Inspections can be a stressful time for Care Home managers and owners.
Whether it be the CQC, the Clinical Commissioning Group or the local Council.; each of these bodies can determine a Care Homes’ future existence, future earnings and future business value.
As a Care Home manger or registered person the worst possible scenario is to be told that you are in breach of some important regulations. Alternatively, if you are judged at the end of an inspection to have a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rating then this can add considerable future value to your earnings.
Your laundry is a key part of any assessment.
There are Regulations relating to the management and governance of your Onsite Premises Laundry and Regulatory Body’s have specific interest in this. These include:-
▪ Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Part 3) – Regulation 15. Premises and Equipment – makes specific reference to the management of Onsite premises laundries.
▪ Decontamination of linen for health and social care (HTM 01-04), 2013 – provides guidance on how to make your laundry comply with minimum standards and achieve ‘Best Practice’.
▪ Health and Safety in Care Homes, HSG220, 2014 – Makes specific reference to:- moving and handling, Equipment safety, Hazardous substances, infections and diseases. All of which is relevant to your laundry. And importantly the CQC are being tasked with becoming the lead investigators of incidents of unsafe activities in Care Homes.
Also, if you were in any doubt as to whether the CQC were interested in this..
The CQC framework of Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) – Prompts and Sources of Evidence for : Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led make several references to matters directly related to your laundry.
And then of course there are other specific requirements relating to your laundry
▪ Gas Safety (installation and Use) Regulations 1998 as amended 2018 – relating to your use and installation of your Gas dryers.
▪ The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1991 (COSHH) regulations 6,7 and 8 and The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992,8 regulation 5 and 6 – relating to the ventilation of your laundry and the elimination of toxic fumes such as Carbon monoxide.
But there’s no need to get stressed … This is an awful lot to think about and our guess is that you would rather you and your staff concentrated on your area of expertise i.e. patient and resident care. Aventus are experts in Care Home laundries and we can help to make your site compliant with the Regulations and government guidance, conform to Best Practice and, when it comes to your next inspection, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your laundry is up to scratch.
Aventus has the answers! If you have any doubts about the safety, compliance or effectiveness of your commercial laundry equipment, then we do a free assessment for you and advise you how we can help you achieve your overall laundry objectives.
Just call us on 0800 069 8082 to book your free assessment now.
