Infection Prevention Control Lead

Integrated Care 24 Ltd; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking an Infection Prevention and Control Lead to manage and enhance infection control practices within their services. The role involves developing strategic policies, overseeing audits, and collaborating with healthcare professionals to ensure compliance with national guidelines. Ideal candidates should have a solid background in infection control, strong leadership capabilities, and relevant qualifications. This position is critical to enhancing patient safety and quality care across the organization.

Benefits

Supportive and inclusive culture

Opportunities for professional development

Commitment to quality and patient safety

Qualifications

• Significant experience in infection prevention and control in healthcare.
• Registered healthcare professional NMC or HCPC.
• Ability to work with children and vulnerable adults.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of infection prevention policies.
• Oversee practical IPC measures during outbreaks.
• Produce regular reports on infection control metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Infection prevention and control

Communication

Collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Degree level qualification in relevant field

Relevant infection prevention and control qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Databases

Job description

Were looking for an experienced and passionate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead to join our Quality, Safety and Governance team based in either Ashford, Norwich or Ipswich.

This is a pivotal leadership role at IC24, where you will take the lead on Infection Prevention and Control across the organisation, helping to protect patients, colleagues and communities by ensuring the highest standards of IPC practice are embedded across all services.

Working closely with clinical leaders, operational teams and system partners, you will provide expert advice, strategic leadership and assurance on all aspects of infection prevention and control. You will play a key role in reducing healthcare-associated infections, strengthening outbreak preparedness and ensuring IC24 remains compliant with national guidance and best practice.

Reporting to the Director of Clinical Governance, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a values-driven social enterprise committed to patient safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Main duties of the job

What Youll Be Doing

• Providing strategic and professional leadership for Infection Prevention and Control across IC24
• Leading the development, review and implementation of IPC policies in line with the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)
• Overseeing surveillance of alert organisms and healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)
• Supporting and contributing to the investigation and management of infection incidents and outbreaks, including participation in Outbreak Control Teams where required
• Leading and supporting root cause analysis and learning from infection-related incidents
• Developing and delivering IPC audit programmes and reporting findings to drive service improvement
• Educating, advising and influencing clinical and non-clinical colleagues to ensure evidence-based IPC practice
• Producing regular reports, including contributions to the Annual Infection Control Programme and Annual Infection Control Report
• Working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners including ICBs, Public Health and local authorities
• Ensuring a risk-based approach to IPC that places patient safety at the centre of decision-making

About us

Why IC24?

Were a major not-for-profit NHS primary care social enterprise, delivering innovative services that improve access to care and reduce pressure on secondary care. Every surplus we generate is reinvested into our people, services and communities.

At IC24, youll find:

• A supportive and inclusive culture focused on learning and improvement
• The opportunity to influence patient safety and quality across a complex health system
• A leadership team committed to collaboration, innovation and values-led care
• Work that genuinely makes a difference to patients and communities

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Jobtitle:

Infection Prevention and Control Lead

Team/Department:

Quality, Safety and Governance

Location:

Kingston House, Ashford.

Hoursof work:

As agreed, and in accordance with contract of employment

Jobtitle the post holder will report to:

Director of Clinical Governance

Jobtitles reporting to the post holder:

None applicable

Datethe role profile was revised:

January 2024

JOBPURPOSE

The post holder will have a primary responsibility to take on infection prevention and control leadership role across Integrated Care 24.

The key outcomes will be an improvement in patient safety and experience evidenced by a reduction in HCAIs and ensuring a high degree of preparedness through good infection, prevention and control measures and leading effective IPC responses to outbreaks, thereby minimising their scale and impact across all services.

Provides strategic, professional leadership and specialist advice and support on all aspects of infection prevention and control (IPC).

Provides a framework for commissioning high quality evidence based infection prevention and control and be a source of expertise across sectors on all matters regarding planning, strategy and identifying any gaps in service provision with regards to IPC and provide assurance of delivery and compliance across the health and social care economy.

