DRESS CODE POLICY
Reference Version Status Executive Lead(s) Author(s)
Number
224 1 Current Director of Human Joe Watt
Resources
Amendments:
Document Objectives:
This policy sets out the expectations of the Trust in relation to corporate dress code and the
wearing of Trust uniforms.
The policy applies to all staff, including those with honorary contracts, agency workers and
students when working on Trust premises.
Intended Recipients:
All Staff
Group/Persons Consulted:
Trust Executive Group, Clinical Management Board, Operational Board, Staff Side, LNC.
Monitoring Arrangements and Indicators:
Compliance to be monitored within existing line management arrangements.
Training Implications:
General principles to be covered at local induction.
Equality Impact Assessment:
Approval Body TEG Date Approved
Ratified by TEG Date Ratified October 2009
Date Issued January 2010 Review Date October 2012
Contact for Review: Mr. J. Watt, Nurse Director
DressCodePolicy
For more information on this document, please contact:
Mr. J. Watt,
Nurse Director,
Surgical Services
1st Floor,
Nurses Home,
Northern General Hospital
Telephone number: 0114 271 4606
Email joe.watt@sth.nhs.uk
Version history
Version Date Issued Brief Summary of change Owners Name:
1 January 2010 Mr. M. Gwilliam
Mr. J. Watt
Document Imprint
Copyright Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2006: All Rights Reserved
Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the Re-use of Public Sector Information
Regulations 2005. SI 2005 No 1515.
Information on re-use can be obtained from:
The Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
Tel: 0114 226 5151. E-mail: infogov@sth.nhs.uk
DressCodePolicy 2
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dress Code Policy
1.0 Introduction
1.1 This policy sets out the expectations of the Trust in relation to the wearing of
uniforms for clinical staff and the corporate dress code, for non clinical staff.
The policy applies to all staff, including those with honorary contracts, agency
workers and volunteers. Students undertaking clinical or other placements are
expected to adhere to the policies agreed between Trust and the relevant education
provider.
1.2 The Dress Code (and Uniform Policy) is necessary in order to:
Present a smart and professional image, thereby increasing patient and public
confidence.
Support infection prevention and control
Have regard to health and safety considerations for staff
1.3 The Trust considers the way employees dress and their appearance to be of
significant importance in portraying a corporate and professional image to all users
of its service, whether patients, visitors, clients or colleagues.
1.4 The Trust recognises the diversity of cultures, religions and disabilities of its
employees and will take a sensitive approach when this affects dress and uniform
requirements. However, priority will be given to clinical, health and safety, security
and infection control considerations.
1.5 The Dress Code Policy is designed to guide managers and employees on the
application of Trust standards of dress and appearance. The policy is not
exhaustive in defining acceptable and unacceptable standards of dress and
appearance and staff should use common sense in adhering to the principles
underpinning the policy.
1.6 Local dress codes should be agreed for specific staff groups/services to clarify the
sensible application of the Trust dress code.
Such local priorities must be wholly consistent with the principles contained in this
Trust code and the law relating to protective personal equipment (PPE). Local
dress codes must be subject to relevant assessments which would include an
equality impact assessment and a risk and health safety assessment (see STHFTs
Risk Assessment Form), and then approved by the appropriate Executive Director.
1.7 All employees are supplied with a Trust identity security badge which must be worn
and visible when in clinical areas, and available at all times when on duty or acting
in an official capacity representing the Trust.
1.8 All staff are required to comply with the principles of the Dress Code Policy. Failure
to adhere to the Trusts standards of dress and appearance may constitute
misconduct and may result in formal disciplinary proceedings.
1.9 Employees are responsible for following the standards of uniform/dress and
appearance laid down in this policy and should understand how this policy relates to
their working environment; health and safety, infection control, particular role and
duties and contact with others during the course of their employment.
DressCodePolicy 3
1.10 Managers are responsible for ensuring the Dress Code Policy is adhered to at all
times in respect of the employees they manage.
