Job summary
The Associate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Surveillance Nurse plays a key role in supporting the Trust's commitment to preventing and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and achieving zero tolerance to avoidable infections. Working as part of the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT), the post holder will provide expert advice, education, and visible leadership across clinical and non-clinical areas to promote best practice in infection prevention and control.This developmental role combines clinical review, surveillance, audit, and staff education, with a particular focus on SSI surveillance across multiple orthopaedic specialties. The post holder will be responsible for collecting, analysing, and presenting SSI data, conducting patient follow-ups, and producing regular reports to inform service improvement and enhance patient safety and surgical outcomes.Acting as a key link between the IPCT, surgical teams, and other stakeholders, the post holder will ensure timely escalation of concerns, contribute to post-infection reviews, and support the implementation of action plans to reduce infection risks. They will actively participate in Trust-wide IPC audits and initiatives, helping to embed a culture of continuous improvement and high standards of infection prevention across the organisation.
Main duties of the job
To promote a safe clinical environment for all patients, visitors and staff.
To maintain the patients respect, dignity and privacy and to act with kindness and courtesy to all members of the public.
To understand and adhere to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct and other NMC Standards.
To take personal responsibility for maintaining professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and ensuring the line manager is informed immediately if this registration is compromised.
To take personal responsibility for identifying own training needs for mandatory and statutory training and discussing these with the line manager ensuring that sessions are attended.
To take personal responsibility for ensuring that personal objectives are agreed with line manager and that annual appraisal takes place.
To actively contribute to the teaching and learning of clinical staff, patients and others.
To contribute positively to the effectiveness and efficiency of teams in which you work.
To undertake any other duties at the request of the line manager commensurate with the role, including absence cover.
To ensure practice is evidence based and is in line with local and national policies and procedures.
Undertake any course or development programmes identified as being relevant to the position
About us
At the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), we are committed to achieving the best staff experience in the NHS. In the 2023 NHS Staff Survey, we proudly:
- Scored above the national average for the People Promises: "We are recognised and rewarded," "We are always learning," "We work flexibly," "We are a team," and for staff engagement.
- Ranked #1 among all Trusts in North and Central London for all People Promises and themes.
- Ranked #1 among all Acute Specialist Trusts for "We work flexibly."
At RNOH, we're committed to being actively anti-discriminatory and actively inclusive. We recognise our brilliant people do brilliant work, and we offer rewarding careers, no matter what their background. We continue to strive to break down barriers to be the Trust where people come together because what they do matters, makes a difference and where they can thrive.
Joining our organisation means enjoying a wide range of staff benefits, including:
- 24/7 access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
- A Rewards & Recognition platform, offering opportunities to thank colleagues, send gifts, and access exclusive discounts.
- A dedicated Staff Wellbeing Hub, providing a space to relax and recharge away from the work environment.
- Salary sacrifice schemes for transport (season ticket loans, car and bike), electrical goods, and childcare
At RNOH, we are more than a workplace--we are committed to patients, to excellence and the wellbeing of our staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To ensure high quality patient care review and follow-up based upon principles of best practice in infection prevention and control, either directly through personal contact or indirectly through supervision of practice.
To assist the Infection Prevention and Control CNS in the implementation of infection prevention and control policies and procedures relating to audit and surveillance and clinical practice review and care follow-up
Must be able to work as a team member, working with service users, clinicians, outside agencies and members of the public.
Guarantee confidentiality of patient records is maintained according to Data Protection and Caldicott Guardianship guidelines.
Work within all Health and Safety policies in a safe manner, recognising hazards within the workplace and applying all agreed precautionary measures.
Audit and Surveillance
Systematically collect surveillance data for the mandatory surveillance of surgical site infections, and any other surveillance as agreed by the Infection Prevention and Control Team.
Follow-up all patients post-surgically including audit, surveillance and wound monitoring
Will undertake follow up audit to identify whether actions to rectify problems have been addressed.
Will provide routine audit and surveillance data, responsible for overall loading onto local databases including the national UKHSA database as required.
Will collate and extract data in preparation for uploading onto the local and national HCAI database and ensuring the data is prepared for any routine reporting to all agencies as required.
On a daily basis be responsible for assisting in delivering the IP&C surveillance programme including the monitoring of patients identified with reportable and alert microorganisms and active monitoring of all patients following surgery
Plans and organises surveillance projects with supervision from the lead nurse for IPC in line with the Trust action plan
Utilises infection prevention and control knowledge and skills to audit practice and identify areas for further action.
Based on trends identified from surveillance provides advice on the basic principles of infection prevention and control in all clinical areas of the Trust.
With support, evaluate the clinical significance of microbiological data and the implications for infection control practice and inform clinical staff of the actions required.
