Job summary
The post holder will support Residential Care Homes and, other closed settings as agreed, across North Wales to implement and evaluate relevant national and local guidance in the surveillance, prevention and management of Infectious Diseases. Protect Practitioners will work under the supervision of a Senior Protect Practitioner to support Residential Care Homes in North Wales to audit their Infection Prevention practices and action plan accordingly, thereby building on and strengthening existing knowledge/skill sets.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will have good working knowledge of all relevant national guidance, legislation (if applicable), local pathways and frameworks to ensure appropriate Infectious Disease advice is given at all times to closed settings and sectors as agreed as appropriate, partner agencies and the BCU Health Board.
- Provide timely and accurate verbal and written feedback via Senior Protect Practitioner to Public Health Wales, BCU Health Board, Regulators and other relevant partners on Infectious Disease outbreak and management.
- Updates, utilises and maintain Infectious Disease management systems as required, in order to ensure public sector bodies have access to accurate and timely information.
- Assist in the collation, interpretation and submitting of statistics to Welsh Government / BCUB and other official bodies for publication.
- Support the Health Protection Service to deliver on tracing requirements instigated nationally or locally in response to Infectious Disease outbreaks. This will include familiarity with relevant tracing systems and the ability to train and support junior colleagues to implement agreed Standard Operating Systems.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and 'Proud to Lead' competence framework.
Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the "Disability Confident Employer" scheme.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Prioritisation of workload and a rapid response plan will be required when there is an incident/outbreak notification or a variant of concern is identified in order to avoid the further spread of infection and comply with the appropriate National and local protocols and guidance
In addition to delivering the acute response service, the post holder will also work with other team members to identify and agree a portfolio of planned proactive work at local and regional level. This will involve working in collaboration with other agencies and disciplines (see below) in the provision of a specialist health protection service for the population of North Wales.
The post-holder will have responsibility for supervising and overseeing multiagency activity to ensure agreed actions are implemented to required standards in a timely manner. Protect Practitioners will direct and coordinate multi-agency and disciplinary activity during the course of delivering both pro-active and reactive work-streams.
The post holder will be expected to work with other Health Protection Programmes within the Public Health Directorate, as agreed with their line manager.
The post holder may be expected to participate in an out-of-hours health protection rota as and when required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Prioritisation of workload and a rapid response plan will be required when there is an incident/outbreak notification or a variant of concern is identified in order to avoid the further spread of infection and comply with the appropriate National and local protocols and guidance
In addition to delivering the acute response service, the post holder will also work with other team members to identify and agree a portfolio of planned proactive work at local and regional level. This will involve working in collaboration with other agencies and disciplines (see below) in the provision of a specialist health protection service for the population of North Wales.
The post-holder will have responsibility for supervising and overseeing multiagency activity to ensure agreed actions are implemented to required standards in a timely manner. Protect Practitioners will direct and coordinate multi-agency and disciplinary activity during the course of delivering both pro-active and reactive work-streams.
The post holder will be expected to work with other Health Protection Programmes within the Public Health Directorate, as agreed with their line manager.
The post holder may be expected to participate in an out-of-hours health protection rota as and when required.
Person Specification
Professional Qualification
Essential
- Relevant Professional Qualification/Registered Nurse on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register
- Allied Health Professional registered with a UK statutory regulator (e.g. HCPC)
- Registered with UKPHR or Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB)
- Minimum of Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject specialist knowledge of infectious disease and infection prevention and control acquired through training at Post Graduate Diploma level or equivalent experience
- Knowledge of principal public health and health protection issues
- Knowledge of the main principles underpinning infectious disease, infection prevention and control, and vaccination and immunisation
- Knowledge of the needs of multi-cultural populations and sensitivity to cultural backgrounds
- Understanding of evidence based practice and related practical application
- Meet the requirements of their professional regulator/registration body for standards, registration, CPD, professional development and revalidation, and ensure that professional registration is maintained.
- Ensure their specialist knowledge of health protection is kept up to date and based on current evidence.
