Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

When do I need PPE?

Task	Gloves	Apron	Mask
Personal care (washing, toileting, continence care)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Risk assess*
Handling soiled laundry or waste	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Risk assess*
Emptying catheter bags/commodes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Risk assess*
Wound care	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes if splashing risk
During an outbreak	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Full PPE)
Client has confirmed infection	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Full PPE)
Social contact, no personal care	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Domestic tasks, no body fluid risk	❌ No	Risk assess	❌ No

*Use mask (Type IIR) if splashing/spraying is likely or client has respiratory symptoms

The Golden Rules

Clean hands BEFORE putting on PPE and AFTER removing it
Change gloves and apron between EVERY client and EVERY task
Never reuse single-use PPE — one use only
Never touch the front of your mask when removing
Dispose of PPE immediately into the correct waste stream

Putting On (Donning) Order

Clean hands → 2. Apron → 3. Mask → 4. Gloves

Taking Off (Doffing) Order

Gloves (clean hands) → 2. Apron (clean hands) → 3. Mask (clean hands)

In an Outbreak: Full PPE Required

Full PPE = Gloves + Apron + Type IIR Mask for ALL close contact care

1. Purpose and scope

This policy ensures all staff understand when and how to use personal protective equipment correctly to protect themselves, clients, and others from infection. It applies to all care settings operated by the company, including residential care homes and domiciliary (home care) services.

For this company, “Full PPE” means disposable gloves, disposable aprons, and Type IIR fluid-resistant surgical masks. The company provides all PPE free of charge to staff as required by law.

2. Legal and regulatory framework

This policy is based on and complies with:

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 12 — requires providers to assess, prevent, detect, and control the spread of infections
Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022) — requires employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section 9 — PPE must be provided at no cost to employees
CQC Fundamental Standards — inspectors assess PPE provision, training, and correct usage

3. Responsibilities

The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring adequate PPE supplies are available, staff receive appropriate training, and this policy is implemented and monitored.

Managers must ensure their teams have access to PPE, understand when to use it, and follow correct procedures. They should conduct regular spot-checks and address non-compliance promptly.

Support Workers must use PPE correctly according to their training and this policy. They must report any PPE shortages, damaged equipment, or concerns about infection control to their manager immediately.

Administrators must ensure PPE stock levels are monitored and orders placed in good time. They should maintain records of PPE stock and distribution.

4. When to use PPE

Standard precautions (everyday care)

PPE should be used whenever there is a risk of exposure to blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes. This includes:

Gloves and apron required:

All personal care tasks (washing, bathing, toileting, oral care)
Continence care and changing incontinence products
Handling soiled laundry or clothing
Emptying catheter bags, stoma bags, or commodes
Contact with wounds, broken skin, or bodily fluids
Cleaning up spills of blood or body fluids

Mask required (in addition to gloves and apron):

When splashing or spraying of body fluids is likely
During wound care where spraying may occur
When the client has respiratory symptoms (cough, cold, flu-like illness)
During any outbreak period (see Section 7)

No PPE required:

General social interaction with no personal care
Administrative tasks with no client contact
Domestic tasks with no exposure to body fluids or hazardous chemicals

Glove selection

Vinyl gloves are suitable for most care tasks. Nitrile gloves should be used when extended wear is needed, when handling chemicals, or when higher manual dexterity is required. Latex gloves are not routinely recommended due to allergy risks. Sterile gloves are only required for aseptic procedures such as urinary catheter insertion.

Staff must never wear gloves for tasks that do not require them, as unnecessary glove use can actually increase infection transmission through contamination.

5. Putting on PPE (donning procedure)

Before putting on PPE, staff should ensure hair is tied back, jewellery is removed or covered, and the correct size PPE is available.

Step 1: Clean hands thoroughly using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Step 2: Put on the disposable apron. Place over the head and tie the waist ties at the back. The apron should cover your front from chest to knees.

Step 3: Put on the face mask (if required). Position the mask to cover your nose and mouth completely. Mould the nose piece to fit snugly. The coloured side faces outward.

Step 4: Put on disposable gloves. Pull gloves over the wrists. There should be no gap between gloves and sleeves.

6. Removing PPE (doffing procedure)

Correct removal of PPE is critical to prevent self-contamination. The outside surfaces of used PPE are considered contaminated.

Step 1: Remove gloves — Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist. Peel away from the hand, turning the glove inside out. Hold the removed glove in the remaining gloved hand. Slide ungloved finger under the wrist of the remaining glove. Peel off from the inside, creating a bag for both gloves. Dispose immediately.

Step 2: Clean hands — Use alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water

Step 3: Remove apron — Break or untie the waist ties. Pull the apron away from your neck and shoulders, touching only the inside. Fold or roll into a bundle. Dispose immediately.

