University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Infection Prevention and Control Healthcare Technician

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge and to be involved with working with the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) to enhance patient safety and maintain IPC standards across the trust. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Infection Prevention and Control Team. The post holder will work with other members of the IPCT on the prevention, surveillance, investigation, audit, and general control of infection in UHSussex hospitals and satellite units. The post holder will predominantly base in the clinical environments of the Trust.

Main duties of the job

To carry out IPC audits as directed by the IPC nursing team. This will include hand hygiene, IV cannula use, decontamination of equipment e.g. commodes, clinical environment, water facilities, and other audits as identified and required.

To be a visible presence in wards and clinical environment

To deal with patients in a kind, sensitive and professional manner at all times.

To manage IPC signage including posters for isolation and hand hygiene.

To carry out ward based education activities including hand hygiene technique and compliance, safe use of water outlets, equipment cleaning and decontamination and other areas as required.

Use a range of audit tools e.g. Tendable to carry out audit activity.

Review information collected and give relevant feedback in the clinical area and escalate any concerns to IPC Nurse.

Champion good IPC practice and act as a role model in the clinical environments.

Support the IPC Champions at local level.

Work alongside peers in clinical practice for a minimum of two hours per week.

Support the Trust fit testing campaign.

With relevant training to use the Trust data systems to provide colleagues with up-to-date information.
Contribute to effective communication with the multidisciplinary team. Speak politely and confidently to staffat all grades to praise good practice and raise any IPC concerns.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Date posted

19 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

279-6776246-NOV24

Job locations

St Richards Hospital

Spitalfield Lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE

Job description

Job responsibilities

To carry out IPC audits as directed by the IPC nursing team. This will include hand hygiene, IV cannula use, decontamination of equipment e.g. commodes, clinical environment, water facilities, and other audits as identified and required.

To be a visible presence in wards and clinical environment, identifying IPC concerns within scope of competency and referring where needed to senior colleagues.

To participate as directed in the programme for surgical site infection surveillance (SSI).

To assist in collecting information for post infection reviews including C.difficile, E. coli and others as needed.

To deal with patients in a kind, sensitive and professional manner at all times.

To manage IPC signage including posters for isolation and hand hygiene.

To assist in the assessment of clinical areas with respect to IPC.

To carry out ward based education activities including hand hygiene technique and compliance, safe use of water outlets, equipment cleaning and decontamination and other areas as required.

Use a range of audit tools e.g. Tendable to carry out audit activity.

Review information collected and give relevant feedback in the clinical area and escalate any concerns to IPC Nurse.

Maintain suitable and accurate records of activity and advice.

To have highly developed knowledge and skills in word processing packages, presentations, and email to support productions of reports and graphs.

Champion good IPC practice and act as a role model in the clinical environments.

Support the IPC Champions at local level.

Work alongside peers in clinical practice for a minimum of two hours per week.

Support the Trust fit testing campaign.

Support provision of study days and other educational events.

To participate in specific IPC focussed events e.g. hand hygiene week, antimicrobial awareness week.

To enter information and data accurately and efficiently onto the relevant databases and systems and prepare the records and files.

To create and maintain manual and computerised filling systems, enabling timely and accurate information retrieval.

With relevant training to use the Trust data systems to provide colleagues with up-to-date information.
Contribute to effective communication with the multidisciplinary team.

Speak politely and confidently to staff at all grades to praise good practice and raise any IPC concerns.

Be creative with ideas to enhance IPC practice across the trust.

Participate in maintaining a friendly, professional, open environment where the contribution of all team members is valued.

Visit wards and departments, communicating routine infection prevention information with healthcare professionals and patients to collect sensitive clinical information.

Participate in meetings and share information with other members of the team.

Feel confident to report any concerns to the Infection Prevention Nurses to facilitate improvements.

Respect confidentiality of all information received.
To identify areas for service improvement and participate in the implementation of appropriate actions.

Work with staff in clinical areas on infection prevention practices where tact, persuasion may be required to obtain the required information i.e. from nursing records, verbal conversations, medical records.

Support the IPCT with the audit annual programme (program will involve, daily, weekly, monthly, and annual audits), ensuring accuracy of data collection, recording and data entry.

Monitor practice through observation, reporting to the IPC nurses any issues identified, making analysis of facts as observed.

To contribute and participate in departmental audits as required and in conjunction with the IPCT.

Contribute under supervision to the reporting of surveillance microorganisms, ensuring that recording is accurate.

