Lead Nurse IPC - Infection Prevention and Control

NHS; Salford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Greater Manchester is seeking a Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The successful candidate will deliver high-quality IPC services, provide leadership, and collaborate with clinical teams. Candidates must be registered nurses with substantial nursing experience and qualifications in public health or IPC. This role offers a unique opportunity for impactful work in enhancing patient safety across the region.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Flexible working opportunities

Generous annual leave allowance

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a senior nurse.
• Knowledge and experience in policy development.
• Understanding of political and cultural complexities of the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Provide managerial and professional leadership for the IPC team.
• Deliver high-quality proactive IPC service.
• Support continuous development of the IPC service.

Skills

Demonstrable experience using Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel

Ability to travel to different locations across the NCA

Education

Degree (health related)

Masters Level study in IPC or equivalent

Specialist managerial/leadership qualification

Job description

Overview

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust – Lead Nurse IPC - Infection Prevention and Control

The closing date is 14 October 2025

The post holder will be a registered nurse with demonstrable leadership skills and significant experience as a senior nurse and clinical expert in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).

They will have a proven track record of leadership projects and training, as well as an in-depth knowledge of associated working partnerships/services that have a direct impact on IPC. S/he will be directly responsible to the NCA Assistant Director of Nursing Infection Prevention and Control and accountable to the Director of Nursing Infection Prevention and Control and Chief Nurse (DIPC) in delivering upon the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) IPC strategy at care organisation level.

The post holder will be part of the senior IPC leadership team, acting as a deputy when required, and as senior support to IPC staff across the NCA as required. They will be required to be adaptable to the service needs of the group which will require cross site working/cover as necessary to maintain a safe and optimal IPC service across the NCA. The post holder will support the IPC strategy as the organisation moves towards a clinically led model of operation, by collaborating and engaging with senior management teams of the clinical groups to deliver upon the overall IPC agenda, creating workable solutions and providing highly expert professional infection control advice, leadership decision making, and accurate and timely reporting.

Main duties of the job

Provide managerial and professional leadership for the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPC team) as a senior nurse leader, ensuring the delivery of a high quality proactive IPC service in accordance with the Care Quality Commission, Health Care Act and the Code of Practice.

The successful candidate will inspire and motivate others, acting as a role model and a professional source of advice for staff, patients, relatives and members of the public when required.

You will be confident in using evidence based IPC and in challenging and innovating evidence to ensure that IPC remains a highly visible service on the CO agenda and an integral part of a robust patient safety programme. They will deliver upon improvement targets and initiatives with the support of the ADNS IPC and the Director of Nursing IPC and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

We are looking for the successful candidate to support the continuous development, implementation and monitoring of an expert IPC service, actively encouraging and enabling advancement and development of the IPC workforce, enabling individuals and teams to be the very best they can be.

The post holder will use their leadership skills to facilitate collaborative working across the organisation and key stakeholders, thereby strengthening the IPC service and agenda across the NCA.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we\'re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire- to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack (opens in existing window)

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrable experience using Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel
• The ability to travel to different locations across the NCA in line with the IPC service

Professional Registration

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration (Part 1 Adult / General Level 1 or 2)

Knowledge, Training & Experience

• Significant experience as a senior nurse
• Person centred approaches
• Knowledge and experience in policy development
• Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves respects and learns from the contribution of others
• Demonstrably committed to and focused on quality promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes
• Evidence of network working
• Understanding of the political and cultural complexities of the NHS
• Experience of working with regulators
• Knowledge and experiences of managing complex professional issues
• Knowledge of quality assurance and improvement methods and their application
• Ability to contribute to the nursing and midwifery practice debate

Qualifications

• Degree (health related) or portfolio of evidence
• Masters Level study in IPC or demonstrable equivalent level of study
• Evidence of extensive expert professional knowledge in area supplemented by specialist managerial / leadership qualification
• Expert knowledge in 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.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust