IPC Support Operative

Integrated Care System; Redditch; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking an IPC Support Operative to work in infection prevention and control across its multiple sites. This role involves conducting face fit tests, ensuring adherence to cleaning protocols, and providing training to staff on infection control measures. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills and a background in healthcare settings. The position is permanent and offers a challenging yet rewarding environment.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Comprehensive training programs

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a team and effective communication.
• Understanding of decontamination and proper chemical handling.
• Experience of conducting FFP3 face mask tests.

Responsibilities

• Conduct face fit tests using portacount machine.
• Ensure PPE compliance during mattress cleaning.
• Participate in educational sessions regarding IPC.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Basic IT skills

Communication skills

Education

GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths

Tools

Portacount machine

Cleaning chemicals

Job description

Go back Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

IPC Support Operative

The closing date is 17 August 2025

Do you have a keen eye for detail, a commitment to quality,and a passion for maintaining high standards to keep patients and staff safefrom infection? If so, we invite you to apply for the position of Infection Preventionand Control Operative at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

Infection prevention and Control (IPS) Operative post band 3is a new position within the County Wide Infection Prevention and Control Team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust. Thepost holder will work across the 3 main hospital sites: Worcestershire RoyalHospital, Alexandra Hospital Redditch and Kidderminster Treatment Centre. Providingmattress decontamination, FFP3 mask fit testing service and education toclinical staff regarding basic infection control principles: hand hygiene andclinical cleaning.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a largeacute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acuteservices to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to alarger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services fromthree sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and ourcaring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centredcare. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people towork with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin oureveryday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are proud to have achieved Timewiseaccreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible workingwithin our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring aDBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job responsibilities

WORCESTERSHIREACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title:IPC Support Operative

Pay Band:3

Contract:Permanent

Location/ Department:Countywide InfectionControl Team: Mattress store/Face Fit Tester/Education

Responsibleto:IPC Nurse Manager

Accountableto:IPC Nurse Manager

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:

Wards/Departments

PFI Partners

Infection Prevention & ControlTeam

Tissue Viability Team

Procurement Department

Technical Services

Facilities Team

External:

RiskAssessment:

Thispost involves frequent contact with equipment. Manual handling of inanimate,often bulky equipment, daily use of VDU screen, use of cleaning fluids andthere will be an expectation to work at different Worcester Acute Hospitals NHSTrust sites to cover service need.

Job Purpose:

As the IPC Support Operative you will be working within theinfection prevention and control team county wide across different roles: Facefit testing service and Mattress Store,to cover annual leave and sickness, there is also an element of educationalsupport to share IPC messages within the Trust.

Face fit testing

Fit testing is a method for checking that a specific modeland size of FFP3 mask (tight-fittingmask) matches the wearers facial features and seals adequately to the wearersface. It will also help to identify unsuitable masks which should not be used.

The performance of tight-fitting masks depends on achievinga good contact between the wearers skin and the face seal of the mask.Peoples faces vary significantly in shape and size so it is unlikely that oneparticular model or size of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) mask willfit everyone. Inadequate fit will significantly reduce the protection providedto the wearer. Any reduction in protection may lead to immediate or long termill health or can even put the RPE wearers life in danger.

The post holder will work as part of the Infection under thesupervision of the Face fit co-ordinator. They will work closely with theInfection Prevention & Control and Team (IPC) as well as the Procurementand Supply Chain team and the Development and Education Team. They will ensure that staff are individuallyface fitted to masks providing respiratory protection against harmfulpathogens.

The post holder will be responsible for fit testing to ensuremasks that are either re-useable or disposable fit the face of an individual.Full training will be given for both the qualitative and quantitative fittesting methods. The post holder will also play a key role in educating staffon the best practice of donning and doffing FFP3 PPE.

Thepost holder will work independently on a day-to-day basis. All sites will needto be covered with one other Fit Tester during the course of a week and itcould be that visiting various locations at those hospitals is requireddepending on need. The post holder will be responsible for arranging andcollecting a PortaCount machine from IPC and setting up the allocated room inpreparation for testing. Where required, the post holder will need to refer toIPC for alternatives for respiratory protection where fit testing isunsuccessful and update records accordingly.

Ifthere is a lack of face fit testing bookings, then the staff member may beasked to assist within other departments of the Infection Prevention &Control team or Mattress store. Mattress store duties include cleaning themattresses using PPE and chemicals, collection and delivery of mattresses.Other duties may include education of trust staff regarding hand hygiene competencies and auditof environment and practices.

KeyDuties:

Toensure Personal Protective Equipment is worn and used according to Trust policy.

Conductface fit tests (using portacount machine) on staff that are required to wearFFP3 masks, specifically:

Beingclear on the face fit testing process and being able to describe this to staff.

Toensure that the mask that is being fitted is a good fit before conducting thetest by assisting in fitting the mask ensuring a good seal.

Directingthe member of staff through the face fit exercises.

Recordingthe result of any face fit test.

Explainingto the member of staff which mask they have passed on and when they should bookanother fit test, if required.

Whereno fit is achieved advising staff on alternatives and how to access them.

