Infection control when you work alone as a support worker

The challenge

Many support workers spend most shifts alone in participants' homes or out in the community. There is no one to check your PPE, fetch supplies or help with a spill, so preparation does most of the work.

Prepare before the shift

• Carry your own kit: hand rub, gloves, aprons, masks, eye protection, wipes and waste bags.
• Check whether anyone at the home is unwell before you arrive.
• Know your provider's procedures and who to call for advice.

During the shift

• Use hand rub when there's no suitable sink, and wash with soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled.
• Wear PPE for personal care and body fluids, and take it off carefully.
• If something unexpected happens — a large spill, a needle, a participant becoming very unwell — stop, keep yourself safe and call for advice.

After the shift

Restock your kit, clean your hands, and record and report anything your provider needs to know, including changes in the participant's health.