Protect Practitioner INTERNAL

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; Conwy; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales is seeking a Health Protection Practitioner to support infection prevention and control in closed settings such as care homes. You will work under the supervision of a Senior Protect Practitioner and contribute to disease surveillance, vaccination programmes and outbreak response across North Wales.

The role requires professional registration and a relevant degree, with experience in public health or health protection.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse on NMC Register
• Allied Health Professional registered with UK regulator (HCPC)
• Registered with UKPHR or EHRB Certificate of Registration
• Knowledge of infectious disease, infection prevention and control, and vaccination principles
• Understanding of health protection issues and public health frameworks
• Ability to work independently and in a team, and respond to novel demands

Responsibilities

• Provide Infectious Disease advice to closed settings and partner agencies
• Provide timely verbal and written feedback to Public Health Wales, BCU Health Board, Regulators and other partners
• Update and maintain Infectious Disease management systems
• Assist in collation and submission of statistics to Welsh Government and other bodies
• Support tracing requirements for national/local outbreaks and mentor junior staff

Education

Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (infectious disease and infection prevention and control)

Job description

Job Overview

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY BETSI CADWALADR UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD

This role is primarily responsible for supporting the delivery of clinical workstreams targeted at closed settings e.g. Care Homes

Health Protection Service Objectives

• Strengthen communicable disease preparedness and resilience across the health board
• Support the delivery of key vaccination programmes
• Engage in disease elimination initiatives and tackle health inequalities
• Deliver proactive health protection work in closed settings e.g. strengthening IPC practice in Care Homes
• Respond to communicable disease enquiries/incidents and novel health protection threats

The post-holder will need to posses a good understanding of the wider Health Protection System, be an effective team player, be able to work autonomously and enjoy responding to novel demands.

The post holder will support Residential Care Homes, and other closed settings as agreed, across North Wales to implement and evaluate relevant national and local guidance in the surveillance, prevention and management of Infectious Diseases. Protect Practitioners will work under the supervision of a Senior Protect Practitioner.

Main Duties of the Job

• The post holder will have good working knowledge of all relevant national guidance, legislation (if applicable), local pathways and frameworks to ensure appropriate Infectious Disease advice is given at all times to closed settings and sectors as agreed as appropriate, partner agencies and the BCU Health Board.
• Provide timely and accurate verbal and written feedback via Senior Protect Practitioner to Public Health Wales, BCU Health Board, Regulators and other relevant partners on Infectious Disease outbreak and management.
• Updates, utilises and maintain Infectious Disease management systems as required, in order to ensure public sector bodies have access to accurate and timely information.
• Assist in the collation, interpretation and submitting of statistics to Welsh Government / BCUB and other official bodies for publication.
• Support the Health Protection Service to deliver on tracing requirements instigated nationally or locally in response to Infectious Disease outbreaks. This will include familiarity with relevant tracing systems and the ability to train and support junior colleagues to implement agreed Standard Operating Systems.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our Organisation

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework.

Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents.

Person Specification

Professional Qualification

Essential Criteria

• Registered Nurse on NMC Register
• Allied Health Professional registered with a UK statutory regulator (e.g. HCPC)
• Registered with UKPHR or Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB) Certificate of Registration
• Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject specialist knowledge of infectious disease and infection prevention and control acquired through training at Post Graduate Diploma level or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of principal public health and health protection issues
• Knowledge of the main principles underpinning infectious disease, infection prevention and control, and vaccination and immunisation
• Knowledge of the needs of multi-cultural populations and sensitivity to cultural backgrounds
• Understanding of evidence based practice and related practical application
• Meet the requirements of their professional regulator/registration body for standards, registration, CPD, professional development and revalidation, and ensure that professional registration is maintained
• Ensure their specialist knowledge of health protection is kept up to date and based on current evidence.

Desirable criteria

• Recognised infection prevention and control qualification
• Recognised teaching and assessing qualification
• Higher degree in a relevant subject or working towards one
• Leadership qualification or experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a public health/health protection field
• Experience in disease surveillance and data analysis
• Experience in epidemiology in infectious disease or a public health field
• Experience of developing policies or guidelines
• Participation in audit, research and development
• Teaching experience
• Experience of service development
• Experience in handling data and using office software
• Experience in writing reports
• Evidence of relevant CPD
• Understanding of professional ethics and standards required in the NHS and by their professional regulator/registration body

Desirable criteria

• Experience of delivering health protection services
• Experience of working in primary and secondary care
• Experience of leading professional projects
• Experience of working with vaccine or immunisation services
• Involvement in providing infection prevention and control services

Values

Essential Criteria

• Understands the role inequality plays in poor health care outcomes and believes in positive corrective measures to address such inequalities
• Is empathetic in their approach to working alongside patients, families and staff
• Respects and empowers disadvantaged groups

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to work independently in addition to working as part of a team
• Ability to acknowledge any limitations in knowledge and competence and the appropriate actions to take
• Awareness of professional accountability
• Self-motivated
• Enthusiastic
• Able to respond to unpredictable workloads and meet deadlines while reprioritising work
• Flexible, adaptable and innovative approach to work to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to work flexible hours on occasions as necessary.

Aptitude And Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to assess, interpret and prioritise complex facts or Situations and take appropriate action
• Ability to co-ordinate and arrange multi-disciplinary activities with other professionals and agencies
• Excellent communication skills – ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information
• Effective presentation, writing, education and training skills
• Highly developed interpersonal skills both verbal and non-verbal
• Ability to convey and explain information of a sensitive complex or controversial nature to a distressed, hostile or antagonistic audience
• Computer literacy and keyboard skills
• Data entry, management and storage skills
• Ability to interpret and provide specialised information to healthcare professionals, members of public and other parties as required

Desirable criteria

• Ability to speak Welsh