Job summary
Band 8B Head of Service- Infection Prevention and ControlJob summary Are you an experienced Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) professional looking to lead and shape IPC strategy in a dynamic, fast-paced pre-hospital care environment? We are seeking a forward-thinking and highly motivated Head of IPC to join our senior leadership team at Welsh Ambulance Service Trust. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in protecting our staff, patients, and the public by overseeing the delivery of a high-quality, responsive IPC service across all areas of our ambulance operations: from frontline emergency response to patient transport and clinical hubs.About the RoleAs the Head of IPC, you will provide expert leadership and strategic direction for IPC across the organisation. You will ensure compliance with national IPC standards, reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), and support best practices in mobile clinical settings. You will lead a team of IPC specialists, influence policy, and work closely with operational, clinical, and public health colleagues to promote a culture of safety, hygiene, and continuous improvement.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
Job Summary/Job Purpose:
The role is a key position within the Trust's senior management team. The post holder will assume overall responsibility for the expert provision of specialist Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) advice and guidance to staff and leaders across the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST).
The post holder will be:
o Responsible for the strategic leadership of the IPC service at WAST delivering a service focused upon the prevention, surveillance and management of Health Care Associated Infection's (HCAI) and other communicable diseases.
o Expected to direct the operational function of IPC team, creating an environment for the team to thrive by setting a clear vision, leading by example and fostering open communication.
o Lead on the development of IPC strategy, ensuring engagement with all staff groups, internal departments, patients/service users, and external partner organisation where appropriate.
o Enhance existing programmes for monitoring of on-going improvement in accordance with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, controls, and resource constraints.
About us
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we're needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you're sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust's Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Nurse/ Paramedic/ Allied Health Professional
- Relevant master's degree or equivalent level qualification in Infection Prevention and Control and significant experience at senior level.
- Leadership/Management qualification or equivalent experience.
- Teaching qualification or extensive equivalent experience
- Demonstrable record of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification
- Quality improvement methodology training.
Experience
Essential
- Significant leadership and experience in the field of Infection Prevention Control at senior level
- Experience in developing strategy and Infection Prevention and Control practice development.
- Developing, delivering and evaluating training programmes.
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of infection prevention control, health protection and cleanliness legislation, standards and guidance and ability to advise on a range of medical devices.
- Experience of complex data analysis, report writing and delivering presentations.
- Experience of leading, inspiring, and implementing major organisational change
- Experience working with research, policies, audit and surveillance and leading Quality Improvement.
- Experience in leading and coordinating multidisciplinary teams
Desirable
- Experience of using Quality Improvement methodology to bring about service change.
- Financial and budgetary management experience.
- Experience working with research, policies, audit and surveillance and leading Quality Improvement.
- Knowledge and experience in quality governance, quality management and continuous improvement in the healthcare arena
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign.
Values
Essential
- Demonstrates Trust values
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Strong leadership skills that are capable of establishing direction, purpose and leading others within a complex organisational structure
- Excellent communication skills and ability to relay complex and sensitive information to all levels of staff as required.
- Provide expert evidence-based advice as appropriate relating to Infection Prevention and Control policy and national guidance.
- Competent at presenting highly complex and sometimes highly contentious information related to IPC requirements to large groups of staff or members of the public.
- Effective in establishing partnerships with key stakeholders within the Trusts, and with external system partners.
- Ability to lead the Trust's response to incidents and outbreaks of infection, including providing professional and expert advice on outbreak management.
- Well-developed influencing and negotiating skills with the ability to manage conflict.
- Ability to demonstrate and inspire professional credibility and influence change
- Ability to analyse complex data and information to draw out themes and trends
- Self-motivated, able to prioritise and manage own work, both day to day, longer term strategic work, and supervise others
- Committed to the continuous professional development of staff and self.
- Ability to lead education programmes, including the organisation of local and national education sessions.
- Committed to developing a culture of openness, honesty and collaboration.
- Committed to improving the standards of Infection Prevention and Control and the quality of patient care.
- Good IT Skills including the use of MS Packages and standard keyboard skills.
- Identifies own and others learning needs and addresses these appropriately
Desirable
- Ability to speak Welsh
- Coaching skills
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Nurse/ Paramedic/ Allied Health Professional
- Relevant master's degree or equivalent level qualification in Infection Prevention and Control and significant experience at senior level.
- Leadership/Management qualification or equivalent experience.
- Teaching qualification or extensive equivalent experience
- Demonstrable record of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification
- Quality improvement methodology training.
Experience
Essential
- Significant leadership and experience in the field of Infection Prevention Control at senior level
- Experience in developing strategy and Infection Prevention and Control practice development.
- Developing, delivering and evaluating training programmes.
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of infection prevention control, health protection and cleanliness legislation, standards and guidance and ability to advise on a range of medical devices.
- Experience of complex data analysis, report writing and delivering presentations.
- Experience of leading, inspiring, and implementing major organisational change
- Experience working with research, policies, audit and surveillance and leading Quality Improvement.
- Experience in leading and coordinating multidisciplinary teams
Desirable
- Experience of using Quality Improvement methodology to bring about service change.
- Financial and budgetary management experience.
- Experience working with research, policies, audit and surveillance and leading Quality Improvement.
- Knowledge and experience in quality governance, quality management and continuous improvement in the healthcare arena
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign.
Values
Essential
- Demonstrates Trust values
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Strong leadership skills that are capable of establishing direction, purpose and leading others within a complex organisational structure
- Excellent communication skills and ability to relay complex and sensitive information to all levels of staff as required.
- Provide expert evidence-based advice as appropriate relating to Infection Prevention and Control policy and national guidance.
- Competent at presenting highly complex and sometimes highly contentious information related to IPC requirements to large groups of staff or members of the public.
- Effective in establishing partnerships with key stakeholders within the Trusts, and with external system partners.
- Ability to lead the Trust's response to incidents and outbreaks of infection, including providing professional and expert advice on outbreak management.
- Well-developed influencing and negotiating skills with the ability to manage conflict.
- Ability to demonstrate and inspire professional credibility and influence change
- Ability to analyse complex data and information to draw out themes and trends
- Self-motivated, able to prioritise and manage own work, both day to day, longer term strategic work, and supervise others
- Committed to the continuous professional development of staff and self.
- Ability to lead education programmes, including the organisation of local and national education sessions.
- Committed to developing a culture of openness, honesty and collaboration.
- Committed to improving the standards of Infection Prevention and Control and the quality of patient care.
- Good IT Skills including the use of MS Packages and standard keyboard skills.
- Identifies own and others learning needs and addresses these appropriately
Desirable
- Ability to speak Welsh
- Coaching skills
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.
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).
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.
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).
