Clinical Nurse Specialist Infection Prevention and Control (Com & Acu)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas & Performance: Clinical /managerial Participate in delivering an effective clinical service to the acute Trust and Lewisham community services, including providing specialist nursing input within the infection prevention and control team in the identification, prevention, monitoring and control of infection within the Trust. To act up for senior members of the team as appropriate in their absence Provide expert clinical knowledge, skills and experience in infection control, acting as a resource and facilitator as required. Provide supervision and support including professional developmental opportunities for junior/inexperienced members of the team. To explain the significance of microbiology data to senior members of staff to enable them to prevent and control infection. To work in conjunction with managers, infection prevention and control team, matrons, and lead clinical staff regarding movement and management of patients with infection or infectious diseases, ensuring the correct practices are implemented and reviewed. Review microbiological data to evaluate the efficiency of the intervention and plan future activity. Assist in the formulation and initiation of appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection. To identify potential infections hazards and suggest appropriate remedial action to relevant personnel. Initiate appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection. To identify, investigate and assist in managing outbreaks involving multidisciplinary teams, seeking advice from those with expertise outside the Trust where necessary and report to the Infection Prevention and Control team, the Trust Infection Prevention and Control committee and others where relevant. To visit hospital wards, departments, community settings and in some instances the patients home setting to ensure the correct management of alert organisms and implement appropriate action, ensuring correct techniques are implemented and reviewed. To liaise with Infection Prevention and Control team on matters relating to infection control where learning can be shared and best practice promoted. To use relevant information technology to collect and interpret data, review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations where necessary. To maintain complete records of patient management consultations and advice given. To be an active member of the Infection Prevention and Control team, relevant committees and working groups and disseminate information within the team To participate in the development and implementation of the annual infection control programme and contribute to the annual infection control report. To revise and develop Trust policies/protocols relating to infection control.

To work autonomously and seek collaborative relationships with others across and within professional boundaries to access and manage infection risk. To establish and maintain professional networks within the healthcare organisation inclusive of doctor, microbiologist, matron, ward sister/charge nurse service lead, link practitioner, contracted services for soft and hard FM and other staff. To formulate and initiate strategies to reduce infection risk, taking into account relevant legislation, published guidelines and local policies. To act as an expert resource for staff at a clinical level in infection control, distinguishing levels of risk presented by individuals, equipment and the environment. Review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations as necessary. Investigate causes and develop solutions to complex infection control problems that may require root cause analysis, investigation, negotiation and advanced change management skills. This may involve conflict resolution and mediation. To prioritise own workload taking into account varying demands and resources. To support service level agreements for the provision of infection control services where applicable. To support the organisation to implement and monitor strategies to prevent and control infection both locally and nationally e.g., assist with ANTT training and validation in the Trust. To inspire others with values and vision through support in daily activities by communicating infection control data to community areas where relevant and visiting community sites for the purpose of support, audit and observation. Develop clinical guidelines that are evidence based to promote good infection control practice with other members of the Infection Prevention and Control team. Demonstrate awareness of national and local guidelines relating to Infection Prevention and Control and influence developments in accordance with these in the community settings. To represent the IPC Team on the Lewisham medicine and community governance committee meetings. To review the IPC needs of the community services, liaising with the community head of nursing and community matrons. Be able to support the community through specialist knowledge of IPC relating to refurbishments, new builds and re-design of services.

Education To formulate and implement teaching and learning strategies for different groups of clinical and non-clinical staff. This will include pre-registration and postgraduate education, formal and informal teaching. To identify, assess and meet the educational needs of the patient and their family where appropriate. To maintain a high profile within both the acute and community settings to ensure attitudes and working practices reflect the Infection Prevention and Control team commitment to a continual improvement in the quality of its service. To prepare and use a variety of methods to deliver appropriate information effectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used to facilitate the learning of others. To recognise and use opportunities to facilitate learning, providing situational support as necessary. To promote community IPC link practitioners within community settings.