The IC24 IPC will be the lead responsible officer for working in partnership with the CCGs and local authorities on the development of the system wide Infection Prevention and Control Strategy in addition to providing professional expertise and support to the systems.

The IC24 IPC will be proactive in alerting the systems to key issues and risks; working as part of the systems to improve practice and provide challenge where required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The post holder is responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of an effective infection control service which meets the requirements detailed in the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI).

Work with clinical staff to ensure evidence-based policies and practice is followed for the management of: Infection prevention & control, Isolated/infected patients etc.

Work with team leaders and link staff for infection prevention providing guidance and advice on best practice.

Educate clinical & non-clinical staff to ensure practice is effectively documented and standards are adhered to in relation to IPC.

Assist in the investigations and compilations of root cause analysis for infections identified through surveillance.

Assist with the comprehensive infection control audit programmes to ensure the continuous review of infection control practices and of clinical environments. The post holder will ensure that results are reported back to clinical and non-clinical operational staff, promptly in an appropriate format to allow action and service improvements to be undertaken.

Where a Major Outbreak is declared by the Public Health Department the post holder will, where appropriate, develop within the role to become an active participant in the Outbreak Control Team.

Manage a wide range of complex and sometimes conflicting priorities whilst at all times ensuring that the needs of the patient are placed at the centre of care delivery.

Produce regular reports on the progress of the project for the Infection Control Team.

Assist in the development of creative and innovative methods in order to integrate infection control into all through participation in awareness weeks/ days.

The post holder will report directly to the Director of Clinical Governance.

Contribute to the development and implementation of the Annual Infection Control Planned Programme.

Contribute to the development of the Annual Infection Control Report.

Will ensure that a risk management approach is integral to the prevention and control of infection processes employed. Following risk assessment, the post holder will prioritise competing infection prevention and control measures based on available resources.

Assist in the review and development of Infection prevention and control policies.

Assist in the development and delivery of the IPC education programme.

Be responsible for maintaining a programme of alert organism and condition surveillance.

Will assist in managing outbreaks of infection within Integrated Care 24. This involves investigation; collection and collation of data; instructing on control measures; liaising with relevant parties including management, microbiologists, public health, and clinical areas; and report on outcomes.

Be an active participant in relevant committees and working groups.

Person Specification

General

• Valid driving license
• Able to work with children and vulnerable adults, Enhanced DBS Clearance
• Ability to work flexibly and reliably to meet the needs of the service
• Succeeding together
• Building collaborative relationships
• Taking the initiative
• Managing execution

Experience

• Significant experience working in infection prevention and control in a healthcare organisation
• Specialist and up to date clinical infection prevention and control knowledge
• Up to date, in depth specialised knowledge of all aspects of the surveillance of healthcare-associated infection, including national directive requirements
• Up to date specialist knowledge and experience of leading and managing a programme of the surveillance in a healthcare setting
• Report writing containing a range of complex data and statistical information
• Development of infection prevention and control policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Developing a programme of infection prevention and control audit
• Participating in research and development programme
• Practical skills
• Demonstrated capability to plan over time frames and utilise resource requirements accordingly
• Ability to participate in the coordination of work of others to ensure completion of requirements
• Experience of participation in internal processes and procedures
• Consistent under pressure in an unpredictable working environment (occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances)
• Computer literate and use of complex spreadsheets, databases and word-processing to create specialist reports
• Works autonomously as an infection prevention and control specialist

Qualifications

• Registered healthcare professional NMC or HCPC
• Proven knowledge and experience of working at a senior level within IPC
• Educated to at least degree level post registration qualification in IPC or a willingness to work towards
• Proficiency in IT software including the use of Microsoft Office software packages, internet and email
• Ability to travel across the regions
• High quality presentation and report writing skills
• Masters in a health-related discipline
• Relevant infection prevention and control qualification
• Leadership/Management training/qualification
• Other specialist healthcare qualification/s

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.