Toactively support IPC in implementing and evaluatingthe Face Fit Test strategy and action plan.

Monitorand maintain stock levels of face masks and consumables

Cleanand maintain equipment according to manufacturers guidance.

Reportany issues identified with the portacount machines

Mattress Store

Integralto this, is the availability of Pressure Ulcer Prevention equipment.TheMattress Store Assistant Role is integral to the cleaning/decontamination /checking of the Trust Wide Mattresses, ensuring these medical devices are fitfor purpose and ensuring timely delivery to ward /department areas duringStores operational hours.

Thereare currently 2 Equipment/Mattress stores based at WRH and Alex sites under theline management of Infection Prevention Control team

KeyDuties:

Toensure Personal Protective Equipment is worn and used according to Trustpolicy.

Tomaintain competence in use of Mattress Medical Devices, in order to cascadeknowledge and skill to clinical staff when required.

Answertelephone/bleep enquiries for mattress delivery and collection and action in atimely manner.

Deliver/collectrequested items to clinical areas, assist in setting up and support staff withequipment if requested to do so.

Provideward based support for the appropriate and safe use of medical equipment/mattresses.

Provideadvice on cleaning and reinforce Trust process for decontamination of equipment/mattresses.

Visitwards / department clinical areas and Dirty Utility Mattress Store throughoutthe day to collect and deliver Trust mattresses and equipment.

Assistin providing ward based support with safe use of medical equipment/ mattresses.

Assistclinical staff in the setting up of relevant equipment and signpost staff to TV/IPC Website where equipment resources are available.

Collectequipment and mattresses on completion of use from clinical areas.

Followingcollection of used mattresses/equipment return to the store, and undertakescleaning and examination of the mattresses/equipment to ensure it is in workingorder.

CheckPAT testing details and arrange for servicing if required.

Decontaminationand storage of equipment in line with Trust guidelines/policy andmanufacturers instructions.

TheControl of substances hazardous to health (COSHH): The use and storage ofcleaning fluids as per manufacturers instructions.

Tobe competent of the use of Manual Handling Equipment/Transportation devices asper manufacturers instructions.

Liaisewith Technical Services, Estates and Contractors for breakdowns and routinemaintenance and servicing.

Throughoutday update the site inventory, maintain computer database/spread sheet identifying usage and returns. Keep anyother significant paperwork filed in chronological order,

Ensurestores are kept clean and orderly.

Tosupport IPC/TV team Yearly Mattress Audit across the 3 Trust sites.

Assistin service audit when requested by IPC /Lead TV Nurse / Technical ServicesManager

YearlyStock take of all Stores.

Liaisewith Specialist Nursing Teams Tissue Viability, Infection Control, for clinicaland professional advice, as required.

Adhereto Trust-wide policies and guidelines.

Toundertake Professional Development Review on yearly basis.

Ensurethe reporting of clinical incidents via Datix incident reporting system isundertaken

Carryout an audit of equipment if requested by TV Lead Nurse/IPC leadnurse/Technical Services manager.

Escalateto TV Lead Nurse or deputy if there is a shortage of equipment.

Abilityto travel and work across sites if needed.

Setup equipment for Trust Training.

Ensuresufficient ancillary supplies are available on 24hour basis: Mattress bags,cable ties and paperwork to record equipment taken out of hours.

Anyother duties as requested by manager

Communication

Establishand maintain relationships with members of staff and colleagues affiliated withMattress stores and Face Fit Testing.

Communicateeffectively with others, recognising that there may be a requirement to utilisealternative methods of communication to overcome barriers to understanding.

Assistclinical teams with selection of a mattress- understanding the water low score

Participatein discussions and team meetings, as required, in relation to mattress store/facefit testing process and PPE.

Highlightfailure of particular masks to the IPC Nurse Manager and PA to DIPC.

Highlightfailure of mattresses and associated pumps, dwindling stocks of mattresses/pumps to tissue viability

Planningand Organisational Skills

Planand organise with the support of the IPC Nurse Manager/PA DIPC workload in linewith face fit testing appointment system.

Makeamendments to the appointment system for face fit testing, as required, andreport any issues manager.

Physical Skills

Standardkeyboard skills required for data entry.

Developedphysical skills required to operate testing equipment.

Liftingof equipment (Portacount machine, consumables, mattresses, pumps and otherclinical equipment) for transport around hospital sites

Willbe required to transport equipment to various sites and wards/rooms.

Person Specification

Experience

• Previous experience working in a team
• Experience of communicating with different groups of people
• Understand the importance of decontamination and proper handling of chemicals (COSHH), including the correct use of PPE and disposal of waste, when cleaning mattresses/equipment.
• Have knowledge to understand why face fit testing is required and how the face masks work. Ability to explain to others why face fit testing is required.
• Experience of induction of new starters, ability to undertake pre-devised audits or training sessions.
• Has experience of completeing FFP3 face mask tests using portacount machine
• Has experience of decontaminating medical equipment and using cleaning chemicals and PPE.
• Experience of informal teaching

Skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Basic IT skills
• Previous use of computre systems

Qualifications

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths
• Fit to Fit Mask fitting

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.

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust