Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

The Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist is a senior member of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team and provides expert clinical leadership, specialist advice, education, surveillance, assurance and quality improvement support across Whittington Health NHS Trust integrated care organisation.

The role requires excellent clinical leadership, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to influence practice, support service development and promote continuous improvement across the organisation. The post holder will act as a visible and credible specialist within the Infection Prevention and Control Team and contribute to achieving the Trust's strategic objectives for quality, safety and patient experience.

This is a replacement post within the established Infection Prevention and Control Team and provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced registered nurse with specialist IPC knowledge to further develop their leadership and professional practice within a dynamic NHS environment.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work autonomously and collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams to promote safe, effective and evidence-based infection prevention and control (IPC) practice across acute, community and outpatient services. They will contribute to the prevention, surveillance and management of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), support compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and lead initiatives to improve patient safety and quality of care.

As a specialist practitioner and educator, the post holder will support the development and delivery of IPC education and training programmes, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional development. They will provide expert advice, clinical supervision, competency assessment, coaching and mentorship to multidisciplinary staff.

The post holder will contribute to the development and delivery of IPC audits, surveillance and assurance programmes, using audit and compliance data to monitor standards, identify risks and support quality improvement. They will work with clinical teams to implement and sustain improvements in practice, strengthen organisational learning and enhance patient outcomes.

The post holder will lead designated areas of the Trust's Infection Prevention and Control Programme, contribute to governance and assurance processes, support outbreak and incident management, and deputise for the Operational Lead Nurse for IPC and/or the Head Nurse for IPC as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties

Clinical Leadership

• Provide highly specialist infection prevention and control advice to staff across the Trust.
• Promote best practice and evidence-based infection prevention and control measures.
• Act as an expert resource for complex infection prevention and control issues.
• Undertake daily surveillance and review of microbiology and pathology results via the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), identifying healthcare-associated infections, alert organisms, clusters and emerging trends, and ensuring appropriate infection prevention and control actions are implemented in a timely manner.
• Support clinical teams in reducing healthcare-associated infections and improving patient outcomes.
• Provide visible leadership in promoting safe practice and a positive patient safety culture.

Specialist Infection Prevention and Control Practice

• Lead and participate in infection prevention and control inspections, assurance audits and governance across all Trust services.
• Participate in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) rounds with the Antimicrobial Lead and the Antimicrobial Specialist Pharmacist.
• Monitor compliance with national standards, Trust policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support compliance with the Health and Social Care Act, Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and national infection prevention requirements.
• Prepare reports and assurance documentation for Trust governance committees.

Education, Professional Development and Workforce Capability

• Act as a senior clinical educator for infection prevention and control across Whittington Health.
• Work with the team in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Trust's infection prevention and control education and training strategy.
• Design, deliver and evaluate infection prevention and control teaching programmes for all staff groups, including registered professionals, support workers, medical staff, students, volunteers and contractors while ensuring that education programmes reflect current legislation, national guidance, evidence-based practice and Trust priorities.
• Provide specialist education during outbreaks, incidents and emerging infection threats to ensure staff maintain safe and effective practice. Utilise audit findings, surveillance data, incident investigations and patient safety learning to inform educational programmes and improve practice.
• Support the development and sustainability of Infection Prevention and Control Link Practitioner programmes across all clinical areas.
• Contribute to the assessment and validation of staff competencies relating to infection prevention and control practice.
• Work collaboratively with the Practice Education Team, Clinical Leads, Professional Leads and Divisional Teams to identify learning needs and develop targeted educational interventions.
• Promote a culture of continuous professional development, reflective learning and evidence-based practice throughout the organisation.

