Infection Prevention and Control Nurse

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for anexperienced registered general nurse, with an interest and enthusiasm for working within the speciality of infection prevention and control. This is a developmental post for a band 6 infection prevention and control nurse, progressing to a band 7 on successful completion of a formal qualification in infection prevention and control and agreed competencies. The successful candidate will be fully supported with their own development.

The post holder will work as a part of a progressive and dynamic infection prevention and control team, committed to improving patient care and safety.

The post holder must have good communication skills, both written and verbal, to articulate best IPC practice across our broad range of services, and the ability to engage with others.

The post holder will be a key player in our IPC agenda, working in collaboration with clinical and non-clinical staff across the organisation to help ensure robust IPC measures are in use and embedded in practice.

The post holder will contribute to developing a quality, proactive and evidence-based IPC service, to prevent and reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infections and assist in implementing systems to enhance patient and staff safety across the organization.

The successful candidate must be a team player, as well as having the ability to work independently as required, computer literate and have good organisational skills.

Main duties of the job

Support and assist the Infection Prevention & Control Team in providing a comprehensive infection control service to the Trust (across all sites), continuously analysing a range of complex information and problem solving in order to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infections. Assist with carrying out the day-to-day work of the IPC Team under supervision, including reviewing microbiology / virology results using the Winpath system, interpreting the meaning of results for patients/staff and advising on appropriate control measures considering a variety of complex, competing and challenging variables, carrying out infection control ward rounds, delivering informal training and undertaking audits. Assist with undertaking continual surveillance / analysis for a variety of healthcare associated infections for early detection of outbreaks and advising on outbreak management, in liaison with the Nurse Consultant. Assist with providing an infection control link nurse programme, in liaison with the Nurse Consultant IPC. Provide a visible presence in clinical areas, acting as a role model and advocate for high standards of infection prevention and control, challenging poor practice as appropriate. Support the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control and the Associate Director Infection Prevention and Control to develop Trust wide policies in infection prevention and control, including decontamination, ANTT and standard IPC precautions.

About us

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

This is an exciting time to join our Trust, as we work on the expansion of our theatres at Ashford Hospital and move towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures; with care delivered by dedicated, specialist teams in a modern and well-equipped environment.

We hope to use this centre to create an environment of learning and to facilitate training of the next generation of our skilled NHS workforce. Our plans are ambitious - why not, come and be a part of our journey.

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To work within the Infection Prevention and Control Team under supervision, providing specialist nursing input in the identification, prevention, monitoring / surveillance and control of infection within the Trust, learning to analyse a range of complex information and problem solving. To develop into a specialist nurse in infection prevention and control, advising all grades and disciplines of staff, continuously using problem solving and analytic skills, in order to provide the best advice in challenging situations. To visit wards and departments to manage alert organisms and advise on implementing the appropriate precautions, under supervision, using specialist IPC knowledge and analysing a range of complex information. To advise staff when patient isolation is necessary, ensuring the correct precautions are implemented and reviewed, under supervision of the senior IPC nurses. To work in conjunction with Ward Managers, Infection Prevention and Control Team and Bed/Service Managers regarding movement and isolation of patients with infections or infectious diseases. To learn how to identify and investigate outbreaks of infection and assist the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control / Associate Director Infection Prevention and Control in managing outbreaks. To participate in Infection Control Surveillance Programmes. To learn how to access and review microbiology / virology results provided for the infection prevention and control nurses via the Winpath system, including interpreting results accurately, entering results into the appropriate local and national databases and advising ward staff about appropriate control measures whilst analysing a range of complex information. To learn and understand the significance of microbiological results, in order to support Trust staff appropriately, in preventing and controlling infection. To assist with undertaking infection reviews using the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework and organising ward based swarms To give input into reviewing infection control policies and procedures, with other members of the Infection Control Team. To continually monitor infection control practice, including hand hygiene and correct use of personal protective equipment and provide feedback, as appropriate, to staff of all grades and local managers, in order to support staff in improving their practice. To monitor infection control aspects of the patient environment, under supervision, and provide feedback to local managers where improvements are needed. To collect relevant IPC information as indicated by the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control Nurse and Associate Director of Infection Prevention and Control, within agreed timescales. To provide effective communication with patients, their relatives and relevant others to impart information and support, which may be of a sensitive and emotive nature. To identify potential infection hazards, environmental or practice related, seeking advice from senior IPC nurses before advising on appropriate remedial action to relevant personnel, sometimes in challenging situations. To assist in the initiation of appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection. To use relevant information technology to collect and interpret data, review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations where necessary, as directed by the senior IPC nurses. To participate in the writing of infection control reports in conjunction with the infection control team. To be an active member of the Control of Infection Committee and attend other relevant committees and working groups. To participate in the development and implementation of the Annual Infection Prevention and Control Plan and contribute to the Annual Infection Control Report.

Leadership or managerial

To act as a role model and visible leader for infection prevention and control in clinical areas, engaging staff and advocating high standards of IPC practice, and challenging poor practice, as appropriate. To assist with running the infection prevention and control link practitioner / champion programme, in order to help raise IPC standards across the Trust.

Professional

The post holder will be expected to develop their own IPC knowledge, understanding and skills, including knowledge and understanding of microbiology / virology. The post will be expected to demonstrate competence in line with the Professional Core Competencies for Infection Control Nurses and NMC revalidation requirements. The post holder will be expected to take up learning opportunities as provided and actively participate in their own learning. The post holder will be expected to undertake and successfully complete a formal qualification in infection prevention and control, as discussed and agreed with the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control and within agreed timescales. The post holder will be expected to conduct themselves in accordance with Trust standards towards service users, carers, colleagues and other agencies, including maintaining high levels of communication and personal conduct at all times.

Clinical Research / Audit / Quality Assurance

To critically evaluate information and research to assist in formulating evidence-based IPC advice. To learn how to competently carry out IPC audits, including knowledge and understanding of audit standards, providing clear verbal feedback to local managers and writing up audit reports to a high standard within agreed timescales and paying attention to detail. To assist with developing/reviewing audit tools pertinent to IPC, as required. To participate in quality assurance processes around infection prevention and control.

Service improvement

To actively participate in the work of the IPC Team to improve clinical services and care for patients. To contribute to improving the way the IPC Team works, to maximise efficiency of team resources.

Communications and Engagement

To use a range of communication skills, both written and verbal, with a range of staff and disciples in order to convey key messages and when providing advice, to ensure communication is effective. To be able to clearly articulate IPC advice, both verbally and in writing, taking account of the recipients level of knowledge and understanding of IPC matters. Learn to deliver IPC training for a range of staff across the organisation, using specialist IPC knowledge, to engage staff in the benefit of IPC and for improving patient care and safety. To contribute to developing training packages appropriate to the target audience, in order to adequately convey IPC learning, using specialist IPC knowledge.

General responsibilities

To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered general nurse

Qualifications

Essential

Must be willing to complete a formal qualification in IPC / complete competencies

Experience

Essential

Experience of carrying out audits

Experience

Essential

Extensive nursing experience

Experience

Essential

Experienced with using Word and Excel

Experience

Essential

Experience of writing reports

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of current IPC issues, particularly in the hospital setting

Skills

Essential

Must be able to demonstrate excellent communication (verbal and written)

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