Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Nurse

Job overview

The post holder will manage the day to day activities of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team. Ensuring that staff comply with IPC policies in order to reduce health care acquired infections. The postholder is responsible along with other members of the IPC team for prevention, surveillance, investigation and control of infection in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Kings Lynn. The post holder will provide advice and education to staff in order to promote best clinical practice across the QEH. They will provide advice and guidance to staff when required. The post holder will participate in mandatory surveillance programmes. They will also be required to audit and monitor IPC practice using recognise audit tools, feeding back information and data to staff to improve IPC standards. The post holder will support the Director of IPC (DIPC) and the Head of IPC in developing infection prevention and control strategy, ensuring engagement of ALL groups of staff, patients and external organisations where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Officially deputise for the Head of IPC and, as such, have delegated authority for decision making. The post holder will have specific responsibility for managing some members of the IPC team providing clinical and professional leadership to ensure that the service meets the needs of the Trust.

Work autonomously within a wider health care team.

Work as a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Team actively participating in the collection, collating and analysis of surveillance data and clinical bench marking through an agreed program for infection prevention and control.

Develop and deliver complex risk assessments of patients infected/colonised with alert organisms or with confirmed or suspected infectious disease ensuring appropriate management to safeguard the wellbeing of others.

Provide IPC advice and support to all levels of staff promoting best practice.

Interpretation of laboratory reports, and conveyance of reports to clinical and non-clinical staff across the QEH.

Identify, investigate and monitor hazardous practices in relation to IPC, planning actions to minimise risks in accordance with best practice.

Participate in the investigation and control of outbreaks of infection and maintain accurate records.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further details about this vacancy, please see the attached job description and person specification.