Infection Prevention and Control Lead Nurse

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Lead Infection Prevention and control

Team: Clinical Governance and Quality

Base Location: Bradley or Leeds

Line Manager: Clinical Governance and Quality Lead Patient Safety Specialist

Hours of Work: 22.5

Staff Group: All Clinical & Dental Triage Nurses

DBS Check: Enhanced with Child/Adult Barring due to providing care

Vaccination Requirement Statement:

• Covid19 double vaccination not required but recommended.
• This job has been rated as Medium Risk for requiring Hepatitis B immunisation vaccination is recommended, therefore Post Holders will be offered a Hep B immunisation.
• Flu jab recommended and will be offered.

Job Purpose:

• To continue to raise the profile of Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) throughout the organisation
• To ensure that Local Care Direct continually improves its IP&C performance by developing systems that are evidence based and grounded in best practice
• To lead on the development of IP&C, ensuring engagement of all groups of staff, patients and external organisations
• To ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (updated Dec 2022)

KEY PRINCIPLES

Leadership & Management

• Provide high profile support to all sites to ensure compliance with IP&C policy
• To work as a member of the Senior Clinical team to develop the Clinical Services and Clinical Governance Operating plans
• Provide leadership in the planning, implementation, training and monitoring on all aspects of IPC within the organisation
• To uphold and promote Local Care Direct values and ensure these are translated into working practices and service design
• To maintain the highest standards of conduct
• To ensure that the quality of patient care is firmly at the centre of the organisations objectives and vision
• Liaise with the operational team to set service quality standards for cleanliness and participate in the monitoring of controls(including COSHH) and service level agreements
• Develop systems to ensure that all plans are reviewed, at least annually, and monitor implementation of any changes
• To support the clinical governance structures of the organisation
• Implement IPC aspects of the clinical governance programme
• Develop risk management systems to ensure appropriate and timely reporting of adverse incidents and that necessary remedial action is taken
• Provide specialist advice for any new build project or clinical development within the organisation

Service delivery

• To contribute to the development of clinical delivery models and plans to meet contractual, statutory and organisational standards, policies and protocols and to implement those models and plans
• The identification and implementation of the key IPC processes that support the clinical and quality service as a whole
• To lead the implementation of the key processes within Local Care Direct
• Be an active member of the water safety group supporting in the Legionella programme

Team

• To monitor that staff adhere to Local Care Direct IP&C standards, policies and protocols
• To promote effective team working across clinical and non-clinical staff within the team and cross-functional working with other departments
• Attend and contribute to Clinical meetings and other meetings both internally and externally as required

Communications & Relationships

• To advise and update the Director of Clinical Services, Clinical Governance Lead and other directorates on IP&C issues
• Establish and maintain communication and relationships with stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation to ensure effective partnership working and co-operation, including post infection reviews
• Support work with HR and Occupational Health on staff needs following screening that relates to infection prevention and control

Organisational

• To uphold and promote Local Care Direct values and ensure these are translated into working practices and service design
• Contribute to the development of the organisation and ensuring it remains fit for purpose as it relates to IP&C
• Keep up to date with national and local IP&C policy
• Advise Local Care Direct on IP&C requirements for contracted services
• Assist in the planning and implementation of Local Care Direct's response to a major outbreak of infectious disease
• Lead on the development and implementation of infection prevention and control, policy and procedures for all staff throughout the organisation
• Provide Board Reports on Infection Prevention and Cleanliness as required
• To co-ordinate, supervise and assist in the implementation and management of the National cleaning standards as required nationally
• To co-ordinate the annual flu plan

Patient care

• To ensure that the quality of patient care is firmly at the centre of the organisations objectives and vision.
• Assist in the management and monitoring of the highest standards or safety and quality in the delivery of healthcare and related services, and manage risk within Local Care Direct

Financial resources

• To provide input to the production of business cases to support service developments, ensuring maximum involvement from clinical and non-clinical staff in the production of plans

Confidentiality

• To ensure information governance protocols and business confidentiality is maintained at all times

Training

• To ensure all staff receive appropriate IP&C training
• Assist in the development and delivery of an educational strategy to promote awareness and understanding of infection prevention and control, encompassing the multiple levels and multi-professional groups of Local Care Direct staff

Environment & location

• Comply with Local Care Direct environmental management policy

Research

• Access, appraise and apply robust evidence of all types from a range of research and other sources, to the domains of the role
• Share best practice through the dissemination of evidence and knowledge
• Keep up to date with new guidance, in particular NHS England UKHSA, GOV.com

COMMUNICATIONS & RELATIONSHIPS

• To ensure agreed lines of communication and reporting are implemented within the team to support all employees understanding LCD business plans, objectives, priorities and changes.
• To promote effective cross-functional working and that the operational team supports the achievement of objectives, standards and protocols of other LCD areas.
• To attend internal and external meetings representing LCD and engaging in discussions appropriate to the role and level of the post.

PATIENT CARE

• To ensure that the quality of patient care is firmly at the centre of the organisations objectives and vision.
• To ensure the management and monitoring of the highest standards or safety and quality in the delivery of healthcare and related services, and manage risk within Local Care Direct.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

• To ensure financial policies and procedures are maintained and the budget is adhered to and that best value for money is achieved.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• To operate and ensure the team operates within information governance protocols and that business confidentiality is maintained at all times.

TRAINING

• To complete the defined company induction programme and core training for this role and mandatory refresher training thereafter and ensure that accurate records of training are maintained.

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

• Healthcare workers have a duty of care to patients and are expected to comply fully with the companies Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) policies and attend/complete IP&C training, for personal and patient safety and for prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI). Knowledge, skills and behaviour in the workplace should reflect this.

SAFEGUARDING

• Individuals have a duty of care to children and vulnerable adults that they come into contact with whilst at work to safeguard and promote their welfare and to work to prevent, recognise, respond, appropriately refer and record potential neglect or abuse, adhering to the companys Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures.

MANAGING SELF

• Ensure that relevant professional practice is evidence based and current.
• Ensure that continual professional development is maintained and facilitates the ability to provide care to a high standard in a way that is both safe and cost effective.
• Ensure that mandatory training is up to date and participate in training as appropriate.
• Effectively utilise time management, organisational, co-ordination and if required - management skills.
• Identify own professional development needs through the Personal Development Review process (PDR).

The main duties and responsibilities shown here are not exhaustive and the postholder will be expected to carry out any reasonable activities according to the needs of the business as directed by the line manager.

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st level Registered Nurse.
• Relevant post registration qualification at 1st degree or masters level or equivalent.
• Specialist qualification in infection prevention and control; minimum diploma level.

Desirable

• Teaching qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post registration experience.
• Minimum 3 years IC experience.
• Previous management experience.
• Evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
• Evidence of innovation in nursing practice.
• Understanding of primary care, urgent care & general practice.
• Experience of training and facilitating staff and practice development in a variety of settings, with individuals, small and large groups.
• Experience in writing policies and guidelines.
• Experience in report writing.

Skills

Essential

• Effective communication skills: verbal and Written.
• Self-motivated team worker.
• Proven ability to plan and deliver projects within a set time frame, anticipating problems and devising solutions.
• Able to manage time and workload.
• Able to develop self and others.
• Willingness to promote and adapt to change as the organization develops.
• Able to work across professional and organizational boundaries to negotiate and agree joint programmes of work.
• Experience of leading change withing clinical practice with measurable evaluated outcomes.
• Capacity to handle conflict.

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates up-to-date Knowledge of IC Standards, policies and practices.
• Legal framework related to Infection Control and Health and Safety.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).