2.0 Dress Code
2.1 For staff not required to wear a uniform, examples of acceptable staff clothing
include:
Female employees: skirts, blouses, smart T-shirts, jumpers, jackets, dresses,
culottes, suits, trousers, slacks.
Male employees: business suits, sports jackets, blazers, trousers, smart T-
shirts, shirts (with collars - long or short sleeve) jumpers.
2.2 Non acceptable Clothing
Unless part of a departmental uniform or Trust promotion, the following items of
clothing are examples of unacceptable clothing, either on the grounds of health and
safety or for the Trusts public image: Casual trousers or skirts (all colours and
styles), tracksuits, casual sports T-shirts, leisure shorts, combat trousers, sweat-
shirts, baseball caps/hats, overly tight or revealing clothes, including mini-skirts, low
cut tops or those revealing the midriff and clothing bearing inappropriate slogans.
Trousers or skirts that are of a length that they touch the ground when walking are
not acceptable on safety and hygiene grounds, in some areas of the Trust (i.e.
clinical settings such as wards and theatres).
2.3 Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
The provision of personal protective equipment is the responsibility of Sheffield
Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, see Personal Protective Equipment
Procedure. Each manager must ensure that personal protective clothing and
equipment is available to the employee, if identified as necessary in the risk
assessment, in accordance with the regulations (i.e. COSHH and local/statutory).
Staff in roles that require protective clothing are required to wear this whilst carrying
out their duties in accordance with health and safety requirements. If individuals are
unsure about such requirements they should discuss this with their manager. Given
the fact the staff need to practice optimum hand hygiene, section 5.2.1 will apply
when considering appropriate clothing.
2.4 Footwear
Footwear must be safe, sensible, in good order, smart and clean and have regard to
health and safety considerations. Trainers, (unless specifically required for the job
role) stiletto heels and plastic flip-flops are not acceptable.
Certain jobs require staff to wear protective footwear. These staff must wear the
correct footwear for undertaking their work and if staff are uncertain they must check
with their line manager.
DressCodePolicy 4
2.5 Tattoos
Visible tattoos are to be discouraged and where present should not be offensive to
others. Where they are deemed to be offensive they should be appropriately
covered.
2.6 Jewellery and Piercing
Jewellery for clinical staff must be kept to a minimum; a plain/wedding ring and one
pair of discreet stud earrings are permitted. Wrist watches must not be worn when
providing clinical care, which includes examining patients.
Facial/body piercing is not permitted and must be removed before coming on duty.
This includes tongue studs. If staff have piercing for religious or cultural reasons,
these must be covered and must not present a quantifiable health and safety or
infection prevention and control risk.
2.7 Hair
Hair should be neat and tidy at all times and in the clinical environment long hair
should be tied back. Headscarves worn for religious purposes are permitted in most
areas, however they are excluded in areas such as theatre, where they could
present a health and safety and cross-infection hazard. Beards should be short and
neatly trimmed, unless this reflects the individuals religion where it should be tidy.
Beards should be covered with a hood when undertaking aseptic procedures.
2.8 Facial Covers
Staff who wear facial coverings for religious reasons are expected to remove them
whilst on duty. This will ensure that the member of staff is identifiable and facilitate
communication with patients and their relatives or friends.
3.0 Trust Clinical Uniform Requirement
General requirements for uniform wearers:
3.1 The uniform should be worn in a clean and presentable fashion and all staff must
have access to a spare uniform in case one becomes soiled during the shift.
3.2 Smart and appropriate shoes (enclosed toe) should be worn, with appropriately
coloured tights if wearing a dress.
3.3 Nail varnish, false nails and false eyelashes are not permitted. Nails should be
sufficiently short to ensure safe patient contact and good hand hygiene.
3.4 The uniforms issued must not be altered or added to by the individual. If changes
are required, they should be undertaken by the sewing room.
