Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infection Prevention & Control

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic band 6 Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist to join the community Infection Prevention and Control Team.

This is a development post which will lead to you gaining a formal infection prevention and control qualification if you do not already have one. You will take an active role within the Infection Prevention and Control Service providing specialist infection prevention and control advice supporting all disciplines to reduce and manage infections. You will be a key member of the team providing a clinically knowledgeable and responsive service.

You will be predominately based in the north of the county but will be expected to travel to work across all Trust sites and the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent, depending on the needs of the service.

You will contribute to the Trust's zero tolerance of avoidable healthcare associated infections by developing systems that are evidence based and grounded in best practice by promoting, developing and integrating infection prevention and control practices and procedures. You will therefore support the Infection Prevention and Control annual programme of work in order to achieve compliance against the Health & Social Care Act (2008) to improve staff and patient safety outcomes.

You must have a passion for patient safety and the infection prevention and control agenda and demonstrate excellent interpersonal abilities.

Main duties of the job

You will contribute to the highly respected and responsive infection prevention and control service working alongside other stakeholders to improve infection prevention and control standards. For example: Trust staff, patients, visitors, care homes, microbiologists, GP's, ICB's, local authorities and UKHSA.

You will continue to develop and maintain these working relationships and be a resource to all staff, providing specialist infection prevention advice, communicating best practice and current research.

You will be visible throughout the organisation and assist with problem solving in relation to infection prevention and control,promoting innovation, facilitating change and empowering patients and staff by providing advice and support that reflects the Trusts values and behaviours.

You will maintain accurate and confidential records at all times, act as a role model, produce and deliver education and training programmes, lead and complete individual audit programmes to support the delivery of high quality standards.You will also participate in the Trusts staff winter vaccination campaign and in community outbreak responses to contribute to the health and safety of our patient population.

You must be able to manage your own workload and be able act independently as well as part of a team.

There will be a requirement to be flexible and cover a 7 day service.

About us

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;

Supporting your career development and progression
Excellent NHS Pension scheme
Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
Options for flexible working
Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
Free car parking at all trust sites
Free flu vaccinations every year
Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Date posted

12 April 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£35,392 to £42,618 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

301-LG-24-6151525

Job locations

Haywood Hospital

High Road

Stoke On Trent

ST6 7AG

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

You will undertake duties relating to surveillance, prevention and control of infection including audit of clinical practice, education and training and information provision, as directed by the Director of Infection Prevention and Control.

To work alongside staff in the clinical area to ensure compliance with infection control policies and practices.

To participate and lead individual audit programmes based on the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) audit tool. With support, to produce feedback in the form of written reports and action plans following audit to the relevant staff.

With support, to challenge poor practice amongst healthcare workers and implement changes in procedures to improve compliance.

Participate in the monitoring of standards of cleanliness with the Support Services Manager and Clinical Leads and contribute to action plans to improve the cleanliness of the environment.

To support colleagues to deliver high quality standards of care based on current evidence based practice.

With support gain assurance that advice regarding patient care is implemented and that clinical staff are encouraged to use the Infection Prevention and Control Service as a valuable resource.

Contribute to reviewing current information on infection and infection prevention available to patients and carers within each care setting.

Advise on the implementation of isolation techniques, standard and transmission based precautions as stated in policies and monitor their implementation.

Communicate significant laboratory reports to ward staff, explaining their significance and instigate appropriate infection control measures as directed by the DIPC.

Maintain accurate and confidential records at all times.

Be visible throughout the organisation to be used as a resource and assist with problem solving in relation to infection prevention and control.

Contribute to and participate in the development of policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

To produce and deliver education and training programmes.

To support and assess student nurses, contributing to their placement experience.

To act as a role model for all staff within the Trust.

Ensure that all clinical practices related to infection prevention and control are evidence based.

To contribute to the risk assessment process by advising managers on infection prevention and control risks relevant to their areas.

Provide infection prevention advice for GPs, staff working in Primary Care, community settings and the Independent Social Care sector.

Systems and equipment

Maintain timely data collection and regular inputting of information through the use of data collection systems e.g., RIO, IPC audit system, Safeguard. Ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with legislation and Trust policies.

Can effectively use normal office technology on a daily basis (i.e., computers, tablets, telephones), including computer software packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Internet, Health Informatics, Email and Microsoft Teams.

Decisions and judgements

The work is partly office-based, but will also involve working within clinical areas and travelling across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.

The post holder must manage their own workload and be able act independently as well as part of a team.

Communication and relationships

Provide a resource to link practitioners in order to facilitate the cascading of information relating to infection prevention and control

Be available and approachable to all members of staff to increase the profile of infection prevention and control within the organisation.

Communicate best practice and current research

Managers, Independent Contractor staff and Independent Social care sector staff in order to encourage implementation.

As an IP&C team member maintain internal working relationships with Microbiology Department, Occupational Health Department, Risk Management Team, Health and Safety Team and any other relevant committees, groups or stakeholders.

Contribute to developing and maintaining external working relationships with the local Acute Trusts, UK Health Protection Agency, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control and other local and national agencies or organisations involved in surveillance or other infection prevention and control activities.

Advise and communicate effectively with all members of healthcare staff, visitors, patients and public to ensure swift dissemination of information relating to infection prevention and control.

Document relevant information relating to the surveillance and control of healthcare associated infections.

Document advice given to ward staff in relation to the prevention and control of infection in line with local policy.

Physical demands of the job

Driving skills

Keyboard skills

Diary and time management

Regular visits to relevant provider services

Be prepared to work at any location within the locality to accommodate the needs of the service

To ensure a safe working environment and maintain safe working practices at all times

To be able to carry educational, clinical and audit equipment between storage areas and community settings, patients homes, prison establishments and educational facilities.

Most challenging/difficult parts of the job

On a regular basis the post holder will be directly exposed to body fluids such as urine, faeces, blood and infected wounds during activities such as audits.

Day to day use of normal office technology (i.e. computers, telephones)

Utilises computer software packages such as Microsoft word, excel and outlook, internet, health informatics, email and NHS mail on a daily basis

To organise the safe decommissioning and disposal of old equipment

To be competent to work on clinical systems for the purpose of retrieving information, RIO, UKHSA systems, databases, SafeGuard

Reports will be required on a regular basis therefore post hold must be able to concentrate and use surveillance figures appropriately.

Share a busy office which may have distractions

Deal with sensitive, emotional and pressurised circumstances.

Post holder must be self-motivated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

High levels of concentration are required.

High attention to detail.