and governance. It can be used monthly, after an IPC incident, after premises or service change, or before an inspection-readiness review.

IPC requirements vary by service model, premises and procedure type. Check current national, local and sector-specific guidance before relying on local defaults.

For each row, record:

Met: evidence is current and complete.
Part met: evidence exists but has a gap or needs follow-up.
Not met: evidence is absent or the control is not working.
Not applicable: the service does not carry out this activity.

Every Part met or Not met item should create an action with an owner and due date.

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Service details

Field	Local entry
Service name
Location
Date completed
Completed by
Registered Manager
IPC Lead
Decontamination lead, where relevant
Period reviewed

1. IPC leadership and risk assessment

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
IPC Lead and deputy are named.	Role list, procedure, rota.
IPC risk assessment reflects the service model, people, premises and procedures.	IPC risk assessment, statement of purpose.
Risk assessment is reviewed after service changes, incidents, outbreaks or new guidance.	Review history, governance minutes.
Staff know how to raise IPC concerns.	Staff interview, induction record.
IPC responsibilities for contractors, cleaners or shared premises are clear.	Contract, cleaning specification, landlord or contractor record.
IPC risks that need governance oversight are on the risk register.	Risk register, IPC audit link.

2. Standard precautions and clinical practice

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
Hand hygiene facilities and supplies are available.	Physical check, stock record.
Hand hygiene practice is observed or audited.	Audit record, observation.
PPE is available, appropriate and used correctly.	Stock check, staff observation, procedure.
Aseptic technique is used where relevant.	Competency record, clinical audit.
Sharps are handled and disposed of safely.	Sharps bin check, exposure incident record.
Transmission-based precautions are used where infection risk is known or suspected.	Care record, room plan, cleaning record.

3. Cleaning, environment and equipment

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
Cleaning specification states what is cleaned, by whom, how often and with what product.	Cleaning schedule, specification.
Cleaning records are completed and checked.	Cleaning log, supervisor check.
Enhanced cleaning triggers are defined.	IPC procedure, incident sample.
Reusable equipment is cleaned or disinfected between use.	Equipment log, observation, procedure.
Damaged, dirty or unsafe equipment is removed from use.	Equipment quarantine, incident record.
Water, ventilation or premises risks are reviewed where relevant.	Premises check, risk assessment, service record.

4. Decontamination, waste and laundry

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
Reusable device decontamination follows relevant guidance.	Decontamination procedure, cycle records.
Traceability records link instruments or devices to patients where required.	Traceability record, procedure list.
Failed cycles, failed tests or decontamination concerns are escalated.	Incident record, action log.
Single-use items are not reused.	Stock check, staff interview.
Waste is segregated, stored and collected safely.	Waste audit, contractor record.
Laundry, linen or uniforms are handled to reduce cross-infection where relevant.	Laundry procedure, staff guidance.

5. Staff health, incidents and outbreaks

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
Staff IPC training is current for role.	Training matrix, induction record.
Staff know when not to work because of transmissible symptoms.	Staff interview, procedure.
Vaccination or immunity checks are recorded where role-relevant.	Staff health record, occupational health route.
Sharps injuries, exposure incidents and IPC breaches are reported and reviewed.	Incident sample, learning record.
Outbreak response route and advice contacts are current.	Outbreak procedure, health protection contact route.
CQC notification, safeguarding or commissioner reporting is considered for significant IPC incidents.	Decision note, notification record.

6. Audit and governance

Check	Evidence to review	Status	Action owner	Due date
IPC audits run at a stated cadence.	Audit schedule, completed audits.
Audit covers practice, environment, cleaning, waste, decontamination and training where relevant.	Audit tool, results.
IPC actions have owners, due dates and completion evidence.	Action log, evidence.
Repeated findings are escalated to governance.	Governance minutes, risk register.
IPC incidents and outbreaks lead to documented learning.	Incident review, outbreak log, action evidence.
Registered Manager reviews overdue IPC actions.	Governance report, dashboard.

7. Summary judgement

Question	Answer
Which IPC risk is highest today?
Which cleaning, decontamination or waste control has the weakest evidence?
Which repeated IPC finding needs escalation?
Which IPC action or audit is overdue?
What would a CQC inspector see if they asked for IPC evidence today?

8. Action log

Action	Source check	Owner	Due date	Completion evidence

9. Completion

Sign-off	Name	Date
Completed by
Reviewed by Registered Manager

This checklist is a working tool. It does not replace live regulator guidance, health protection advice, occupational health advice, HTM guidance, the service's own IPC policy, legal advice or clinical judgement.