Healthcare Cleaner

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Healthcare Cleaner. A Healthcare Cleaner performs cleaning tasks in medical facilities to achieve a clean, hygienic, and safe environment within the context of the prevention of the spread of infections and diseases. A qualified learner will be able to: • Uphold personal hygiene and workplace safety standards. • Achieve a hygienic, clean healthcare environment. • Attend to healthcare laundry items.

This qualification will equip learners with the necessary skills and competence to conduct cleaning and sanitation services in different health care environments, including hospitals, clinics, veterinary clinics, dental and medical consulting rooms, frail care and old age homes, sick bays, first aid rooms. After successful completion of this qualification, the learner will be a skilled and capable of maintaining required standards of hygiene and sanitation. Healthcare Cleaners are employed by organisations to perform cleaning services in support of nursing or healthcare staff and will find employment as hospital cleaners, ward cleaners, low and medium risk area cleaners, and medical facility cleaners. Target groups identified include school leavers with an NQF Level 1 qualification or persons who has been working in the health care environment without formal qualifications and has the desire to formalise their skills and knowledge. Effective cleaning and hygiene standards are one of the most important factors in the control and containment of the spread of disease-causing illnesses within healthcare facilities. Employers will benefit from appointing qualified workers in terms of increased productivity and ability to maintain standards of excellence expected from health care facilities by the public in general and the medical profession. This qualification responds to a specific need in the South African cleaning and healthcare industries to provide a standard for the development of persons employed as a healthcare cleaner in both public and private facilities such as hospitals, clinics, veterinary clinics, dental and medical consulting rooms, frail care and old age homes, sick bays, first aid rooms. The following associations and professional bodies were consulted during the development of this Occupational Qualification: • Gauteng Department of Health. • Professional Body for Environmental Hygiene (PBEA). • BEECA Cleaning Association. • National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA). • Hotelicca.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: • NQF Level 1 qualification.

• Uphold personal hygiene and workplace safety standards.
• Achieve a hygienic, clean healthcare environment.
• Attend to healthcare laundry items.