3.5 All staff should change out of their uniform before going off duty, if this is not
possible staff are permitted to travel between home and work in their uniform as
long as it is fully covered by a coat. This should be discussed with the appropriate
manager to seek agreement for the staff member.
3.6 The wearing of the Trust uniform in public places such as a supermarket, is not
acceptable.
DressCodePolicy 5
3.7 Maternity uniforms will be provided for staff as necessary.
3.8 Staff who smoke must not smoke in uniform, or be identifiable as a health care
worker.
3.9 The Trust does provide a laundry service but staff who choose not to use it must
ensure that uniforms are laundered in accordance with guidance provided on the
uniform. In the event of any confusion, staff should contact the infection prevention
and control nurses for guidance.
3.10 All staff leaving the Trust, who have been provided with a Trust uniform must return
their uniform to the sewing room. Failure to do so will result in the appropriate
deduction of pay from the final salary, in line with the terms and conditions of the
contract of employment (section 26).
4.0 Specific Uniform Groups provided by the Trust
Details are set out below for the principal staff groups affected.
4.1 Nurses, Midwives, Dental Nurses
4.1.1 The Chief Nurse, in consultation with the relevant Nurse Director and the
Medical Director, can authorise the non-wearing of uniform in specific specialist
roles where:
The client: clinician relationship has the potential to be compromised by the
wearing of a uniform
The non wearing of a uniform will not create unacceptable risk to safety and
infection control
Where agreement is reached on appropriate standards of dress to be
applied by the individuals in place of the uniform
4.1.2 All nurses and midwives will be expected to wear a Trust uniform which
denotes their role when giving clinical care or administrative duties in a clinical
setting (ward and departments).
4.1.3 Black /navy cardigans or jumpers may be worn off wards and when on
breaks but must be removed before giving clinical care.
4.1.4 Dental nurses will wear tunics and trousers. They can wear designated
Charles Clifford Dental Hospital scrub type tops (in the hospital only) in summer
months, at the discretion of departmental managers.
4.2 Radiology, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists
4.2.1 Radiographers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists will be issued
uniforms, with a choice of tunic/trousers, polo shirts or dresses, or a combination.
5.0 Protective Clothing
5.1 A number of clinical and non clinical staff groups are required to wear protective
clothing as part of their individual role. The principles are based upon the need for:
Patient safety
Personal safety
Statutory regulatory requirements
Work environment
DressCodePolicy 6
Health and safety requirements
Infection control requirements
Principal staff groups affected:
5.2 Medical and Dental Staff
5.2.1 All medical staff should follow the policy set out in section 2 (clothing,
footwear, jewellery and hair).
5.2.2 In addition, medical and dental staff (including students) should ensure that
when examining patients:
Sleeves are rolled up above the elbow or short sleeves are worn;
Wrist watches are removed
Ties, scarves and other items of clothing must not be allowed to hang
down, they must be secured
Long hair is tied back.
5.2.3 When dealing with patients at risk, plastic aprons and gloves should be worn
to comply with standard precautions and isolation precautions guidelines.
5.2.4 White coats may be worn if this is the preference of the individual. They
must be regularly laundered.
5.3 Staff Wearing Scrubs (Theatre Blues)
In certain areas Scrubs (Theatre Blues) may be appropriate to the clinical work
undertaken. However it is essential that the Trust Dress Code is maintained and
scrubs can only be worn in designated areas.
Should areas seek to become designated areas, the Nurse Director/ General
Manger will be required to confirm their support for this, having undertaken
appropriate checks and balances. This is likely to include risk assessment, health
and safety, patient perception and value for money.
5.3.1 Scrubs must be clean at the beginning of every shift and changed each time
they become stained with blood or body fluids.
5.3.2 When leaving these areas, the member of staff should change into their own
clothes. If requested, the Trust will supply 1 uniform for a nurse/midwife.
5.3.3 Unless attending a clinical emergency, it is not acceptable to wear scrubs
outside the theatre environment.
