Health, Public Health & Safety
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Principles
Standard precautions and IPC practice for health facilities and community services.
Syllabus at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Chain of infection and standard precautions |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Hand hygiene and PPE use |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Cleaning, disinfection and waste management |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Isolation, triage and outbreak IPC |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | IPC monitoring, audit and training |
Module breakdown
- 1
Chain of infection and standard precautions
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for chain of infection and standard precautions and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind chain of infection and standard precautions
- Step-by-step methods and templates for chain of infection and standard precautions
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in chain of infection and standard precautions, and how to avoid them
- Applying chain of infection and standard precautions in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying chain of infection and standard precautions to a local scenario.
- 2
Hand hygiene and PPE use
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for hand hygiene and PPE use in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for hand hygiene and PPE use
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in hand hygiene and PPE use, and how to avoid them
- Applying hand hygiene and PPE use in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to hand hygiene and PPE use.
- 3
Cleaning, disinfection and waste management
Weeks 5–6Practise cleaning, disinfection and waste management on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in cleaning, disinfection and waste management, and how to avoid them
- Applying cleaning, disinfection and waste management in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your cleaning, disinfection and waste management work
Assessed work: Group simulation using cleaning, disinfection and waste management under time pressure.
- 4
Isolation, triage and outbreak IPC
Weeks 7–8Turn isolation, triage and outbreak IPC into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying isolation, triage and outbreak IPC in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your isolation, triage and outbreak IPC work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind isolation, triage and outbreak IPC
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use isolation, triage and outbreak IPC in your role.
- 5
IPC monitoring, audit and training
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own IPC monitoring, audit and training work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your IPC monitoring, audit and training work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind IPC monitoring, audit and training
- Step-by-step methods and templates for IPC monitoring, audit and training
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering IPC monitoring, audit and training.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • Health workers, facility staff and community health volunteers.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Facility IPC audit with an improvement action plan.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
Certification
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Apply standard precautions correctly
- Run an IPC audit in a facility
- Train colleagues on hand hygiene and PPE
Practical component
Facility IPC audit with an improvement action plan.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Ready to start Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Principles?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.