Sister/Charge Nurse COVID-19 Test & Trace

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. You will form part of a team of Contact tracers who will normally provide the first point of contact of cases of COVID-19 i.e. the people (patients/staff/family members) who have just received a positive lab result or the clinicians responsible for their care (if they are a current inpatient at GEH). You will provide specialist advice in the area of COVID-19 through the provision of evidence based advice, guidance and policies to improve the quality of care within the GEH NHS Trust.
2. Provide information/advice regarding COVID-19 to patients and their visitors/relatives and contribute to the development of patient information resources.
3. To maintain a presence in the clinical areas working with the clinical teams to help prevent COVID-19 infections.
4. To work with external organisations e.g. CCG and Public Health England to share relevant information, and implement agreed standards and protocols.
5. Maintain systems for accurate record keeping and report writing, including the nosocomial infection databases, maintaining confidentiality.
6. Investigate outbreaks and incidents of COVID-19 infection with other members of the COVID-19 Test & Trace team and Infection Prevention & Control Team to determine cause, associated risk factors and required intervention.
7. Escalate any identified Trust outbreaks of COVID-19 to the infection prevention and control team.
8. Contribute to the production, updates, implementation and monitoring of COVID-19 policies and guidelines in collaboration with other experts and specialists, promoting and facilitating evidence based infection prevention and control practice.
9. Contribute to the weekend rota, offering support and guidance to the Trust staff regarding COVID-19 infections and outbreaks.
10. Be a strong patient advocate ensuring that patient care reflects the high clinical standards of the Trust and that patients are treated with dignity and respect. Communicating sensitive and complex information, recognising barriers to understanding taking into account the possibility of hostility.
11. Assessing and investigate COVID-19 nosocomial infections when notified by the laboratory and liaising with the wards regarding patients care and treatment.
12. Responsible for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infections and outbreaks in the healthcare setting.
13. Responsible for the day to day provision of specialist advice and guidance for individuals (including patients and staff members) relating to COVID-19. This requires a highly developed scientific knowledge of the public health aspects of communicable disease, transmission routes, treatments and community infection prevention and control.
14. Joint responsibility along with the other staff within the team for informing, providing information, support and reassurance to professionals and non-professionals within the NHS, CCG and Public Health Team relating to incidents and outbreaks of COVID-19 infections at George Eliot Hospital.
15. Responsible for providing clear information for cases and contacts of COVID-19 infection about their infection and its implications to their partner, family, workplace and wider community when being interviewed. This involves discussion of complex information which the specialist has to try and interpret for individuals in a way they understand.
16. Responsible for visiting and assessing ward areas and departments in collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control team (IPCT), advising on the prevention and control of infection, promoting standard infection control precautions, good personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness and the exclusion of ill staff and exclusion or isolation of ill patients during an outbreak situation.
17. Responsible for providing the opportunities within a safe and private environment for professional and non-professional staff to discuss issues which may concern them regarding the control of COVID-19 infection and show leadership qualities when guiding them to a resolution/conclusion.
18. Responsible for providing leadership to professional and non-professional staff during outbreaks of infections and guiding staff on their treatment and control. Also establishing the responsibilities and accountability for the control of these outbreaks for those who deliver the care within the ward / department.
19. To work in our on-site COVID testing POD to carry out PCR tests on elective patients, staff and household members
20. Where positive inpatient cases are identified you will work with the infection prevention and control team, and capacity team to ensure patient is isolated at the earliest opportunity.
21. You will also provide admin support to the wider team. As part of this you will accept referrals for staff/household member PCR tests, arrange appointments and trace results ensuring these are fed back in a timely manner. Where positive staff cases are identified you will liaise with the responsible manager to ensure contact tracing is completed.

1. Devise, implement and evaluate education and training for all staff within the Trust, in conjunction with the COVID-19 Test & Trace Team and other educational providers.
2. Take responsibility for own evidence based practice and add to own body of knowledge by keeping up to date with current infection prevention & control developments in relation to COVID-19.
3. Participate in reflective practice and share learning to improve clinical care.
4. Attend and represent the Trust at external study days and conferences.
5. Contribute to internal study days and support the link practitioner role.
6. Devise patient information leaflets and ensure patients understand COVID-19 infections.

