Meridian Healthcare is successfully rolling out the NHS Essential Steps to Safe, Clean Care programme within its 25 care centres for older people across the North West.

The framework is designed for organisations that provide health and social care services outside the hospital environment. Essential steps to safe, clean care provides a support package for local organisations to teach and promote best practice in the prevention and how to manage the spread of infections to ultimately improve service user safety.

Meridian Healthcare Clinical Manager Theresa Oddie commented on the framework: ‘The Essential Steps programme supports and strengthens our existing company policies and practices already in place, the pack empowers our Care Centre Managers to provide additional training for their staff and brings to the forefront the importance of safe, clean care.’

The training is being rolled out with staff in all areas and levels throughout the Meridian group. Amongst the first to complete the training course are the staff at The Sycamores Care Centre in Newton, Hyde. Senior Care Assistant Sharon Fruhwrith comments: ‘At The Sycamores we found the training really useful, it reiterated the importance of not only client hygiene and clean care but also that of ourselves and the visitors we get to the care centre. As the Sycamores is not a hospital environment it can sometimes be easy for our visitors to forget to use the alcohol hand wash when entering and leaving the home. We used formal training sessions to educate our staff then to ensure the theory was put into practice as a senior team we carry out regular observations.’

Ends.
• Photograph shows: Part of the team at The Sycamores Left to Right: Back row John Kinnard- Care Assistant, Sharon Fruhwirth- Senior Care Assistant, Graeme Knowes- Care Assistant. Front Row: Care Assistants – Kerry Ellis, Suzanne Ellis, Sam Hutton.

Notes:
• Meridian Healthcare own 25 Care Centres throughout the North of England.

• Website: www.meridiancare.co.uk

For further information please contact: Tessa Matthews, Meridian Healthcare, 0161 368 9099 tmatthews@meridiancare.co.uk