The healthcare sector is a vast market that utilizes both in-house and contractor environmental cleaning services. Contracted cleaning services need to ensure that they can evidence their training and the robustness thereof a
s fit-for-purpose. Cleaning contracts need to provide cleaning services over and above the marketing jingles and prove that their dollar value aligns with correct infection prevention and control cleaning practices.
Cleaning franchises are experienced and committed environmental cleaners in the commercial sectors. Enabling a comprehensive understanding and awareness of specific cleaning practices for cleaning the environment in healthcare facilities is essential when securing contractual work with healthcare clients. When securing contractual cleaning contracts for healthcare facilities it is advantageous to provide evidence of robust cleaner training and competency to reassure healthcare facility clients that the specialized environments such as operating theatres , reprocessing areas, specialized procedure rooms and day clinic centres are cleaned to the expected standard. The Train-the-Trainer IPC programme is an innovative approach to ensuring that the theory to practice gap is bridged effectively for a cleaning franchise context. The programme was developed collaboratively with the CrestClean corporate general manager for training.
Eight senior trainers from across New Zealand were enrolled into a 3 module train-the-trainer infection prevention and control programme of learning over a 12 month period. This presentation outlines the methods used to support trainers completing this programme. The module education content is presented including the bespoke competencies. Limitations and successes will be presented. Reflections are shared for ongoing development.