Job responsibilities
1. Provision of expert advice to Senior colleagues, Trust board and sub board committees in relation to IP&C practice
2. To make decisions with the Chief Nurse / Infection Control Doctor where precedents do not exist and to advise and support colleagues where standard protocols do not apply
3. Provide expert advice for the development and management of services across the organisation
4. To attend, report and challenge on infection control performance and actions to the relevant committees including the Infection Prevention Steering Group (IPSG)
5. In collaboration with the Chief Nurse, assure the Trust Board on the organisations HCAI performance and provide regular reports, including the Annual Report.
6. Lead the production of an annual infection prevention work program, oversee the programme to lead the Trust in reducing healthcare associated infections
7. To exercise leadership to support and inspire colleagues, maintaining clinical competence and credibility in all clinical aspects of IP&C
8. To continually raise the profile of infection control, sustainability and tissue viability / pressure ulcer prevention issues, ensuring ownership by all staff groups
9. The post holder will be an exemplary role model for standards of care and behaviour through clinical practice for the infection control service and tissue viability service
10. The post holder will ensure the governance, accountability and visibility of the IP&C agenda is robust, provides assurance and manages identified risks through the IPSG and the Trust Board, via the Director of Infection Prevention and Control
11. Able to work autonomously when required and make decisions collectively with the key stakeholders.
12. Improves practice and health outcomes so that they are consistent with regional and national standards, by the management and facilitation of change
13. Leads and contributes to local clinical networks and speciality specific groups, working in partnership with other key professionals when advice in infection prevention and control is required
14. Contributes to and leads where appropriate on relevant national policy, advising on impact on service, and leads the implementation of change
15. Is an active member of relevant Trust committees and groups contributing to developing/ implementing local/national strategy and robust reporting systems
16. Develops and evaluates policies/guidelines/protocols for clinical practice
17. Contributes to the clinical effectiveness and risk management process, including adverse incident reporting/investigation and analysis
18. Analyses and collates data in order to inform internal and external professional and operational/regulatory bodies
19. The post holder is responsible for leading compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (revised 2022) Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance to maintain registration and all relevant CQC fundamental standards and ensuring that the infection prevention and control service demonstrates the qualities of a well-led service
Sustainability
20. Act as a resource for ward and department leads for sustainability.
21. Work closely with the Trusts Head of Sustainability and their team to ensure a coordinated approach is achieved that facilitates progress on sustainability in both clinical and non-clinical teams.
22. Liaise with ward/department staff and clinical colleagues in suitability of ideas and support to progress.
23. Share learning with key stakeholders for any wider benefits including the spread of best practice.
24. Draw in knowledge and skills of others and utilize wider network resources.
25. Showcase improvements at internal/external and national events raising GWH profile and ambition.
Patient Care
26. Ensure learning from experience is embedded into the culture of IP&C and tissue viability practice across the organisation
27. Set standards, develop and promote best practice utilising leadership and change management skills of the highest order
28. Ensure delivery of a rolling program of assessment of compliance with Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standards relevant to IPC, sustainability and the tissue viability service. Plan remedial action where performance falls below agreed standards
29. The post holder will support and drive nursing research opportunities and oversee the delivery of effective infection prevention and control, sustainability and tissue viability education programmes
30. The post holder will work in collaboration with the Director of Estates and Facilities to effectively deliver the annual PLACE audit and associate improvement plan
31. Ensure and provide assurance that the National IPC Manual and associated appendices
32. is implemented across the Trust and regular reporting is shared at IPSG
33. Develop, support and analyse audit and benchmarking activities, implementing change where appropriate
34. Lead and coordinate the development of quality infection prevention and control, sustainability and Tissue viability services and other corporate initiatives as required,
35. With the Chief Nurse, develop and implement an annual programme for the prevention and
control of infection in the Trust and ensure this is communicated throughout the organisation in a clear concise manner.
36. Lead the infection prevention and control nursing service, using a multi-disciplinary approach to
empower staff and challenge poor practice and behaviour which compromises patient care
37. Line-manage staff within the Infection Prevention and Control team, and take responsibility for ensuring that objectives are set, and that they receive regular appraisal/performance review including the agreement of personal development plans (PDPs)
38. To represent the Trust in a professional manner in the wider community and key stakeholder meetings as directed by the Chief Nurse
39. Interpret health legislation and directives relating to infection prevention and control with regard
to their impact on, or applicability to the Trust, and to ensure their effective implementation through high profile leadership as appropriate
40. To ensure that grievances/disputes and complaints related to infection prevention and control are resolved speedily
41. Lead and support quality improvement processes, embedding Quality Improvement methodology and applied research in partnership with other departments, e.g. clinical governance, research and development, clinical audit
42. Lead the development of organisational strategies by working closely with divisional leads to foster a culture that embeds best practice in infection prevention and control and sustainable organisational change
43. Advise the Trust on financial matters pertaining to infection prevention and control including the expenditure of outbreaks, and the procurement of goods and services within sphere of responsibility
44. Develop effective relationships with key professionals at neighbouring hospitals and other relevant organisations
45. Manage any infection prevention and control service that is contracted to be provided by the Trust, ensuring that quality indicators are met and reported on appropriately
46. With the Chief Nurse, ensure that regular self-assessment is undertaken against compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (revised 2022) Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance to maintain registration with the CQC and provide assurance that compliance is achieved
Financial Responsibilities
47. Hold line management and oversee budgetary responsibility for IP&C and other members of the corporate nursing team as directed by the Chief Nurse.
48. Support cost improvement programmes with ideas for financial savings
49. Ensure business and workforce plans, service level agreements and contracts meet the needs of services in the planning and delivery stages, undertaking action when services fall short of expected standards
Responsibilities for People or Training
50. Act as an expert role model for infection control and compassionate high quality nursing care within the Trust, be a strong advocate.
51. Use nursing expertise to advise all grades and disciplines of staff on appropriate care for all inpatients and outpatients where this relates to IPC.
52. Act as a specialist adviser and resource to all staff, clinical and non-clinical, on issues relating to
Infection prevention and control, sustainability and compassionate high quality nursing care.
53. Liaise and communicate with outside agencies where required to effectively manage outbreaks
and individual infections, especially Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC), UK Health Security Agency, Environmental Health (EH)
54. Investigate outbreaks and episodes of cross infection with reference to their source, mode of spread and means of control within the Trust. Investigate critical incidents associated with infection in line with PSIRF.
55. Ensure mechanisms for reporting mandatory infectious diseases, surveillance and critical incidents are maintained. Show commitment to working as a team by working to create an environment in which leadership is encouraged and developed at all levels and ensure staff minimise the transfer of infections between care settings
Further information can be found on the attached Job Description
