Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Purpose: The IPC Nurse is responsible for preparing and delivering the hospitals local IPC programme. Including the identification of IPC risks to the hospital, its patients and staff and the implementation and monitoring of actions to identify, manage and reduce risks.

The post holder will:

Demonstrate leadership and clinical advice in relation to the key dimensions of IPC responsibilities, providing assurance to the Clinical Governance Lead and the DIPC that IPC processes are being effectively delivered

Working with the Clinical Governance Lead and relevant service leads, will be responsible for the implementation of the Hospital IPC work plan, providing assurance to the DIPC that all milestones are being met

Ensure departmental IPC risk assessments are in place reflecting controls that are effective, reviewed minimum of annually

Provide expert advice around IPC issues placing emphasis on the integration of IPC to organisational strategy and service development to achieve

consistently high-quality care and patient safety

Ensure that IPC policies are up to date and reviewed in accordance with best practice guidance

Demonstrate awareness of regulatory and national requirements taking appropriate action to ensure that these are fully adhered to.

Manage IPC related incidents, including reporting, investigating and sharing learning

Coordinate the hospitals IPC link nurses/practitioners, ensuring active participation in activities supporting surveillance, audit and training.

Key Result Areas

Lead and implement the hospitals annual IPC work plan, and with the support of the Clinical Governance Lead, critically appraise and evaluate IPC practice through a structured audit programme

Provides specialist IPC advice to all disciplines of staff

Review reported IPC incidents, ensure investigations are completed, severity identified and required actions undertaken

Implement the IPC audit schedule within the hospital, undertaking audits and working with departments on key actions

Collate IPC data for all relevant hospital committee meetings, preparing accurate reports

Oversee surveillance programme for HCAI, reported symptom surveillance, surgical site surveillance

Ensure environmental cleaning is sufficient and appropriate to the level of risk in each area in partnership with housekeeping department

Provide advice to the hospital on the purchase/introduction and use of equipment in relation to IPC issues

Oversee the hospitals IPC training, delivering key training where required.

Support the local Waste Officer in all waste management, including specifically in the management of the clinical waste stream

Support and oversee the IPC link practitioners to undertake their roles within their areas

Champion ANTT compliance in clinical areas

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Relevant post-registration experience / qualification in IPC
• Educated to degree level
• Teaching/Mentoring qualification
• Ability to negotiate, influence and liaise effectively with staff/colleagues at all levels (internal & external)
• Ability to provide specialist IPC knowledge to risk assessments and support appropriate controls
• Ability to manage difficult and complex situations
• Ability to provide/support staff in feedback of microbiological results
• Excellent IT skills, i.e., Datix, Microsoft Office and other applications relevant to the role.
• Methodical and well organised with a high level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to progress own workload, managing competing demands effectively.
• Effective verbal and written communication using tact, discretion, and diplomacy
• Strong patient-centred approach
• Ability to present information/data effectively in a variety of ways (oral, written, digital)

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.

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

Benenden Hospital

Address

Goddard’s Green Road

Benenden

Cranbrook

Kent

TN17 4AX

Employer's website

https://www.benendenhospital.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)