Surveillance and Reporting

• Lead on the surveillance activities relating to healthcare-associated infections.
• Analyse surveillance data and identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce regular reports for clinical divisions, senior management and governance committees.
• Contribute to achievement of Trust infection reduction targets and quality objectives.
• Utilise electronic surveillance systems and digital reporting tools to monitor infection prevention and control performance.
• Interpret complex data sets and present findings in an accessible format to clinical and management teams.
• Develop data-driven recommendations to support quality improvement and patient safety.
• Act as a clinical specialist for infection prevention and control audit and assurance activities across Whittington Health.
• Develop, coordinate and implement the Trust-wide IPC audit programme to ensure compliance with local and national standards.
• Lead and participate in audits relating to: Hand hygiene. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions (SICPs). Transmission-Based Precautions. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Isolation practices. Environmental cleanliness. Invasive device management. Aseptic technique. Decontamination and equipment management.
• Hand hygiene.
• Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions (SICPs).
• Transmission-Based Precautions.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Isolation practices.
• Environmental cleanliness.
• Invasive device management.
• Aseptic technique.
• Decontamination and equipment management.
• Analyse audit findings, surveillance data and compliance reports to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce comprehensive audit reports and assurance summaries for clinical divisions, governance groups, the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC) and Trust Board reporting structures.
• Develop and monitor action plans arising from audit findings, inspections, incidents and outbreaks.
• Support clinical teams to implement audit recommendations and achieve measurable improvements in compliance and patient safety outcomes. Provide expert advice and challenge where audit findings identify non-compliance or unsafe practice.
• Contribute to organisational preparedness for internal and external inspections, including CQC visits and PLACE-based partnership reviews.
• Support the development of audit tools, performance indicators and assurance frameworks aligned to national guidance and Trust priorities.
• Utilise quality improvement methodologies to support sustainable changes in practice and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
• Ensure lessons learned from audits, outbreaks, incidents and investigations are disseminated effectively and embedded into clinical practice.
• Work collaboratively with divisional leads, matrons, ward managers and governance teams to promote continuous improvement and demonstrate assurance against statutory and regulatory requirements.

Incident and Outbreak Management

• Lead and coordinate infection prevention and control responses to outbreaks, incidents and clusters.
• Undertake and contribute to post infection reviews (PIR) and serious incident investigations (SII).
• Participate in outbreak control meetings and implement agreed actions.
• Escalate infection prevention risks appropriately and support organisational risk management processes.
• Liaise with UK Health Security Agency and other partner organisations when required.

Service Development and Quality Improvement

• Lead and participate in quality improvement projects aimed at reducing infection risks.
• Contribute to the development and review of IPC policies, procedures and guidance.
• Support implementation of national guidance and emerging evidence.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative approaches to infection prevention.

Strategy, Policy and Governance

• Contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of the Trust Infection Prevention and Control Strategy and Annual Programme.
• Lead on the implementation of national infection prevention and control guidance and regulatory requirements across the organisation.
• Develop, review and update Trust infection prevention and control policies, procedures and guidance documents.
• Support organisational compliance with the Health and Social Care Act Code of Practice.
• Contribute expert specialist advice to Trust governance committees and working groups.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

• Critically appraise emerging evidence and best practice guidance relating to infection prevention and control.
• Support and participate in research, service evaluation and quality improvement projects.
• Promote evidence-based practice across all clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Disseminate learning from research, audits, outbreaks and incidents to improve patient outcomes.

Leadership and Management

• Deputise for the Operational Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control when required.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to junior members of the IPC team.
• Support appraisal, supervision and professional development processes.
• Represent the IPC Team at Trust meetings, working groups and external forums.
• Contribute to strategic planning and development of the IPC service.

Communication and Collaborative Partnership

• Communicate complex, sensitive and potentially contentious information effectively.
• Influence and challenge practice where infection prevention and control standards are not met.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with medical, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, estates, facilities, operational and community teams.

Revalidation and registration

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

• Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
• Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
• Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects and supporting training.
• Ensure optimum use is made of working time.

In addition to the standard Trust requirements, the post holder will:

• Maintain active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Comply with the NMC Code and associated professional standards.
• Maintain evidence for revalidation and continuing professional development.
• Act as a role model for professional practice and support colleagues in meeting revalidation requirements.
• Maintain specialist knowledge of infection prevention and control through ongoing education and professional development.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.