Infection Prevention and Control Support Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Infection Prevention Control Head of Department

Job summary:

To help prevent, and identify the spread of infectious agents, like bacteria and viruses in a healthcare environment. To be meticulous and detail-oriented, and effectively communicate best practices to all practice staff to ensure the safety of patients in a primary care setting. Their knowledge of the risks of various infectious agents is crucial when dealing with both contained infections and broader outbreaks.

To ensure that staff and patients are adhering to Marisco Medical Practice IPC policies and protocols and to report to the IPC Head of department any concerns they have identified.

To ensure enquires are promptly, efficiently and courteously handled, documents are filed and recorded accurately. The working areas are kept tidy.

Provide general assistance in a positive and friendly manner to patients and other visitors, either in person or via the telephone.

To work ensuring that key legislative principles are followed including:-

1. Records Management Code of Conduct

2. CQC Regulations

3. NHSE Contractual Obligations

4. Practice policies and protocols

5. Smartcard Management

GENERAL

To work within the guidelines and policies of the Practice

• To ensure that statutory requirements are met at all times and to implement practice policies, as directed by the Practice Management
• To ensure that safe systems of work are practiced and that the agreed health and safety policies are adhered to.
• To be aware of the responsibility of every employee to have regard for safety for him or herself and others at work in the Health and Safety at Work Act
• To be conversant to with the practice fire regulations
• To work closely with GPs, nursing and office staff to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the appropriate person
• Successful completion of mandatory e-learning. Undertaking any training requirements, attending training sessions. Participate in education and training and the induction of all members of the practice staff where appropriate.
• Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice.
• It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments within the practice and the NHS.

Job Summary

To promote and support with the implementation of infection prevention and control best practice.

To advise staff in relation to patients with a high susceptibility to infection and help staff plan and implement the appropriate care to prevent the transmission of infection.

To undertake infection prevention and control audits make recommendations and write reports when necessary.

To report and document patient quality and safety concerns where identified.

To act as a resource to all health and social care professionals regarding infection prevention and control issues.

To support the IPC Team to review current infection prevention and control practice and the implementation of new practices based on research evidence

Provide infection prevention and control advice to enable prompt management of an outbreak of infection within commissioned services in conjunction with Public Health England (PHE) and Public Health, for the purpose of treatment and to reduce the risk of transmission

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation

Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post

Any other tasks allocated by managers

Confidentiality:

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
• Reporting potential risks identified
• Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Equality and diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/professional development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, with such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of Infection Prevention Control and how this is applied in the care environment
• Proficient use of MW Office Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook packages
• Demonstrate a high level of self motivation and confidence in managing own workload

Desirable

• Experience of working in a care environment
• Knowledge of working on Systmone
• Knowledge of Data Protection and Information Governance

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Marisco Medical Practice

Address

Stanley Avenue

Mablethorpe

Lincolnshire

LN12 1DP

Employer's website

https://www.mariscomedicalpractice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)