Infection Prevention Specialist

Life Healthcare; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking an Infection Prevention Specialist for Life Mercantile Hospital in Gqeberha. The ideal candidate will execute infection prevention strategies, lead committees, and ensure compliance with health standards. A strong focus on education, monitoring, and improving infection control practices is essential. This is a pivotal role ensuring safety for patients and staff in a clinical environment.

Qualifications

• Sound clinical infection prevention knowledge.
• Experience in a specialist unit is advantageous.
• Agree to ongoing training and certification.

Responsibilities

• Execute the hospital infection prevention strategy.
• Lead the Infection Prevention Committee.
• Monitor and assess high-risk patients to minimize infection risk.

Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Building Relationships

Research Skills

Resilience

Education

Qualified Infection Prevention and Control Specialist

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Function Nursing Facility Position Infection Prevention Specialist Introduction

A vacancy exists for an Infection Prevention Specialist based at Life Mercantile Hospital , reporting to Raathiga Veerapathran , Nursing Standards Manager , to identify, manage, mitigate, and evaluate infection prevention risks to patients, employees, and the community and business stakeholders.

Critical Outputs

Execute the hospital infection prevention strategy.

• A well communicated and effective strategy with clearly defined objectives in line with organizational requirements.
• Implement an infection prevention plan aligned to the business objectives of the business unit; and based on the historic facility experience, incidents and audit findings and Life Healthcare national targets.
• Lead the Infection Prevention Committee and direct reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, trending and actions of all infection related incidents or risks.
• Set the business unit Infection Prevention targets with the Nursing team.
• Comply with legal and company requirements through internal audits (laundry, sterilization and storage department, catering, healthcare risk waste, internal infection and prevention control audit), and the hazardous biological agent risk assessment.
• Participate in and manage the close out of findings of the Department of Health inspection.
• Participate in and manage the close out of findings of the external and internal QMS reviews.
• All close outs from internal audits, external audits and inspections are monitored and evaluated for effectiveness at MANCO and Quality Review meetings.
• Surveillance and reporting to minimise infection prevention risk.
• Patient and environmental risks identified and mitigated.
• Monitor and assess high risk patients to minimise infection risk.
• Monitor and assess the environment to identify and minimise infection risk.
• Consult with relevant subject matter experts in order to take appropriate remedial action and monitor effectiveness.
• Communicate infection risks, trends and actions to the MANCO, Unit Managers, Medical Advisory Committee, and Quality Review Committee.
• Identify, minimise, and manage occupation exposure to hazardous biological agents.
• Occupational risks identified and mitigated.
• Ensure that Hep B programme is offered to all HCW’s.
• Monitor and evaluate the placement of high-risk employees to minimise occupational health risks.
• Monitor and evaluate the environment to identify and minimise occupational health risks.
• Consult with relevant subject matter experts to take appropriate remedial action and monitor effectiveness.
• Ensure excellence in infection prevention practice and build competence in infection prevention management within the facility.
• Technical and professional competence in infection prevention at business unit level.
• Keep your knowledge updated and abreast of international best practice in infection prevention.
• Provide subject matter knowledge and advise to the business unit.
• Facilitate standard and ad hoc training as required to align business unit to organizational training strategy for (not limited to) Handwashing exposure to body fluids infection prevention bundle compliance health care waste significant resistant organisms link nurse training.
• Identify the risk profile of each unit and design and coordinate an appropriate in-service training strategy with the enabling team for the business unit.
• Induct new employees in infection prevention and occupational health risk.
• Manage internal and external outbreaks to minimise risk
• Patient, employee and environmental and risks identified and mitigated.
• As a member of the Emergency Action committee annually review the Outbreak Management Process in the hospital emergency plan.
• In the event of the outbreak, lead the outbreak task team to control the outbreak and minimise further risk.
• Communicate the outbreak status, epidemiology, risk, prevention measures and impact to internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Qualified Infection Prevention and Control Specialist.
• Sound clinical Infection prevention knowledge.
• Experience in a specialist unit advantageous.
• Under exceptional circumstances, where no trained IPS is available or suitable, a strong motivation from Nurse Manager and Regional Nurse Manager may be submitted to the SA Nursing Executive for consideration. If not trained, the candidate must agree to enrol to do the LHC certificate course with immediate effect.
• Agree to do the 2-day job profile induction programme (within 1 month) as well as the 3 day IP introductory course (within 3 months)
• Excellent basic computer skills (Microsoft Office).
• Understanding of the private healthcare industry.
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Practical Execution
• Building Relationships
• Communication
• Knowledge Management
• Rule Orientation
• Research Skills
• Ethical Behaviour
• Leading by Example
• Resilience
• Problem Solving and Analysis

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