Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Respirator Face Fit Tester

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The post holder will work within the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team and will be responsible for fit testing members of staff who will be required to wear a filtering face piece (FFP) 3 as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE) when providing care to patients with infections. They will be responsible of maintaining the fit testing equipment including ordering all the necessary disposable items for them to carry out fit testing. The post holder will report to the IPC Specialist Nurse and will work with the IPC Data Analyst to provide regular FFP3 fit-testing uptake report to the Head of IPC and the Chief Nurse & Director for Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC).

Main duties of the job

The postholder is:

Responsible for fit testing staff to ensure that respirators (disposable and/or re-usable respirator masks) fit their faces and secure a seal using either the qualitative or quantitative fit testing methods in accordance to the Health and Safety Executive: Guidance on respiratory equipment (PRE) fit testing (HSE IND479, 219) [available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg479.htm].

Accurately record outcomes of fit testing and maintain a database of staff's fit testing compliance and the FFP3 masks they have been certified to use.

Maintain respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and fit-testing equipment to ensure sufficiency and continuity of fit-testing in the Trust.

Communicate key messages to all wards/areas regarding the importance of fit-testing.

Educate and remind staff that are due for routine retesting every 2 years or when there is a significant change in facial shape or features.

Undertake other duties as requested and appropriate to the role.

About us

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Details

Date posted

10 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,944 to £34,937 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

220-WHT-2932

Job locations

Whittington Health NHS Trust

Magdala Avenue

London

N10 5NF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Face Fit Testing

Perform face fit testing (FFT) of respirator protective equipment (RPE) on frontline staff within the Trust in whose roles they are expected to manage patients with airborne respiratory diseases or engage with patients having respiratory infections and undergoing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).

This task include:

Being clear on the fit testing process and being able to describe this to staff.

Ensuring the staff member is eligible to be fitted following an appropriate risk assessment.

Ensuring that fit testing procedures are conducted correctly and as recommended by HSE, including supporting fit testing to local areas in the Trust where needed.

Provide expert advice to the staff member for the appropriate wearing the RPE.

Ensuring that fit testers are adequately trained and supervised.

Putting a system in place to mentor or support newly trained fit testers.

Make sure a suitable fit testing equipment is available.

Maintain the fit testing equipment and ensure these are periodically checked and validated.

Plan and implement the fit testing programme appropriately.

Ensure that fit testing is carried out in a safe and suitable environment.

Ensure that a range of suitable RPEs are available in the Trust for staff to be fit tested to.

Provide information and pre-testing instructions to staff attending fit testing sessions.

Keep a record of the RPE the staff has been successfully fit tested to and issue a certificate to the staff - either as a printed certificate or an electronic certificate issued to the staff.

Work with the IT department to ensure a suitable system is in place to coordinate renewal of fit testing.

Ensure stock levels of masks and consumables are sufficient and to liaise with the Procurement team where additional consumables are required.

Review new RPE that comes via procurement before these are circulated.

Contribute to the selection or source alternative supply of RPE that are adequate and suitable for use.

Undertake any training sessions advised by HSE in relation to FFT accreditation.

Work with the IPC Surveillance and Data Analyst to produce and maintain reports for the divisional leadership team, the DIPC and the executive team on FFT ensuring reporting is prompt within the agreed timeframe i.e. monthly, quarterly or annually.

Provide result and feedback to frontlines staff requiring FFT and escalate any outcomes of concern to the individual and their line managers were appropriate.

Provide update to the IPC team any national and/or local change to either the FFP3 or the FFT programme.

Promptly report any technical problems affecting the testing systems and liaising with the system provider/support team to resolve the problem on a timely manner.

Record Keeping and Reporting Responsibilities

Prepare reports, documents, and presentations using software packages such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Answer enquiries related to FFT and referring them to the appropriate staff/team where necessary.

Attend and participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for the improvement of departmental systems.

To be accountable for organising and prioritising own workload to ensure deadlines or commitments are achieved.

To be responsible for the equipment and resources used in course of work.

Provision of RPE and personal protective equipment (PPE) education to all disciplines of staff in preparation to and in response to any healthcare incident / outbreak as required.

Conduct healthcare audit for PPE and environment in preparation to and in response to any healthcare incident / outbreak as required.

Support team administration and undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Face Fit Testing

Perform face fit testing (FFT) of respirator protective equipment (RPE) on frontline staff within the Trust in whose roles they are expected to manage patients with airborne respiratory diseases or engage with patients having respiratory infections and undergoing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).

This task include:

Being clear on the fit testing process and being able to describe this to staff.

Ensuring the staff member is eligible to be fitted following an appropriate risk assessment.

Ensuring that fit testing procedures are conducted correctly and as recommended by HSE, including supporting fit testing to local areas in the Trust where needed.

