About this course
Good infection prevention protects staff, customers and people receiving care. This short course covers the standard precautions that stop infection spreading.
It covers micro-organisms and the chain of infection, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, safe handling of waste and sharps, cleaning and decontamination, and outbreak procedures.
What learners cover
- How infection spreads and the chain of infection
- Standard precautions and when they apply
- Effective hand hygiene technique and the moments that matter
- Correct use, order and disposal of PPE
- Cleaning, decontamination, waste, sharps and outbreak procedures
Course content
The course is delivered in short, bite-size sections that learners can stop and restart at any point.
- Section 1
Micro-organisms and infection
Bacteria, viruses and fungi, the chain of infection and how to break each link.
- Section 2
Hand hygiene and PPE
Washing and sanitising technique, glove and apron use, masks, and safe donning and doffing.
- Section 3
Environment and equipment
Cleaning schedules, decontamination, laundry, spillages, waste segregation and sharps safety.
- Section 4
Managing risk
Isolation, outbreak procedures, reporting, and staff health including immunisation and exclusion.
Who it is for
Care and support workers, healthcare staff, cleaning and catering teams, early years staff and anyone in a public-facing role.
Entry requirements: No prior knowledge is needed. The course is written in plain English and suitable for all staff.
How it is delivered
Fully online and self-paced
Learners work through the course at their own pace and can pause and resume where they left off.
Any device
Works on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile, with audio, video and written transcripts throughout.
Interactive throughout
Scenarios, exercises and images keep learners engaged rather than clicking through slides.
Knowledge checks
Short checks at the end of each section so learners can see what has landed before moving on.
Average completion time is around 45 mins, though learners can take as long as they need and return as often as they like.
How it is assessed
Knowledge checks run throughout the course so learners can test understanding as they go. The course ends with a multiple-choice assessment taken online. Learners who do not pass first time can retake it.
Certification
Learners receive a Highfield Online Training digital certificate as soon as they pass the end-of-course assessment. Certificates download straight away and can be saved to a CPD log or staff training record.
Refresher guidance: Most employers refresh this training every 12 months, or sooner if the law, roles or workplace risks change.
How it works for teams
- 1. Choose how many licences you need and pay by card, or request an invoice.
- 2. Add your learners' names and email addresses.
- 3. We set them up on the course platform and they receive their login by email.
- 4. Track who has been set up from your account.