1. Take an active role in risk assessment, supporting the implementation of strategies to minimise risks. Ensuring incidents and near misses are reported and managed as per Trust Policy.
2. Participate in learning from incidents, including provision of feedback, reflection and action in practice. Where required support the development of action plans which lead to systematic change through specialist advice or
3. Undertaking Datix investigations and completing reports as appropriate
4. Work according to hospital policies, procedures, clinical guidelines and participate in the updating of these within the specialist field of

1. Organise and undertake audits of wards and departments to ensure that infection prevention & control procedures relating to COVID-19 are being carried out in accordance with policies and guidelines. Provide feedback and support the development of action plans and risk assessments.
2. Contribute to and participate in COVID-19 surveillance programmes in line with national guidelines and local requirements. Ensure appropriate evaluation and feedback takes place and support the development of action plans.
3. Use surveillance data to identify infection trends and identify appropriate interventions with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

1. Represent the COVID-19 Test & Trace Team at appropriate meetings.
2. Contribute to relevant reports
3. Support the department manager with E-rostering, where necessary putting shifts out to NHSP to ensure the service has the appropriate cover in place.
4. To assess and contribute to the performance, assessment and appraisal of staff including undertaking 1:1s and appraisals of junior staff
5. Build collaborative relationships with teams and colleagues across the Trust and external partners. Supporting outside contracts such as the community dental service and sexual health service across Warwickshire.
6. Participate in the review and evaluation of the COVID-19 Test & Trace Team.
7. Contribute to the development of the COVID-19 Test & Trace Team.
8. Coach and support other health care workers within the Trust and wider community.
9. Act in a professional, supportive and sensitive manner when communicating with staff, patients or relatives by phone.
10. To line manage the Band 5 and Band 2 members of the COVID-19 Test & Trace team.
11. To be responsible organising and prioritising own workload and others in the day to day allocation of work.
12. To be in charge of department on shift basis.
13. Act as a role model and demonstrate specialist knowledge, provide support/advice when necessary.
14. Support the development of the role according to patients changing needs, service requirements and national guidance..
15. Work autonomously, organise own workload, manage own caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and others. Identify and articulate workload pressures to line manager and or capacity within case load accepting reallocated work when required to do so.
16. Promote team working and collaborative working practices to maintain a harmonious working environment. Ensure effective communication and liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
17. To undertake IPR, Professional Development Planning and clinical supervision with team members.
18. Support the Senior Sister / Senior Charge Nurse in all aspects of his/her role to ensure the smooth running of the department.
19. Provide basic human resources advice, in the absence of the Senior Sister / Senior Charge Nurse
20. To act for the Senior Sister / Senior Charge Nurse in his/her absence.

1. Identify personal development needs with the line manager.
2. Comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional conduct
3. Maintain a current professional portfolio and ensure compliance with NMC registration requirements.
4. Enhance own knowledge and qualifications by attending a degree level infection prevention and control management course.
5. Ensure compliance with the NMC post registration education and re-registration standards.

1. Participate and support opportunities for research and development to advance patient care and service development.
2. Critically appraise research and use this to inform clinical practice.

Person Specification

Exoerience and Knowledge

Essential

• oExperience in a field related to public health or health care
• oDemonstrable post registration experience at Band 5 in an acute healthcare setting for at least 3 years
• oActive Clinical Registration
• oAn understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safeguarding vulnerable adults, data protection, information governance)
• oKnowledge and application of the NMC Code of Conduct
• oAwareness and commitment to follow information governance policies and procedures
• oProficient in the use of electronic systems, databases or other information systems forms to support the public health management of cases
• oProven experience in the establishment and maintenance of good relationships with managers and colleagues
• oExperience of providing public heath, other healthcare or customer service advice directly to patients/staff/members of the public
• oEvidence of multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

• oPost graduate experience in a professional public health or environmental health role involving public health risk assessment and contributing to management f complex cases and incidents
• oExperience of risk management and associated reporting
• oExperience of Contact Tracing
• oExperience of Research & Audit

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

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

Address

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

College Street

Nuneaton

CV10 7DJ

Employer's website

http://www.geh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)