Lead Infection control nurse

EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Greater London; Sur place; GBP 52 000 - 62 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

East London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Band 8A Deputy Lead Infection Prevention and Control Nurse to join the IPC Team on a temporary three-month agency placement. You will provide senior clinical and operational leadership across mental health and community services.

Reporting to the Deputy Director / Trustwide IPC Lead, you will lead outbreak investigations, oversee IPC surveillance and audits, support IPC training and development, and ensure compliance with national

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with substantial IPC experience, including senior management.
• Postgraduate Infection Prevention and Control qualification.
• Experience in outbreak management and IPC governance.
• Excellent communication, organisational and IT skills.

Responsabilités

• Provide senior clinical and operational leadership across IPC services.
• Lead outbreak investigation, management and surveillance.
• Oversee IPC audits, risk assessments and quality improvement.
• Support IPC training and professional development of nursing staff.
• Deputise for Deputy Director / Trustwide IPC Lead when required.
• Contribute to winter preparedness and service resilience.

Connaissances

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Autonomy

Strategic planning

Formation

Registered nurse (NMC)

Postgraduate IPC qualification

Outils

IT skills

Description du poste

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Band 8A Deputy Lead Infection Prevention and Control Nurse to join the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team at East London NHS Foundation Trust on a temporary three-month agency placement.

The successful candidate will provide senior clinical and operational leadership across the Trust's mental health and community services, supporting the delivery of a safe, effective and responsive IPC service.

Working closely with the Deputy Director / Trustwide Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, the postholder will provide expert clinical advice, lead on the management of outbreaks, oversee IPC surveillance and audit programmes, and support the day‑to‑day management and development of the IPC nursing team.

We are looking for a confident and experienced IPC practitioner with strong leadership, communication and organisational skills, who can work autonomously, manage competing priorities and provide evidence‑based advice in a complex healthcare environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining IPC standards, supporting winter preparedness and ensuring the continued delivery of essential IPC services across the Trust.

The postholder will provide senior clinical and operational leadership to the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team across East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide specialist IPC advice across mental health and community services.
• Lead outbreak investigation, management and surveillance.
• Oversee daily IPC operations, staff supervision, workload allocation and professional development.
• Coordinate IPC audits, risk assessments and quality improvement activities.
• Ensure compliance with IPC policies, national guidance and infection prevention standards.
• Work collaboratively with clinical teams, Microbiology, Estates and Facilities.
• Support IPC training, governance, incident investigations and assurance reporting.
• Contribute to winter preparedness and service resilience.
• Deputise for the Deputy Director / Trustwide IPC Lead when required.

The successful candidate must have substantial IPC experience, strong leadership skills and the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and provide effective operational support from the outset.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

The postholder will work closely with the Deputy Director / Trustwide Lead for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), providing senior clinical expertise and operational leadership to support the delivery of a safe, effective and high-quality IPC service across East London NHS Foundation Trust.

The role requires an experienced IPC practitioner who can work autonomously, manage complex clinical situations and provide leadership and support to the IPC nursing team across mental health and community services.

Clinical Leadership and Infection Prevention

• Provide specialist, evidence‑based IPC advice to clinical and operational teams across the Trust.
• Lead the investigation, management and monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks, ensuring timely implementation of appropriate control measures.
• Oversee surveillance of healthcare‑associated infections, including interpretation of microbiology results, identification of infection risks and implementation of preventative measures.
• Support the delivery of the Trust's IPC programme, ensuring compliance with national guidance, legislation and local IPC policies.
• Undertake clinical risk assessments and provide expert advice on patient isolation, screening, transmission‑based precautions and infection prevention measures.
• Work collaboratively with Microbiology, clinical teams, Estates, Facilities and external stakeholders to manage complex IPC issues.

Operational Management and Leadership

• Provide day‑to‑day operational leadership and coordination of the IPC service across allocated areas.
• Support the management, supervision and professional development of IPC nurses and administrative staff.
• Coordinate workload allocation, clinical priorities and service delivery to ensure effective use of available resources.
• Support staff supervision, appraisals, competency development and performance management in accordance with Trust policies.
• Identify and escalated operational risks, staffing pressures and service delivery concerns.
• Deputise for the Deputy Director / Trustwide Lead IPC Nurse when required.

Audit, Surveillance and Quality Improvement

• Coordinate and oversee IPC environmental audits, clinical walkabouts and surveillance programmes.
• Review audit findings, identify areas for improvement and ensure appropriate action plans are developed and monitored.
• Support the investigation of infection‑related incidents, root cause analyses and dissemination of lessons learned.
• Contribute to the development, review and implementation of IPC policies, procedures and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure accurate documentation, reporting and monitoring of IPC activities.

Education, Training and Professional Development

• Provide specialist IPC education, training and guidance to clinical and non‑clinical staff.
• Support the development of IPC competencies and promote evidence‑based practice across services.
• Provide clinical supervision, coaching and mentorship to members of the IPC nursing team.
• Promote a positive learning environment and support continuous professional development.

Governance, Risk Management and Assurance

• Contribute to IPC governance arrangements, risk assessments and assurance reporting.
• Support the preparation of IPC reports for quality governance meetings, committees and other Trust forums.
• Ensure identified IPC risks are appropriately documented, escalated and monitored.
• Work collaboratively with senior clinical leaders to maintain IPC standards and support regulatory compliance.
• Contribute to winter preparedness, outbreak contingency planning and service resilience.

The successful candidate must be a registered nurse with substantial specialist experience in Infection Prevention and Control, including previous experience at Band 7 level or above.

A relevant postgraduate IPC qualification, demonstrable experience in outbreak management, clinical leadership, staff supervision and service delivery are essential.

The postholder must possess excellent communication, organisational, analytical and IT skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and provide effective senior clinical leadership from the outset.

This is a temporary three‑month agency position requiring an experienced IPC professional who can contribute immediately to operational service delivery and support the existing IPC team.