SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Healthcare Cleaner 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
118730  Occupational Certificate: Healthcare Cleaner 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner-Services SETA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 11 - Services  Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0522/24  2022-02-03  2025-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-31   2029-12-31  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
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.

    Rationale:
    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. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    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. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-01 Introductory Studies for Healthcare Cleaners, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-02 Communication in a Healthcare Environment, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-03 Healthcare Cleaning, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-04 Personal Hygiene and Safety, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-05 Healthcare Laundry Handling, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-06 Healthcare Waste Handling, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-KM-07 Healthcare Cleaning Associated Biology and Infection Control, Level 2, 15 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 43

    Practical Skill Modules
  • 811202-000-00-00-PM-01 Maintain Personal Hygiene and Infection Control Precautions , Level 2, 10 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-PM-02 Provide Cleaning and Sanitation Services in Public Areas and Offices,, Level 2, 10 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-PM-03 Provide Cleaning and Sanitation Services in Patient Consulting, Treatment Areas and Wards, Level 2, 10 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 36

    Work Experience Modules
  • 811202-000-00-00-WM-01 Conduct Cleaning and Sanitation Services in Public Areas and Offices, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-WM-02 Conduct Cleaning and Sanitation Services in Patient Consulting, Treatment Areas and Wards, Level 2, 16 Credits.
  • 811202-000-00-00-WM-03 Attend to Handling of Healthcare Laundry Items, Level 3, 13 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 51 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Uphold personal hygiene and workplace safety standards.
    2. Achieve a hygienic, clean healthcare environment.
    3. Attend to healthcare laundry items. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Adhere to personal health and safety responsibilities during the execution of duties.
  • Recognise risks to personal health and safety in a health care cleaning environment and adhere to measures to protect oneself from these.
  • Apply hand and personal hygiene procedure to the industry standards.
  • Select, use, and dispose personal protective wear to the industry standards.
  • Recognise signs and symbols that indicate risks, comply to protective measures and adhere to measures to protect oneself.
  • Report incidents, hazards/risks in accordance with standard operational procedures.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply health care cleaning and sanitation principles as required for designated areas to the industry standards.
  • Identify risk areas and surfaces and clean all types of dirt to the industry standards.
  • Identify, select, use, and care for cleaning chemicals and equipment in accordance with work specifications and procedures.
  • Apply measures to prevent the spreading of diseases and infections in a health care environment by demonstrating a clear understanding of health care associated biology infection control.
  • Collect and handle medical waste in accordance with prescribed principles and standards of risk control.
  • Clean spilled bodily fluids and sanitise areas in accordance with prescribed principles and standards of risk control.
  • Collect and handle soiled linen in accordance with prescribed principles and standards of risk control.
  • Follow post cleaning clean-up and storage activities of cleaning equipment, unused chemicals and consumables.
  • Complete work reports using standard workplace templates.
  • Keep work records using standard workplace templates.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Receive and handle laundry items in accordance with standard operational procedures.
  • Identify and classify health care laundry in accordance with industry standard.
  • Attend to the receipts, storage, and dispatch of laundry items in accordance with standard operational procedures.
  • Carry out marking and labelling of laundry items in accordance with standard operational procedures.
  • Record the flow of laundry items by applying workplace recordkeeping and reporting standards on all items received, handled, dispatched, and stored.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment
    The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment
    An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification was compared with two learning programs, namely the:
  • Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) with optional endorsement in Health Care Facilities Cleaning from New Zealand and
  • Training Programme offered by the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) as is a member of the British Cleaning Council.

    New Zealand
    The New Zealand Qualifications Authority recognises the Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) with optional endorsement in Health Care Facilities Cleaning (Code: 039909). The Health Care Facilities Cleaning is an optional program that builds on the core cleaning skills and knowledge to recognise the skills required for cleaning specifically in health care facilities under supervision.

    The program covers the following areas of learning:
  • Generic cleaning duties.
  • Safety of self, others, and the environment.
  • Communication.
  • Security procedures.
  • Infection control and contamination prevention procedures.

    The New Zealand standard is reregistered as a unit standard based certificate on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as a Health Care Facilities strand linked to the National Certificate in Cleaning and Caretaking (Level 2). A credit value of 49 credits is allocated to the full qualification inclusive of the Health Care Facilities strand. The New Zealand example selected is comparable to the South African qualification but places less emphasis on specialised health care cleaning aspects such as the cleaning of different surfaces and handling of laundry items in a health care environment.

    United Kingdom (UK)
    The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) is the principal organisation in the UK which represents all areas of healthcare cleaning services in public and private hospitals, Primary Care Trusts, care and nursing homes, dental and GP clinics and surgeries as well as the mental health field. The AHCP is a member of the British Cleaning Council.

    "The AHCP is an influential force in healthcare cleaning in the UK today. AHCP members are present in every healthcare trust in England, Scotland, and Wales and in a growing number of hospitals and clinics in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Individual membership is steadily growing as is the network of regional branches. Expertise is shared and best practice encouraged through local branch and national study days, workshops and conferences" (http://britishcleaningcouncil.org/members-2/).

    The revised healthcare cleaning manual published by Healthcare Cleaning Professional provides a detail overview of the learning areas included in the learning program promoted by the AHCP (http://www.ahcp.co.uk/resources/healthcare-cleaning-manual.html).
    Areas of learning covers the following areas of learning:
  • Infection control.
  • Health and Safety.
  • Cleaning responsibilities.
  • Work planning.
  • Technical Method Statements for a wide range of cleaning tasks.

    The South African qualification is comparable with the guide published by the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals. This South African qualification includes studies in handling of laundry items not covered by the selected UK standard.

    Conclusion
    This qualification compares well with the New Zealand certificate as well as the learning program presented under the auspices of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals, a member of the British Cleaning Council. The South African qualification is specifically aligned with the specific requirements of the industry. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides opportunities for both horizontal and vertical articulation options.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Fundamental Certificate: Ancillary Health Care at NQF Level 2.
  • National Certificate: Community Health Work at NQF Level 2.
  • National Certificate: Specialist Hygiene and Cleaning Services at NQF Level 2.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • National Certificate: Auxiliary Nursing, NQF Level 3.
  • National Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning Supervision, NQF Level 3.
  • Occupational Certificate: Health Promotion Officer, NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience.

    Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
  • None

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

    The curriculum title and code are: Healthcare Cleaner: 811202-000-00-00.

    Encompassed Trade:
    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • This qualification is not a trade.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
  • Services SETA.

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION
  • None 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.