SSI Team Leader – Central Wound Hub

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will

• Be responsible for developing and expanding the new Central Wound Hub (CWH). This will involve visiting the five hospital sites within the Trust, as well as potential pilot sites, identifying and working with key stakeholders for process mapping, identifying barriers/facilitators and developing and deploying implementation strategies for the different specialisms.
• Be responsible for developing accompanying resources including but not limited to risk assessments, staff training programmes, standard operating procedures, IT pathways, clinical pathways, monitoring and reporting on the new digital service, as well as being clinically involved in delivery for the seven-day service.
• Be responsible for delivering key outcomes for the new service, including tangible improvements to patient safety and service efficiency.
• Proactively identify issues within the new pathways (either technical or clinical) and develop strategies to address these, ensuring continuity of the seven day and out-of-hours service.
• Be responsible for ensuring accurate, validated and timely data for post-discharge SSI surveillance across the organisation including all hospital sites (Guys, St. Thomas, Evelina, Royal Brompton, and Harefield hospitals).
• Work with the Trust Lead to actively identify and develop plans to deliver clinically driven quality improvement projects, resources, network events, service evaluations, clinical audits and research for SSI surveillance and the CWH internally and externally.

The post requires a self-motivated, independent individual who has excellent interpersonal and organisational skills and who can work autonomously. The successful individual will have experience of delivering change at scale. The ability and willingness to travel independently between GSTT sites is required.

The duties will involve, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

Service development

• The post-holder will work closely with the Trust Lead to develop and grow the Central Wound Hub, a new digitally driven seven-day and out-of-hours service.
• The post-holder will work closely with the Trust Lead on current and new developments in SSI surveillance, research and innovation, including product/project planning, data collection and collation, resource development, assisting in evaluating implementation strategies and dissemination, assisting in publication and/or contributing to the dissemination at networks and national/international conferences, resulting in successful SIU outputs.
• The post-holder will support the Trust Lead to analyse and illuminate data, interpret and write reports, evaluate and review outcomes as required, including providing an overview of SSI themes identified from PIRs, collating, cleaning and presenting data from pilots or other types of projects.
• The post-holder will have a visible profile across the five hospital sites (Guys, St Thomas, Royal Bromtpon, Harefield, Evelina) as required to provide optimal, pro-active insight into barriers and opportunities for the digital service and SSI team.
• The post-holder will ensure smooth operational running of the new CWH, supporting the junior team where required to escalate infection concerns.
• The post-holder will help in providing timely review of patient submissions to the Central Wound Hub, ensuring appropriate reassurance, advice and/or referral as required.

Policy development

• Develop policies relevant to the new service, Standard Operating Procedures, referral pathways, specialism-based IT forms/content and other documents as required for the Central Wound Hub.
• Assist in raising Trust profile in surveillance externally by presenting or organising specialist meetings, conferences and publishing and/or presenting on surveillance.

Other duties will evolve as the Central Wound Hub grows.

1. Clinical
   • To promote a patient-focused approach to care ensuring high standards of surgical care are followed and in collaboration with all relevant health professionals.
   • To develop resources to assist colleagues to select and initiate appropriate action to reduce the risk of infection or wound healing delay.
   • To work within the directorate of infection and with the wider organisation in ensuring that the surveillance objectives set out in Health Act 2008 are implemented and achieved.
   • Assist clinical teams in the formulation and initiation of appropriate strategies or action plans required to minimize the risk of SSIs and delayed wound healing.
   • To proactively identify trends and initiate programs to mitigate risk using best available evidence.
   • To use and develop information technologies to drive efficiencies and monitor and report the impact of measures to improve patient care and safety.

Management

• To maintain a flexible approach to the role and ensure provisions on an efficient and effective service within agreed resources.
• Implement new initiatives related to the CWH and prevention of SSIs ensuring all staff are kept informed.
• Act as a facilitator and change agent enabling clinical staff to embrace strategies for change.
• Manage change by synthesising knowledge and expertise.
• Prioritise workload taking into account varying demands and resources.
• Teach support and develop the junior staff in the Central Wound Hub team.
• Identify problems related to the prevention of SSIs and be involved in developing improved methods of work in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Acts as an expert SSIS resource for all staff at clinical level.
• Develop and maintain optimal relationships with lead clinicians, senior nursing staff, surgical teams, advanced nurse practitioners, tissue viability nurses, microbiology teams and those involved in SSI surveillance.

Communication

• To lead on the format and content of SSI Surveillance reports, resources and newsletters and assist in co-ordinating new ways of promoting the teams working including different media method.

Resource management

• To oversee and manage Central Wound Hub costs and resources.
• To assist the Trust Lead in developing bids for funding, including grants and awards.

Information management

• Familiarity and expertise with Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability to manage complex datasets and provide clear timely reports on trends including system usage, outbreaks and learning.

Professional Responsibilities

• To act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient-orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• To ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and that the expectations of both patients and their families are met, irrespective of culture, customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• To be accountable for care given and comply with the NMC or professional body Code of Conduct, working within the framework of the NMC or professional registered bodys scope of professional practice.
• To ensure compliance and implementation of Trust policies and procedures, relevant legislation, Nursing and Midwifery strategy and Clinical Governance standards are understood and practiced by staff.
• To have a visible presence within the clinical settings, across the five hospital sites.
• To be responsible for own professional development and have an awareness of clinical educational developments.

Other Duties

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

• Bsc / 1st Degree
• Masters (health related) or equivalent qualification/ training and experience
• Post-graduate certificate in specialist area, e.g. infection link practitioner course, surveillance or audit skills etc.
• Professional knowledge acquired at degree level will be supplemented by specialist training, experience and short Courses to Masters level equivalent.
• Leadership Course
• Mentorship Course

Desirable

• Relevant qualification in Infection Control, e.g. ENB 329,

Professional / Statutory Registration

Essential

• RN1 or RN Child Registered Nurse on the NMC register

Previous Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialist area delivering effective patient focused care.
• Proven evidence of management /leadership skills and autonomous practice.
• Previous experience of student supervision and clinical education at undergraduate level
• Experience of delivering patient advocacy.
• Experience of audit, research & evidence based care.
• Experience of delivering change management both personally and as a facilitator

Desirable

• Current, relevant and consolidated experience in surveillance or digital technology

Skills/ Knowledge/ Ability

Essential

• Advanced clinical, managerial and leadership skills in specialty.
• Proven listening / counselling skills with the ability to manage complex situation and appropriately deliver sensitive and difficult outcomes.
• Evidence of teaching skills in particular teaching patients in how to manage their conditions and raise their awareness of their condition.
• Ability to clinically lead & influence staff.
• Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues.
• Sound knowledge of current issues in the profession and practice of nursing.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal & communication skills.
• Able to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care.
• Time management and organisation skills.
• Ability to conduct & evaluate own projects successfully.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the National agenda for specialty. Knowledge of quality standards & NICE recommendations/NSF.
• Knowledge of current clinical & nursing research.
• Ability to carry out audit and research.
• IT Skills.
• Presentation skills.

Desirable

• Understanding of the national picture and agenda with respect to technology.
• Ability to interpret and analyse complex data and findings.
• Undertaken or support clinical research.

Additional information

Essential

• Creative, lateral thinker
• Sensitivity based on knowledge
• Diplomatic
• Flexible and positive approach to work
• Good health/attendance record

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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