Desirable
- Recognised infection prevention and control qualification
- Recognised teaching and assessing qualification
- Higher degree in a relevant subject or working towards one
- Leadership qualification or experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience in disease surveillance and data analysis
- Experience of developing policies or guidelines
- Participation in audit, research and development
- Teaching experience
- Experience of service development
- Experience in handling data and using office software
- Experience in writing reports
- Evidence of relevant CPD
- Understanding of professional ethics and standards required in the NHS and by their professional regulator/registration body
Desirable
- Experience of delivering health protection services
- Experience of working in primary and secondary care
- Experience of leading professional projects
- Experience of working with vaccine or immunisation services
- Involvement in providing infection prevention and control services
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to assess, interpret and prioritise complex facts or Situations and take appropriate action
- Ability to co-ordinate and arrange multi-disciplinary activities with other professionals and agencies
- Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information
- Effective presentation, writing, education and training skills
- Highly developed interpersonal skills both verbal and non-verbal.
- Ability to convey and explain information of a sensitive complex or controversial nature to a distressed, hostile or antagonistic audience
- Computer literacy and keyboard skills
- Data entry, management and storage skills
- Ability to interpret and provide specialised information to healthcare professionals, members of public and other parties as required
Desirable
Values
Essential
- Understands the role inequality plays in poor health care outcomes and believes in positive corrective measures to address such inequalities
- Is empathetic in their approach to working alongside patients, families and staff
- Respects and empowers disadvantaged groups
Other
Essential
- Ability to work independently in addition to working as part of a team
- Ability to acknowledge any limitations in knowledge and competence and the appropriate actions to take
- Awareness of professional accountability
- Self-motivated
- Enthusiastic
- Able to respond to unpredictable workloads and meet deadlines while reprioritising work
- Flexible, adaptable and innovative approach to work to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to work flexible hours on occasions as necessary.
Person Specification
Professional Qualification
Essential
- Relevant Professional Qualification/Registered Nurse on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register
- Allied Health Professional registered with a UK statutory regulator (e.g. HCPC)
- Registered with UKPHR or Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB)
- Minimum of Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject specialist knowledge of infectious disease and infection prevention and control acquired through training at Post Graduate Diploma level or equivalent experience
- Knowledge of principal public health and health protection issues
- Knowledge of the main principles underpinning infectious disease, infection prevention and control, and vaccination and immunisation
- Knowledge of the needs of multi-cultural populations and sensitivity to cultural backgrounds
- Understanding of evidence based practice and related practical application
- Meet the requirements of their professional regulator/registration body for standards, registration, CPD, professional development and revalidation, and ensure that professional registration is maintained.
- Ensure their specialist knowledge of health protection is kept up to date and based on current evidence.
Desirable
- Recognised infection prevention and control qualification
- Recognised teaching and assessing qualification
- Higher degree in a relevant subject or working towards one
- Leadership qualification or experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience in disease surveillance and data analysis
- Experience of developing policies or guidelines
- Participation in audit, research and development
- Teaching experience
- Experience of service development
- Experience in handling data and using office software
- Experience in writing reports
- Evidence of relevant CPD
- Understanding of professional ethics and standards required in the NHS and by their professional regulator/registration body
Desirable
- Experience of delivering health protection services
- Experience of working in primary and secondary care
- Experience of leading professional projects
- Experience of working with vaccine or immunisation services
- Involvement in providing infection prevention and control services
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to assess, interpret and prioritise complex facts or Situations and take appropriate action
- Ability to co-ordinate and arrange multi-disciplinary activities with other professionals and agencies
- Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information
- Effective presentation, writing, education and training skills
- Highly developed interpersonal skills both verbal and non-verbal.
- Ability to convey and explain information of a sensitive complex or controversial nature to a distressed, hostile or antagonistic audience
- Computer literacy and keyboard skills
- Data entry, management and storage skills
- Ability to interpret and provide specialised information to healthcare professionals, members of public and other parties as required
Desirable
Values
Essential
- Understands the role inequality plays in poor health care outcomes and believes in positive corrective measures to address such inequalities
- Is empathetic in their approach to working alongside patients, families and staff
- Respects and empowers disadvantaged groups
Other
Essential
- Ability to work independently in addition to working as part of a team
- Ability to acknowledge any limitations in knowledge and competence and the appropriate actions to take
- Awareness of professional accountability
- Self-motivated
- Enthusiastic
- Able to respond to unpredictable workloads and meet deadlines while reprioritising work
- Flexible, adaptable and innovative approach to work to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to work flexible hours on occasions as necessary.
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).
