Infection Prevention and Control Lead

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in surveillance of hospital/hospice acquired infection.
• Provide advice in relation to the purchase, decontamination and/or condemning of equipment.
• Develop measures to reduce the incidence of infection.
• Act as a resource on infection control for staff throughout the Hospice, both clinical and non-clinical.
• Demonstrate a sounds knowledge of CQC requirements with regard to IPC.
• Provide education and training across the Hospice and develop identified clinical staff as IPC resources for in-house support.
• To have responsibility over ensuring all staff are FFP3 FIT tested as required.
• Investigate infection control issues and advise on follow-up care for persons exposed to infection.
• Outbreak management identify outbreak, advise staff/patients regarding isolation, monitor and report to appropriate outside agencies.
• Instruct the multi-professional team in standard and specific infection control procedures.
• Maintain links with Acute Trusts (St Georges Hospital; St Helier Hospital) Infection Control Departments and our appointed Occupational Health Service to ensure that all necessary infection control measures are implemented.
• Ensure that the infection control annual audit is serviced and that results are disseminated as appropriate.
• Produce an annual report and annual infection control plan.
• Ensure that agreed audits are undertaken on a regular basis and policies are regularly reviewed.
• Report back to Clinical Heads of Department and other meetings, as appropriate, on results of all audits.
• Meet regularly with the Inpatient Unit Clinical Lead /Senior Nurses and liaise with Housekeeping/Facilities to update on infection control measures and possible risks to staff and patients.
• Liaise with infection control staff in other hospices to share best practice.
• Coordinate and chair quarterly infection control and prevention group meetings and attend other relevant meetings such as Health and Safety, HODS as required, ensuring contemporary information is shared appropriately.
• Recognise own learning and professional development needs.
• To undertake any other such duties or general tasks and hours of work as may reasonably be required and to work in other locations within the hospice organisation.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Lead by example, exemplifying the Hospices values and behaviours.
• Willing to undertake further training as required.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent communication skills written and verbal.
• Computer literate.
• Ability to inspire and lead others in achieving a high standard of infection control.
• Teaching and presentation skills.
• Contemporary knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• Awareness of current issues and relevant practice guidelines in End of Life Care.
• Sound knowledge of Clinical Audit and Clinical Governance processes.
• Commitment to Continued Professional Development.

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking research.

Qualifications

Essential

• Hold a relevant healthcare qualification such as RN Level 1 or equivalent.
• Hold an Infection Prevention and Control qualification and be able to demonstrate a robust IPC track record.
• Hold a palliative care qualification i.e. ECEPC or similar (or be willing to undertake).

Desirable

• Graduate or post graduate qualification in Infection Prevention and Control.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

St Raphael's Hospice

Address

London Road

Cheam

Sutton

Surrey

SM3 9DX

Employer's website

https://www.straphaels.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)