Provide expert advice to the staff member for the appropriate wearing the RPE.

Ensuring that fit testers are adequately trained and supervised.

Putting a system in place to mentor or support newly trained fit testers.

Make sure a suitable fit testing equipment is available.

Maintain the fit testing equipment and ensure these are periodically checked and validated.

Plan and implement the fit testing programme appropriately.

Ensure that fit testing is carried out in a safe and suitable environment.

Ensure that a range of suitable RPEs are available in the Trust for staff to be fit tested to.

Provide information and pre-testing instructions to staff attending fit testing sessions.

Keep a record of the RPE the staff has been successfully fit tested to and issue a certificate to the staff - either as a printed certificate or an electronic certificate issued to the staff.

Work with the IT department to ensure a suitable system is in place to coordinate renewal of fit testing.

Ensure stock levels of masks and consumables are sufficient and to liaise with the Procurement team where additional consumables are required.

Review new RPE that comes via procurement before these are circulated.

Contribute to the selection or source alternative supply of RPE that are adequate and suitable for use.

Undertake any training sessions advised by HSE in relation to FFT accreditation.

Work with the IPC Surveillance and Data Analyst to produce and maintain reports for the divisional leadership team, the DIPC and the executive team on FFT ensuring reporting is prompt within the agreed timeframe i.e. monthly, quarterly or annually.

Provide result and feedback to frontlines staff requiring FFT and escalate any outcomes of concern to the individual and their line managers were appropriate.

Provide update to the IPC team any national and/or local change to either the FFP3 or the FFT programme.

Promptly report any technical problems affecting the testing systems and liaising with the system provider/support team to resolve the problem on a timely manner.

Record Keeping and Reporting Responsibilities

Prepare reports, documents, and presentations using software packages such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Answer enquiries related to FFT and referring them to the appropriate staff/team where necessary.

Attend and participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for the improvement of departmental systems.

To be accountable for organising and prioritising own workload to ensure deadlines or commitments are achieved.

To be responsible for the equipment and resources used in course of work.

Provision of RPE and personal protective equipment (PPE) education to all disciplines of staff in preparation to and in response to any healthcare incident / outbreak as required.

Conduct healthcare audit for PPE and environment in preparation to and in response to any healthcare incident / outbreak as required.

Support team administration and undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Knowledge acquired through training and experience
  • Numerate and literate in English

Desirable

  • A Levels or equivalent
  • Fit Testing and Record keeping experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good computer skills (able to use Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
  • Ability to prioritise tasks
  • Able to problem solve
  • Ability to work autonomously and with a team
  • Professional attitude and attention to details

Desirable

  • Understanding or providing excellent customer service

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Working in line with policies and procedures
  • Experience of maintaining and monitoring database/records
  • Experience in customer/service user relations

Desirable

  • Previous face fit testing experience
  • Experience in undertaking risk assessments and documenting outcomes
  • Good knowledge and understanding of the Health and Safety Executive document

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communications
  • Ability to produce and maintain reports for divisional and executive teams
  • Sufficient to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post with any reasonable adjustments
  • Ability to meet Trust Values
  • Enthusiastic attitude

Desirable

  • Ability to work in all areas of the hospital as well as to travel to other sites where required
  • Flexibility to working weekends or outside working hours if required by the service
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Knowledge acquired through training and experience
  • Numerate and literate in English

Desirable

  • A Levels or equivalent
  • Fit Testing and Record keeping experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Good computer skills (able to use Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
  • Ability to prioritise tasks
  • Able to problem solve
  • Ability to work autonomously and with a team
  • Professional attitude and attention to details

Desirable

  • Understanding or providing excellent customer service

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Working in line with policies and procedures
  • Experience of maintaining and monitoring database/records
  • Experience in customer/service user relations

Desirable

  • Previous face fit testing experience
  • Experience in undertaking risk assessments and documenting outcomes
  • Good knowledge and understanding of the Health and Safety Executive document

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communications
  • Ability to produce and maintain reports for divisional and executive teams
  • Sufficient to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post with any reasonable adjustments
  • Ability to meet Trust Values
  • Enthusiastic attitude

Desirable

  • Ability to work in all areas of the hospital as well as to travel to other sites where required
  • Flexibility to working weekends or outside working hours if required by the service

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Health NHS Trust

Magdala Avenue

London

N10 5NF


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Health NHS Trust

Magdala Avenue

London

N10 5NF


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head Nurse Infection Prevention and Control

Menard Ryan Ong

menard-ryan.ong@nhs.net

02072883629

Details

Date posted

10 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,944 to £34,937 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

220-WHT-2932

Job locations

Whittington Health NHS Trust

Magdala Avenue

London

N10 5NF


Supporting documents

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