Guidance
Infection prevention and control in managed communal accommodation settings
Effective infection prevention and control helps protect the health and wellbeing of people in communal accommodation settings.
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Details
This guidance is primarily for anyone who manages, works in, or volunteers in managed communal accommodation settings. It can also be used to support the work of individuals who commission or provide services to these settings. It sets out practical measures to reduce the risk of infection where multiple people live together in facilities with onsite management either temporarily or long term.
Examples include:
- accommodation for people seeking asylum, including contingency hotels, initial accommodation centres (IACs), and large or former military sites
- accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, including hostels and night shelters
- domestic abuse refuges
- other emergency or temporary communal accommodation settings
This guidance will help staff and providers to:
- understand how infections can spread in communal accommodation settings
- recognise situations that increase the risk of infection
- keep shared spaces clean, safe and hygienic
- support good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene
- reduce the risk of infections spreading between people accessing the settings, visitors, staff and volunteers
- recognise when someone may have symptoms of an infection and know what action to take
- support people accessing the settings to access healthcare, vaccinations and treatment when needed
- respond appropriately to infectious disease incidents and outbreaks
- maintain safe sleeping, washing, eating and communal areas
- promote a healthy and respectful environment that supports the wellbeing of everyone living and working in the setting