Dress code

These guidelines apply to all staff working in patient areas. All staff employed by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust are expected to maintain and convey a professional appearance and attitude to their work.

Aims:

To ensure that all staff dress to an acceptable standard at all times while on duty and do not place themselves or patients under unnecessary risk in relation to Health and Safety, especially in an emergency situation.
It will be the responsibility of all Service Managers to ensure these guidelines are followed.
All members of staff employed by the Trust while on duty will conform to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The Ward Manager / Team Leader or Duty Senior Nurse (out of hours) will be able to send staff home to change any clothing / footwear deemed to be inappropriate and stop pay accordingly, after a first caution.

Principles:

Clothing:

All clothing should be neat, clean, and without holes or slogans.
All clothing should be safe, having regard to the activity being carried out at the time. Staff must comply with the Health and Safety regulations to ensure personal safety and that of the clients.
Staff are expected to use discretion in choosing appropriate attire. Clothing that is too tight, see through or may be interpreted as provocative by patients and should not be worn on duty.
The Trust does not approve of the wearing of “designer clothing” while working in patient areas. The Trust does not consider it appropriate that staff should provide care to patients while wearing expensive or expensive-looking items of clothing. It is also not appropriate to wear such clothing where there is a risk of it being torn or damaged should it be necessary to restrain a patient.Staff wear such clothing at their own risk.The Trust will only consider a claim for loss or compensation after damage whilst on duty to the value of “non designer” equivalent.
Staff working in direct patient care roles or whose job means they visit direct patient care areas are reminded to wear clothing that allows you to be 'bare below the elbows' so as to facilitate good handwashing techniques. Jackets, shirts, jumpers etc must be short sleeved or capable of being fully rolled up above the elbow. Staff must change their clothing daily and wear clothes washed at the hottest temperature suitable for the fabric.
False nails and nail varnish must not be worn by staff giving direct patient care as this prevents examination of the fingernails for soil and full cleaning. Nails must be kept short.

Name Badges:

All staff working in the Trust properties must wear a name badge at all times. University name badges are acceptable.

Community staff must carry their Trusts ID badges with them at all times.

Jewellery:

Should be kept to a minimum. Only a single or matching pair of studs may be worn, wrist watches should not be worn when undertaking direct patient care, rings other than a single wedding band should not be worn, no bracelets, necklaces, chains or brooches may be worn, only a single nose stud may be worn. Please remove rings and watches when washing hands.

Neckties:

The wearing of a necktie is optional. Neckties if worn should be removed if a potentially dangerous situation occurs or is likely. Long ties must not be worn by anyone serving food or providing intimate care to patients.

Hair and Beards:

Should be neat and clean. Long hair should be tied back when handling food, working in a locked environment or when undertaking physical interventions with patients.
Discreet highlights are allowed but no neon colours.

Protective Clothing:

Where the wearing of protective clothing has been indicated as necessary, it must be worn as per policy or per guidance issued by the infection control nurse.
White coats or plastic aprons may be worn when carrying out duties in relation to direct physical patient care only and should always be worn when serving food

Footwear:

Sensible footwear must be worn, and should be viewed as protection to feet. Staff must be able to respond to any emergency situation without placing themselves at risk, therefore, the wearing of opened toed or open backed types of footwear, high heeled shoes and flip flops should be avoided.

Tattoos / Body Art

Those which may be seen as provocative or which may be mis-interpreted should be covered whilst at work.

Protective Clothing for Non Catering Food Handlers

All non-catering food handlers when involved in serving food will wear suitable clean protective clothing (white disposable aprons). This must be changed for each meal service and will only be worn for food handling duties.

Protective headwear must be worn and long hair must be tied back, to ensure hair and scalp conditions do not contaminate foods or surfaces.