Step 4: Clean hands again

Step 5: Remove mask (if worn) — Move at least 1 metre away from the client first. Do not touch the front of the mask. Remove by the ear loops or ties only. Dispose immediately.

Step 6: Clean hands again

7. Enhanced PPE during outbreaks

An outbreak is defined as two or more linked cases of the same confirmed or suspected infection occurring around the same time within the service.

During an outbreak, Full PPE (gloves, apron, and mask) must be worn for all close contact with clients, regardless of the specific task being performed. This enhanced requirement continues until the outbreak is declared over.

Additional measures during outbreaks:

PPE stocks should be checked and increased supplies obtained if necessary
Staff should be reminded of correct donning and doffing procedures
PPE stations should be checked to ensure supplies are accessible at point of use
Visitors providing non-essential services (hairdressers, entertainers) should be postponed
Healthcare professionals visiting multiple clients should visit those with infection symptoms last

The Registered Manager will declare when an outbreak begins and ends, following advice from the UK Health Security Agency Health Protection Team where appropriate.

8. Storage and stock management

In care homes: PPE must be stored in clean, dry areas away from contamination. Supplies should be positioned close to the point of use — for example, outside client bedrooms and in bathrooms. Expiry dates must be checked regularly and stock rotated accordingly.

In domiciliary care: Staff must transport PPE in a clean, sealed container or bag. PPE should not be loose in bags with other items. With the client’s permission and where safe to do so, small supplies of PPE may be stored in the client’s home in a clean, dry location. Staff vehicles should have a designated clean area for PPE storage.

Stock levels should be monitored weekly by the designated administrator or manager. Minimum stock levels should be maintained to cover at least two weeks of normal usage plus contingency for outbreak situations.

9. Disposal of used PPE

All used PPE must be disposed of immediately after use into the appropriate waste stream.

In care homes:

Orange bags: Used PPE from clients with known or suspected infections
Yellow/black striped (tiger) bags: Used PPE from routine care (offensive waste, non-infectious)
Waste bags should be filled no more than two-thirds full
Bags must be securely tied using a plastic tie or swan neck method

In domiciliary care:

Used PPE should be double-bagged and placed in the client’s household waste (black bin) unless the client has an infectious illness
For clients with infectious illness, follow local authority guidance on clinical waste disposal
Never leave used PPE loose in the client’s home
Staff must not transport used PPE in their vehicles

10. Differences between care home and domiciliary settings

Aspect	Care Home	Domiciliary Care
Storage	Designated clean areas within the home	Transported in clean container; may store small supply at client’s home
Point of use	PPE stations throughout the building	Carried by staff member
Disposal	Clinical waste collection service	Generally household waste unless infection present
Hand hygiene	Clinical hand-wash basins available	Personal alcohol hand rub; wash at client’s sink
Environment	Provider controls environment	Working in client’s own home
Equipment	Decontaminated in-house	Must be decontaminated before leaving client’s home

In domiciliary care, staff must clean their hands using alcohol-based hand rub when entering and leaving each client’s home. Where running water is not available, staff should use hand wipes followed by alcohol hand rub, then wash hands at the earliest opportunity.

11. Training requirements

All staff must complete PPE training before providing care. Training must cover:

Understanding how infections spread
When and why to use different types of PPE
Correct donning and doffing procedures
Safe disposal of used PPE
What to do during an outbreak

Training should be refreshed annually and whenever significant changes to guidance occur. Competency assessments should be conducted annually to ensure staff maintain correct practice.

New staff must be supervised using PPE until assessed as competent.

12. Monitoring and compliance

Managers should conduct regular observations of PPE practice during care delivery. Any concerns should be addressed immediately through supportive feedback and additional training where needed.

PPE audits should be conducted quarterly, covering:

Correct usage during care tasks
Availability of PPE at point of use
Stock levels and expiry dates
Staff knowledge of procedures

Results should be recorded and action plans developed to address any shortfalls.

Infection Prevention and Control Policy
Isolation Policy
Hand Hygiene Policy
Waste Management Policy
Outbreak Management Policy

Sources and further reading

CQC Regulation 12: Safe Care and Treatment
https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/regulations-service-providers-and-managers/health-social-care-act/regulation-12
NHS England National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)
https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/
Gov.uk: Infection Prevention and Control Resource for Adult Social Care
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infection-prevention-and-control-in-adult-social-care-settings
Gov.uk: Guide to Donning and Doffing PPE
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ppe-guide-for-non-aerosol-generating-procedures
HSE: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022
https://www.hse.gov.uk/ppe/ppe-regulations-2022.htm
Gov.uk: Management of Acute Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Care Homes
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acute-respiratory-disease-managing-outbreaks-in-care-homes