Infection prevention and Control Specialist nurse

NHS; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization seeks an Infection Prevention and Control Specialist nurse to join their dedicated team in Gateshead. This role focuses on ensuring the highest standards in infection control practices across hospital settings. The successful candidate will lead initiatives and provide vital support to clinical staff, demonstrating a strong commitment to patient safety and care.

Qualifications

• Current NMC/HPC registration required.
• Experience in Infection Prevention and Control desired.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and promoting IPC services.
• Provide support and advice on IPC issues within clinical areas.
• Develop and deliver education programs for staff on IPC.

Skills

Infection Prevention and Control

Leadership

Communication

Education

Degree in Nursing/AHP

Job description

Infection prevention and Control Specialist nurse

Permanent Band 6 in Infection Prevention & Control

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Infection Prevention and Control team. At this unique and challenging time Infection prevention is more important than ever. We are looking to recruit an energetic and motivated healthcare practitioner to assist and provide IPC support for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Are you passionate about best practice in infection control ?

Do you have the skills and experience to make an impact in preventing infections ?

Now is the time for you to join our expanding forward thinking infection control team at Gateshead. We are looking for an experienced nurse to join the team as band 6. The ideal candidate will have an interest in infection control.

You will have an ability to build effective relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. You must have the ability to work on your own initiative undertaking the day to day management of your clinical work, to be able to work with complex information and be able to demonstrate an ability to work to tight timescales.

Main duties of the job

• Assist in planning and promoting a proactive prevention, surveillance, investigation and infection prevention and control (IPC) service for the Trust. This will include the review, formulation, implementation and education of evidence based infection prevention and control practices.
• Have daily contact within clinical areas providing support and advice on IPC issues, prioritising and utilising research, and collaborating with colleagues in everyday practice.
• Provide strong leadership that inspires and motivates others to take individual responsibility for IPC across the Trust.
• Be a strong patient advocate, ensuring that the care of patients reflects best clinical standards and that all patients are treated with dignity and respect.
• Be a visible presence on the wards/departments undertaking surveillance and providing education within the clinical environment.
• Work effectively within the IPC Team (IPCT) providing a timely and effective IPC Service to meet the competing needs of the service.
• Assist in the development and delivery of education, learning and training programmes for all disciplines of staff, including Trust induction, mandatory updates, hand hygiene training and all other IPC study sessions/days.
• Support the Head of IPC in all aspects of providing an effective IPC service across the Trust in reducing the incidence of healthcare (HCAI) ensuring that the Trust is compliant with all local and national legislation for IPC.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

• Assist in planning and promoting a proactive prevention, surveillance, investigation and infection prevention and control (IPC) service for the Trust. This will include the review, formulation, implementation and education of evidence based infection prevention and control practices.
• Have daily contact within clinical areas providing support and advice on IPC issues, prioritising and utilising research, and collaborating with colleagues in everyday practice.
• Provide strong leadership that inspires and motivates others to take individual responsibility for IPC across the Trust.
• Be a strong patient advocate, ensuring that the care of patients reflects best clinical standards and that all patients are treated with dignity and respect.
• Be a visible presence on the wards/departments undertaking surveillance and providing education within the clinical environment.
• Work effectively within the IPC Team (IPCT) providing a timely and effective IPC Service to meet the competing needs of the service.
• Assist in the development and delivery of education, learning and training programmes for all disciplines of staff, including Trust induction, mandatory updates, hand hygiene training and all other IPC study sessions/days.
• Support the Head of IPC in all aspects of providing an effective IPC service across the Trust in reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infection (HCAI) ensuring that the Trust is compliant with all local and national legislation for IPC.
• Maintain a high clinical profile, develop and maintain outstanding working relationships with all wards and departments within the Trust.
• Provide specialist IPC advice to all health care workers to mitigate risks of infection to patients and staff.
• Liaise with site resilience team/ward managers and matrons on a daily basis to ensure effective utilisation of existing single rooms to ensure that patients are not moved inappropriately and minimise risk of infection.
• Support clinical staff in answering patient/carers concerns and complaints with issues relating to IPC.
• Identify and help investigate outbreaks of infection producing reports with recommendations on all incidents.
• Assist in supporting staff in the implementation of IPC policies, development of action plans and support in the Learning opportunity linked to increased incidents of Health Care Associated infection.
• Under supervision advise and provide information on IPC issues relating to food hygiene, equipment decontamination and maintenance, purchasing of equipment, QE Facilities services and building works.
• Advise on the appropriate decontamination of equipment linking local decontamination strategies to wider environmental issues ensuring that National and Local guidelines are followed.
• Deputise for Band 7 on multi-disciplinary committees as well as where appropriate deputise for a band 7 in there absence.
• Assist with information/reports to incorporate into the quarterly and annual IPC reporting structure.
• Participate in mandatory surveillance of HCAI and maintain accurate records of IPCT support advice and interventions.
• Supports the delivery of the IPC programme with other members of the team.
• Lead on Clinical Audit and Surveillance in relation to IPC practice.
• Actively participate on clinical audit projects in collaboration with other specialities as necessary, to promote a high standard of patient care, feeding back results and managing change in accordance with research based evidence.
• Coordinates and delivers routine surveillance work on a day to day basis together with an assessment of risk factors of patients admitted to the Trust with communicable disease.
• Support the band 7 with complying and writing any investigation (information gathering) reports pertaining to Health Care Associated Infections.
• Networks with colleagues across the health care economy in the prevention and control of infection.
• Participates in evaluative trials of new products and equipment linked to IPC practice, quality and patient safety.
• Liaises with occupational health staff on issues relating to the health of staff and those potentially at risk of infection.
• Supports and contributes to the Directorate/Trust annual plan and IPC strategy to ensure that the service is continually developing and meeting the Trusts values and vision.
• Participates as a member of the IPCT and identifies education and training needs of all staff in the Trust, clinical and non clinical, in relation to infection control.
• Supports the maintenance of two-way communication between all wards, departments, community staff and other health care settings.
• Acts as a resource for staff, carers and patients for IPC advice and information.
• Participate in regular feedback of surveillance supporting the implementation of any changes in practice.
• To be flexible regarding weekends and Bank holidays in the event of outbreaks and periods of increased incidence to ensure management during these times.
• This job description is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the post but reflects the key areas involved. It will be subject to review and amendment in consultation with the post holder on an annual basis as part of the Trust CONTACT process and Personal Development Review (PDP).

Person Specification

• current NMC/HPC registration
• Degree in Nursing/AHP
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• experience of working with IPC

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.