Assistant lead nurse for IPC

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will liaise with the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse in each clinical area to assess and evaluate patient care in relation to IPC, within a set patient cohort and be responsible for this patient group, supporting junior IPC colleagues to widen their knowledge and experience of/in IPC. The post holder will provide sound IPC advice, working closely with the patient flow team to review isolation facilities and ensure correct placement of patients. The post holder will discuss and advise on outbreak management to reduce transmission of infection, support patient flow and patient safety.

The post holder will undertake a coordinating role which includes reviewing laboratory results, ensuring for patient follow up, surveillance and management of outbreaks and direction of team members in everyday IPC processes. The ALN in this role will support team members in queries that present ensuring for safe IPC practices.

The post holder will lead on a specific IPC topic embedded in the IPC annual plan and provide regular updates to the IPC team, other trust colleagues and lead on this topic in senior meetings.

The post holder will chair a number of IPC meetings and encourage team development through encouraging contributions for all team members at these meetings.

The post holder will chair outbreak meetings, incident meetings and structured review cases.

The post holder will deputise for the Head of Nursing / IPC Lead Nurse in their absence.

The post holder will deputise for the IPC Decontamination Lead in their absence, providing the correct advice on decontamination of equipment and required processes to support.

The post holder will monitor HCAI trends and implement control measures in response to rising case numbers.

The post holder will delivery education and training on a range of topics i.e: Hand Hygiene, MRSA, Aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) and Clostridioides difficile infection.

The postholder will support and line manage both band 6 & band 4 team members, with support in queries from the IPC lead Nurse. This includes undertaking monthly 1 to 1 meetings, annual appraisal and sickness management.

The post holder will undertake a weekly review of the team calendar ensuring meetings/audits and training are accounted for.

To ensure that the ward/department provides excellent standards of IPC clinical practice.

To ensure the postholder is visible and accessible to clinical teams to provide specialist IPC advice and support to staff patients, families and carers.

Support the Lead IPC nurse in implementing IPC strategies.

Act as a role model and IPC specialist, supported through the management and leadership of the IPC Lead Nurse.

Deputise for the Lead IPC nurse in their absence.

Key Performance Indicators in relation to IPC practice based on monthly IPC audits. Reduction of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAI).

Compliance with all IPC and trust policies.

Ensure positive professional relationships with all staff.

To implement and evaluate strategies to reduce avoidable harm and healthcare associated infections, acting as an exemplary role model in IPC practices.

Work collaboratively with Clinical Matrons and Senior Sisters/ Charge Nurses to support the investigation of IPC incidents and/or completion of case reviews for identified infections with associated action plan. Appropriate data alongside recommendations based on best practice in line with current guidance and legislation will support.

Monitoring of HCAI incidence.

Lead on a specific element of the annual plan.

Engagement with ward staff in the delivery of IPC service improvement.

To ensure compliance with legislation and local guidance relating to IPC practice, representing the Trust with transparency and objectivity at internal and external meetings.

Participate in tendering groups in matters pertaining to IPC e.g. waste management, catering, building works or re-configuration of services.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• oGood understanding of research, audit and evidence based practice
• oExperience of undertaking audit
• oGood information technology skills
• oKnowledge of the audit process
• oKnowledge of risk management and patient safety
• oEffective communication skills written and verbal
• oEffective use of management and change skills
• oAbility to work with colleagues at all levels of an organisation and to work across partnership organisations
• oAbility to challenge practice and support best practice
• oAbility to work in a team and individually
• oEffective use of leadership skills
• oEffective presentation skills

Desirable

• oParticipation of audit or research projects

Qualifications and training

Essential

• oRegistered general nurse
• oHealthcare degree
• oMasters level or working towards completing a masters level
• oSpecialist infection prevention and control course at degree level
• oRecognisable teaching qualification I.E ENB 998, 730, facilitating learning in clinical practice or mentoring in practice or equivalent

Desirable

• oAttendance at leadership, development and improvement programme

Experience

Essential

• oMinimum of 5 years nursing experience
• oMinimum of 3 years as an infection prevention and control nurse

personal attributes

Essential

• oOrganisational skills
• oWorks well using own initiative and as part of a team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Tees

Stockton on tees

TS19 8PE

Employer's website

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