Clinical Research To critically evaluate information and research to formulate advice on the prevention and control of infection. To incorporate relevant legislation, national and local guidance and public issues to provide advice on infection prevention and control. To synthesise evidence to produce written material in a logical and structured format that is appropriate for staff use. To participate with microbiologist and appropriate clinical staff in research projects that relate to healthcare associated infection, acting as a facilitator as required. To promote research based infection control practice by participating in research and development as required.

Surveillance and Audit To monitor infection control aspects of the environment, ensuring agreed standards are met with the use of environmental audit tools and observations within clinical areas of the Trust. To plan, organise and coordinate surveillance programmes in the community. Critically appraise and evaluate infection control practice through a structured audit programme e.g. audit of hand hygiene, enteral feeding. Distinguish levels of risk presented by individuals, equipment and the environment, auditing when necessary and advising accordingly. To assist in the identification and development of suitable audit tools as necessary for the targeted surveillance of healthcare associated infections, as required. To maintain links with wards/departments and community services in order to initiate and develop targeted surveillance projects. Identify sources of expert opinion, evidence and information to assess risks. Implementation of audit programmes for improvement of patient care and the reduction of infection rates. To correlate information and analyse data. To actively seek out information and peer review. To produce logical, structured written reports for the infection Prevention and Control team and other relevant clinical staff. To use the Infection Control software system or other systems such as RIO where appropriate, and be responsible for entering relevant data into appropriate IT systems. To communicate clinical problems of significance to other members of the Infection Prevention and Control team.

PartnershipsCommunications and Working Relationships Liaison with multidisciplinary team members, directors and managers, other NHS trusts and other healthcare providers. To provide effective communication with staff, patients, their relatives and relevant others to impart information and support, which may be complex, and of a sensitive or emotive nature.

To communicate effectively with key individuals and groups as identified below:

Internal Relationships: Director Infection Prevention and Control Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control Consultant Microbiologists Infection Control Nurses Site Directors of Nursing Divisional Directors of Nursing and Governance Senior Nurses and Matrons Facility monitoring officers Cleaning contractors Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses/Ward or Department Managers Service Leads and Team Leaders Staff from all departments of all grades Infection Prevention and Control link practitioners

External Relationships: Partner organisations in local health economy such as South London Health Protection Team. Integrated care board representatives and Lewisham health protection officers. Network with Infection Prevention and Control colleagues Staff from other agencies, e.g., Occupational Health, UKHSA (UK Health and Security Agency)

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• NMC Level 1 Registration.
• Evidence of post registration professional education at degree level or equivalent.
• Specialist qualification in Infection prevention and control equivalent to diploma or above e.g. SSSA, ENB 329, Diploma, Degree, MSc.
• Mentorship / Teaching qualification.

Desirable

• Masters (or working towards) degree in a health-related subject

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post registration experience of which a significant time must have been spent working in an infection control role.
• Current consolidated experience in infection control in both the community and acute healthcare environment.
• Experience of teaching within an infection control education programme.
• Experience of monitoring environmental factors within infection control, e.g., the built environment.

Desirable

• Experience at ward/department management level.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Proven advanced clinical knowledge and skills in relation to infection control.
• Ability to monitor infections and escalate concerns to Matron/Dep. DIPC.
• Demonstrable managerial and leadership skills, including their application to infection control.
• Ability to manage complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels of the organisation.
• Awareness of current targets and recent legislation relating to infection control.
• Excellent presentational, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, e.g., report writing
• Ability to work within multi-disciplinary team and to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility.

Desirable

• Developed skills in research and evidence of publication.
• Developed IT skills e.g. with Excel and Access.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrate a desire to work in infection prevention and control.
• A positive and flexible style and approach.
• Self-motivated, and able to use initiative
• Ability to motivate staff.
• Ability to work under pressure and to time-scales.
• Able to work in a rapid changing environment
• Ability to prioritise effectively.

Desirable

• Car owner / driver

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham and Lewisham Community

Lewisham High Street

Lewisham

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)