Produce statistical information as determined by the IPC Nurses.
Act as a role model for infection prevention practices and challenge other staff asappropriate, demonstrating practices where required to other staff.
Input electronic data for each patient onto the UKHSA database and submit completed records via the UKHSA web link, ensuring the Trust meets the required deadline for submission.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To carry out IPC audits as directed by the IPC nursing team. This will include hand hygiene, IV cannula use, decontamination of equipment e.g. commodes, clinical environment, water facilities, and other audits as identified and required.

To be a visible presence in wards and clinical environment, identifying IPC concerns within scope of competency and referring where needed to senior colleagues.

To participate as directed in the programme for surgical site infection surveillance (SSI).

To assist in collecting information for post infection reviews including C.difficile, E. coli and others as needed.

To deal with patients in a kind, sensitive and professional manner at all times.

To manage IPC signage including posters for isolation and hand hygiene.

To assist in the assessment of clinical areas with respect to IPC.

To carry out ward based education activities including hand hygiene technique and compliance, safe use of water outlets, equipment cleaning and decontamination and other areas as required.

Use a range of audit tools e.g. Tendable to carry out audit activity.

Review information collected and give relevant feedback in the clinical area and escalate any concerns to IPC Nurse.

Maintain suitable and accurate records of activity and advice.

To have highly developed knowledge and skills in word processing packages, presentations, and email to support productions of reports and graphs.

Champion good IPC practice and act as a role model in the clinical environments.

Support the IPC Champions at local level.

Work alongside peers in clinical practice for a minimum of two hours per week.

Support the Trust fit testing campaign.

Support provision of study days and other educational events.

To participate in specific IPC focussed events e.g. hand hygiene week, antimicrobial awareness week.

To enter information and data accurately and efficiently onto the relevant databases and systems and prepare the records and files.

To create and maintain manual and computerised filling systems, enabling timely and accurate information retrieval.

With relevant training to use the Trust data systems to provide colleagues with up-to-date information.
Contribute to effective communication with the multidisciplinary team.

Speak politely and confidently to staff at all grades to praise good practice and raise any IPC concerns.

Be creative with ideas to enhance IPC practice across the trust.

Participate in maintaining a friendly, professional, open environment where the contribution of all team members is valued.

Visit wards and departments, communicating routine infection prevention information with healthcare professionals and patients to collect sensitive clinical information.

Participate in meetings and share information with other members of the team.

Feel confident to report any concerns to the Infection Prevention Nurses to facilitate improvements.

Respect confidentiality of all information received.
To identify areas for service improvement and participate in the implementation of appropriate actions.

Work with staff in clinical areas on infection prevention practices where tact, persuasion may be required to obtain the required information i.e. from nursing records, verbal conversations, medical records.

Support the IPCT with the audit annual programme (program will involve, daily, weekly, monthly, and annual audits), ensuring accuracy of data collection, recording and data entry.

Monitor practice through observation, reporting to the IPC nurses any issues identified, making analysis of facts as observed.

To contribute and participate in departmental audits as required and in conjunction with the IPCT.

Contribute under supervision to the reporting of surveillance microorganisms, ensuring that recording is accurate.

Produce statistical information as determined by the IPC Nurses.
Act as a role model for infection prevention practices and challenge other staff asappropriate, demonstrating practices where required to other staff.
Input electronic data for each patient onto the UKHSA database and submit completed records via the UKHSA web link, ensuring the Trust meets the required deadline for submission.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

NVQ Level 3 Qualification or equivalent
Experience of working in Healthcare
Experience of teamwork

Desirable

Experience of audit process

Skills

Essential

Basic computer and keyboard skills
Effective communication skills
Ability to plan and prioritise workload

people management

Essential

Ability to speak politely and confidently with staff at various levels, patients and visitors
Communicate effectively

specific requirements

Essential

Able to work both independently and as part of a multi-professional team
Enthusiasm for Infection Prevention

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

NVQ Level 3 Qualification or equivalent
Experience of working in Healthcare
Experience of teamwork

Desirable

Experience of audit process

Skills

Essential

Basic computer and keyboard skills
Effective communication skills
Ability to plan and prioritise workload

people management

Essential

Ability to speak politely and confidently with staff at various levels, patients and visitors
Communicate effectively

specific requirements

Essential

Able to work both independently and as part of a multi-professional team
Enthusiasm for Infection Prevention

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richards Hospital

Spitalfield Lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richards Hospital

Spitalfield Lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE

Employer's website

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