Decontamination in primary care dental practices - Gov.uk

Decontamination: Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 – Decontamination in primary care dental practices (2013 edition)9 Staff roles and responsibilities indecontamination9.1 It is essential that all staff involved indecontamination are suitably trained and have theirroles and responsibilities defined and that everyoneis aware of each other’s responsibilities.9.2 Choice Framework for local Policy and Procedures01-01 Part A provides general advice – for the acutesector – on these responsibilities along with theexperience, qualifications and training required.However, that advice is based on a universalapplication to decontamination in complex systemswhich are probably inappropriate to primary caredental practices.9.3 Each practice can, therefore, establish its ownsystem concerning staff responsibilities but will beexpected to demonstrate the same degree ofunderstanding, competency and management asrequired by Choice Framework for local Policy andProcedures 01-01 Part A. The following may beused as a guide to these roles. The terminology ofPart A is used for clarity but it is likely that localpersonnel may have differing titles. Small practicesmay be unable to appoint all these responsible postsand a local decision regarding them will need to bemade. Essentially, a practice should be able todemonstrate the following responsibilities:• an understanding of legal liabilities and currentbest practice;• it has obtained professional advice, wherenecessary, in equipment purchase, maintenance,testing and operation;• it can evidence the performance of all relevantmaintenance and testing duties;• it can demonstrate compliance with the PressureSystems Safety Regulations 2000.It should be borne in mind that it is likely that oneindividual may carry out two, or possibly more, ofthe following roles.Registered Manager (Executive Management):this will be the individual with ultimateresponsibility for decontamination equipmentownership and the definition and appointment ofthe following staff. In a dental practice, this couldbe the NHS contractor, practice owner or a personof similar authority.Decontamination Lead: the Code of Practicemakes it a requirement that an individual is giventhe responsibility for infection control anddecontamination. This person should have theexperience and authority to perform this task andshould be accountable to the Registered Manager.Designated Person: this role acts as the interfacebetween the practice and support services suppliedexternally, including service, maintenance andtesting. This could be the general manager of thepractice. The Decontamination Lead could also actas the Designated Person.Authorising Engineer (Decontamination): this isan external role that provides guidance and adviceon the compliance issues of decontamination,including the implementation of this HealthTechnical Memorandum and associated guidancedocumentation. A list of suitable persons isavailable from the voluntary register held by theInstitute of Healthcare Engineering and EstateManagement (IHEEM) (http://www.iheem.org.uk/Technical-Platforms).Authorised Person (Decontamination): theAuthorised Person provides technical support to theCompetent Person and liaises with the AuthorisingEngineer. The Authorised Person may be directlyemployed by the practice or provided by a thirdparty.Competent Person (Decontamination): theCompetent Person is responsible for the servicing,testing and maintaining of the decontaminationequipment within the practice. The CompetentPerson may be directly employed by the practice orprovided by a third party.Competent Person (Pressure Systems): eachpractice will have a legal responsibility for the safetyof its decontamination equipment, particularly thesterilizers that are pressure vessels. The need forinsurance and a Written Scheme of Examinationis a legal liability and can be provided by the46