Monitor clinical data in order to evaluate implemented infection prevention and control strategies
Utilise all computer software designated for use within the department to generate and correlate information to support improvements in IP&C practice
Collates surveillance data to produce a report on the findings and present to ward managers, senior nurses and multidisciplinary teams and committees as required.
Education and Training
Develop knowledge and understanding of IP&C and implement evidence-based practise based on outcome data from surveillance
To work with the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses on hand hygiene as part of effective wound care and other care activities.
To work with the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses in educating and training staff in wound management and aseptic technique compliance.
To work with and cascade training to colleagues from different divisions to ensure that surveillance is done in accordance with best practice.
Utilises infection control training to audit and assess clinical practice and environmental standards.
Contribute to the trusts education and training programme for all disciplines of staff ensuring it is evidence based and reflects national and local policy.
Assist to evaluate and manage education and training programmes relevant to surgical site infection and Infection Control in general.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To ensure high quality patient care review and follow-up based upon principles of best practice in infection prevention and control, either directly through personal contact or indirectly through supervision of practice.
To assist the Infection Prevention and Control CNS in the implementation of infection prevention and control policies and procedures relating to audit and surveillance and clinical practice review and care follow-up
Must be able to work as a team member, working with service users, clinicians, outside agencies and members of the public.
Guarantee confidentiality of patient records is maintained according to Data Protection and Caldicott Guardianship guidelines.
Work within all Health and Safety policies in a safe manner, recognising hazards within the workplace and applying all agreed precautionary measures.
Audit and Surveillance
Systematically collect surveillance data for the mandatory surveillance of surgical site infections, and any other surveillance as agreed by the Infection Prevention and Control Team.
Follow-up all patients post-surgically including audit, surveillance and wound monitoring
Will undertake follow up audit to identify whether actions to rectify problems have been addressed.
Will provide routine audit and surveillance data, responsible for overall loading onto local databases including the national UKHSA database as required.
Will collate and extract data in preparation for uploading onto the local and national HCAI database and ensuring the data is prepared for any routine reporting to all agencies as required.
On a daily basis be responsible for assisting in delivering the IP&C surveillance programme including the monitoring of patients identified with reportable and alert microorganisms and active monitoring of all patients following surgery
Plans and organises surveillance projects with supervision from the lead nurse for IPC in line with the Trust action plan
Utilises infection prevention and control knowledge and skills to audit practice and identify areas for further action.
Based on trends identified from surveillance provides advice on the basic principles of infection prevention and control in all clinical areas of the Trust.
With support, evaluate the clinical significance of microbiological data and the implications for infection control practice and inform clinical staff of the actions required.
Monitor clinical data in order to evaluate implemented infection prevention and control strategies
Utilise all computer software designated for use within the department to generate and correlate information to support improvements in IP&C practice
Collates surveillance data to produce a report on the findings and present to ward managers, senior nurses and multidisciplinary teams and committees as required.
Education and Training
Develop knowledge and understanding of IP&C and implement evidence-based practise based on outcome data from surveillance
To work with the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses on hand hygiene as part of effective wound care and other care activities.
To work with the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses in educating and training staff in wound management and aseptic technique compliance.
To work with and cascade training to colleagues from different divisions to ensure that surveillance is done in accordance with best practice.
Utilises infection control training to audit and assess clinical practice and environmental standards.
Contribute to the trusts education and training programme for all disciplines of staff ensuring it is evidence based and reflects national and local policy.
Assist to evaluate and manage education and training programmes relevant to surgical site infection and Infection Control in general.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- First level nurse registration 2-4 years
- Experience in using MS Excel, EPIC/EPR or equivalent
Desirable
- Experience as an infection control nurse
- Experience as an infection control link practitioner
- Recognised IPC-related qualifications or equivalent
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Excellent verbal communication skills will all members of the MDT
- Able to work with minimal supervision
- Good observational skills and has a flexible attitude to work
IT Skills
Essential
- IT skills in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and PowerBI
- Able to maintain efficient flow of information (i.e. uploading to data bases, etc.)
- Able to extract and manipulate data, setup documents and spreadsheets into graphs
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Able to independently prioritise and manage own workload
- Able to independently exercise initiative when dealing with issues
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- First level nurse registration 2-4 years
- Experience in using MS Excel, EPIC/EPR or equivalent
Desirable
- Experience as an infection control nurse
- Experience as an infection control link practitioner
- Recognised IPC-related qualifications or equivalent
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Excellent verbal communication skills will all members of the MDT
- Able to work with minimal supervision
- Good observational skills and has a flexible attitude to work
IT Skills
Essential
- IT skills in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and PowerBI
- Able to maintain efficient flow of information (i.e. uploading to data bases, etc.)
- Able to extract and manipulate data, setup documents and spreadsheets into graphs
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Able to independently prioritise and manage own workload
- Able to independently exercise initiative when dealing with issues
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Address
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Brockley Hill
Stanmore
HA7 4LP
Employer's website
https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)