Patient Safety and IPC Manager

Mediclinic Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 650 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Cape Town is seeking a Patient Safety and IPC Manager to improve safety culture and procedures. Key responsibilities include establishing patient safety initiatives, managing infection prevention protocols, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have a nursing qualification, relevant experience in Patient Safety and IPC, and strong skills in systems analysis and risk management. This role is vital for maintaining high standards in patient care and safety.

Qualifications

• Nursing qualification or diploma required.
• 1 – 2 years of experience in Patient Safety or Quality Improvement.
• 1 – 2 years of experience in Infection Prevention and Control.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain Patient Safety culture and outcomes.
• Implement and maintain Infection Prevention and Control programme.
• Manage and oversee clinical audits and ensure compliance.

Skills

Systems analysis

Risk management

Auditing

Team facilitation

Data analysis

Education

Nursing qualification (degree or diploma)

Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control

Job description

Job Title

Patient Safety and IPC Manager

Closing Date

26/01/2026

Reference

66555

Recruiter

Helena Padayachee

Workplace

On-site, Permanent

Main Purpose

To establish, improve and sustain the Patient Safety behaviour, outcomes and culture in the hospital. This starts with the identification, reporting and analysis of clinical patient harm events and the use of these findings alongside hospital clinical outcomes and divisional Patient Safety priorities to plan, facilitate and execute improvement work. It includes supporting and capacitating clinical colleagues to use approved Patient Safety and Quality Improvement methods within daily clinical work to effect Continuous Improvement and better patient outcomes. Finally, the role monitors whole‑system performance by tracking and mitigating risks to clinical Patient Safety and regulatory compliance through quality control, audit and assurance activities.

To ensure the implementation and maintenance of a functional Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme at hospital level to prevent and control infections and provide a safe environment for patients, healthcare workers and the broader community. To perform surveillance, risk identification, investigation, classification and analysis to enable targeted interventions and trend monitoring to reduce healthcare associated infections and transmission. To ensure that all healthcare associated infections are classified according to surveillance definitions and reported in order to manage risks. To assess practice based on evidence‑based guidelines, provide outcomes, recommendations and support for intervention and improvement. Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. To support and develop IPC knowledge and application and adherence to IPC principles in all aspects of healthcare delivery.

Key Responsibility Areas

Patient Safety (50%)

• Identify, report and investigate Patient Safety using systems analysis methodology.
• Lead the MCSA Patient Safety culture at the hospital through Quality Improvement initiatives and awareness of patient safety risks and mitigation methods.
• Identify training needs in the hospital to enable and build a Patient Safety and Quality Improvement culture.
• Manage and oversee clinical audits and accreditations and ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements including medico‑legal investigations.

Infection Prevention and Control (50%)

• Identify, mitigate and manage risks related to IPC.
• Investigate, analyse and interpret clinical data and act on findings.
• Manage and oversee IPC audits and ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Identify training needs in the hospital and provide input in the development of training material.
• Manage key stakeholder relations.

Education

Required Education

• Nursing qualification (degree or diploma).

Desired Education

• Formal Infection Prevention Control short course.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control.

Experience

Desired Experience

• 1 – 2 years Patient Safety or Quality Improvement related work, supervision of a small team.
• 1 – 2 years IPC related work, supervision of a small team.

Job Skills and Knowledge

• Demonstrates sound knowledge in the utilisation of systems related to risk management, e.g. safety event management system.
• Proficient in systems analysis and analytical thinking to identify factors contributing to patient harm and to healthcare‑associated infections and institute preventative measures.
• Proficient in facilitating team sessions in an inclusive, non‑punitive manner to understand system contributing factors to patient safety events using appropriate tools such as systems analysis or driver diagrams.
• Proficient in conducting audits to ensure compliance and closing of gaps following audits (e.g. compliance to hand hygiene and environmental cleaning audits).
• Basic knowledge and application of all relevant legislative requirements and accreditation standards.
• IPC surveillance and risk identification.
• Investigation, management of outbreaks.
• Understanding and application of IPC principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Quality Improvement initiatives and implementation based on the Model of Improvement and principles of QI science.
• Proficiency in writing reports and feedback.
• Basic computer skills (e.g. MS Office).
• Knowledge of enabling a Patient Safety culture and the behaviours of a 'Just culture'.
• Interpretation and application of CDC definitions.
• Competence in the classification of adverse events.
• Proficiency in analysing and interpreting data, understanding variation and using data for quality improvement rather than judgement.

All applicants will be considered, with the understanding that preference will be given in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of Mediclinic Southern Africa, as well as internal applicants/employees that meet the minimum requirements.