5.3.4 When attending a clinical emergency, scrubs should be covered with a clean
white coat and theatre headgear and masks removed.
5.4 Theatre Staff
In addition to the guiding principles in 5.3 the following will apply:
5.4.1 Staff should wear well fitted dedicated operating theatre footwear. These
must be cleaned/decontaminated on a regular basis, particularly when
visibly dirty or when contaminated with blood or body fluids. Each theatre
suite manager should ensure that local procedures are in place for these
procedures to take place.
DressCodePolicy 7
5.4.2 The use of overshoes should be adhered to as recommended locally. The
use of overshoes is not routinely recommended (research has demonstrated
that there are problems with movement of bacteria from a bellows effect
created when walking). If overshoes are used, staff must wash their hands
following removal (ICNA 2002).
5.4.3 Scrubs are not to be worn outside the designated area; the only exception
being:
When attending a clinical emergency where a white coat should be worn;
When accompanying a patient to another clinical area, a plastic apron
should cover scrubs
When undertaking duties to support clinical care e.g. pharmacy, kitchen,
wards etc.
5.4.4 Within the operating theatre, hair must be entirely covered with a clean,
disposable hat, which should be changed at least daily, or on leaving the
theatre suite. Hats should be changed if they become contaminated with
blood or body fluids. It is recommended that beards should be covered with
a hood.
5.4.5 It is recommended by the Infection Control Department that all scrub teams
should wear masks, but the wearing of masks by other operating theatre
personnel should be at the discretion of the individual consultant surgeon
involved. Every individual in the operating theatre should wear a mask when
prostheses/implantation surgery is being performed, or if the patient is
immuno-compromised. Masks should be removed and disposed of at the
end of each case, as they are single use items. Masks should not be worn
hanging around the neck.
5.4.6 Protective eyewear with visors, appropriate aprons and gloves must be
readily available in every theatre suite and their use enforced as per
Standard Precautions and Infection Control Policy.
5.4.7 The routine use of agreed theatre gowns is recommended to protect both
the patient and individual staff member. Staff in scrubs who attend
emergencies outside the theatre complex, must change into a clean pair of
scrubs on returning to theatre.
5.4.8 Headscarves must not be worn in the operating theatre.
5.5 Visitors to the operating theatre complex
Theatre staff provide guidance to all visitors to the operating theatres on what to
wear. Any visitor entering an operating theatre must change into scrubs and
suitable footwear.
DressCodePolicy 8
5.6 Other health professional groups
This group includes:
Pharmacists
Clinical Scientists
Medical Physics
Laboratory staff
5.6.1 Staff are expected to comply with the Trust Dress Code Policy and also
comply with local regulatory and good practice requirements. This reflects
the individual environment and materials handled (please refer to 1.6).
5.7 Capital, Estates Facilities, and Hotel Services staff
5.7.1 Some staff within this directorate have specific clothing requirements based
upon the need for:
Personal safety
Hygiene
Statutory regulatory requirement
Work environment (including outside working)
Infection control
Catering
5.7.2 All catering staff involved in the preparation and service of food must wear
the appropriate uniform, headwear and, where required, protective shoes.
5.7.3 For hygiene and health and safety reasons, no jewellery can be worn other
than a plain band/wedding ring, and a pair of plain small stud earrings (i.e.
no inserts or stones).
5.7.4 Staff working in a kitchen environment must ensure that their hair is kept
covered at all times, and beards must be covered with an appropriate facial
mask/hood when preparing food.
5.8 CSSD
5.8.1 The guidelines relating to uniform in a clean room environment must be
adhered to at all times and the CSSD Manager will ensure staff are trained
and aware of their responsibilities. In general, the guidelines relating to
theatre staff in 5.6 also apply to CSSD staff.
6.0 Policy Review
6.1 The policy will be reviewed in one year from the date of ratification and every three
years thereafter.
DressCodePolicy 9
