IPAC Lead

salvationarmyca; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army in Ottawa is seeking an Infection Prevention and Control Lead to ensure IPAC measures for residents, staff and families. You will conduct surveillance, audits IPAC practices and maintain compliance with Ministry processes, with education, outbreak coordination and ongoing program evaluation central to the role.

This on-site position requires flexibility in work hours, including days, evenings, nights and weekends, and involves coordinating IPAC activities, staff training and

Responsibilities

• Implements surveillance protocols for diseases of public health significance as directed by or with respect to IPAC.
• Oversees IPAC program delivery and provides education to staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors and residents.
• Convenes interdisciplinary IPAC team meetings and outbreak response teams.
• Monitors daily screening results and implements corrective actions as needed.
• Maintains and administers Hand Hygiene programs across shifts.
• Ensures TB screening of new residents within 14 days where not recently screened.
• Coordinates vaccination programs and testing logistics with public health.
• Reviews procedures to identify and address deficiencies and ensures compliance with directives.

Job description

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description

Position Purpose summary: The Infection Prevention and Control Lead ensures that the infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures are in place. For the health and safety of residents, staff and families, the IPAC Lead conducts surveillance, audits IPAC practices in the home, and maintains compliance and accountability by follow-up supervision and teaching. The IPAC Lead ensures that the mandated Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care processes and standards are implemented, monitored, analyzed and evaluated on an ongoing basis.

This position requires flexibility in work hours to include days, evenings, nights and weekends.

Accountabilities

• Implements any surveillance protocols directed for a particular communicable disease or disease of public health significance, and any standard or protocol issued by the Director (Ministry) with respect to Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
• Ensures an interdisciplinary team approach to the co-ordination and implementation of the program
• Managing and overseeing the IPAC Program including the delivery of IPAC education to all staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors and residents.
• Convenes the interdisciplinary team (IPAC Lead, Medical Director, Director of Care (or designate, and Medical Officer of Health at least quarterly and more frequently during outbreaks.
• Convenes an ad hoc outbreak team at the outset of an Outbreak, and regularly throughout the Outbreak, and reviews the information gathered.
• Reviews daily and monthly screening results to determine whether any action is required. Implement any required actions or improvements
• Implements and maintains the Hand Hygiene (HH) Program, ensuring all staff participation
• Ensures that on every shift, symptoms indicating possible infection are monitored, recorded and immediate action taken to reduce transmission, such as isolating residents (Cohort as required)
• Analyze daily information gathered to detect presence of infection, and review at least monthly for the purpose of reducing incidents of infection and outbreaks
• Monitors for Health alerts and develops a written plan for responding to infectious outbreaks
• Ensures every resident admitted must be screened for TB within 14 days (unless already screened in the previous 90 days).
• Ensure immunizations against influenza, Covid-19 are offered throughout year at appropriate times. Residents are offered immunizations against Pneumococcus, Tetanus/Diphtheria pertussis.
• Manages the staff immunization program.
• Monitors staff compliance with policies, public health directives, best practices and guidelines,
• Coordinates the Home's vaccine program, including ordering, storage, administration of vaccine and reporting of data to Ottawa Public Health
• Coordinates mask fit testing for all staff and essential visitors as per regulations
• Ensures the Homes cleaning and disinfecting protocols are in place and followed
• Maintains the Homes pandemic plan
• Reviewing daily and monthly screening results to determine whether action is required
• Evaluates and develops action plans to address any deficiencies in procedures or practices
• Upholds established coaching and disciplinary process for any staff resistant to IPAC protocols
• Performs testing for Covid, Influenza A& B, RSV on the Abbott ID Now machine
• Assesses residents to determine eligibility for Abbott ID Now testing
• Available to assist or teach (to who) Nasal Pharyngeal swabbing
• Evaluates and updates the program at least annually. Keeps a written record of evaluations (dates, attendance, summary of changes, date of change implementations)
• Might be required to fill in registered staff when needed

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Internal

• Director of Care
• Executive Director
• Staff
• Member of the Quality Improvement Committee

External

• Residents
• Families
• Stakeholders

MANAGERIAL/Technical Leadership RESPONSIBILITY

Reports directly to: The Director of Nursing and Personal Care (DOC) or Designate

FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

Ensures proper usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Ensures appropriate PCR testing, and use of Abbott ID Now Tests in house

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is an on site