Infection Prevention and Control Nurse

Job overview

This post may close early due to sufficient applications.

To provide infection prevention and control nursing services and expert advice in North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring the highest possible standards of practice in the prevention, surveillance and investigation of infection. To provide infection prevention and control advice as specified in Service Level Agreements.

Main duties of the job

Work as part of a team with the infection prevention and control nursing staff, Infection Control Doctor and Microbiology staff, and will liaise with external agencies and partners as required.

Provide an information flow to Senior Clinical Matrons, Heads of Service, General managers and Clinical Directors as required

Work as part of a team providing support for an assigned directorate

Be required to work with all staff and patients and be confident to professionally challenge poor practice at times.

Represent the trust externally to share good practice. Competently report back to the trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Act as a specialist adviser to all staff in matters relating to infection prevention and control.

Liaise and agree action with all necessary staff in the event of an outbreak of infection.

Assist in the investigation of outbreaks of infection with specific reference to source, mode of spread and means of control, and to implement plan for containment and prevention of further spread.

Contribute to the IPCT clinical audit programme to continuously evaluate clinical procedures to ensure compliance with agreed infection prevention and control measures, recommending change when necessary to reduce risk trust wide, including implementation of research and recent validated advances in infection prevention and control.

Identify and provide information and specialist education appropriate to need for different staff groups.

Represent the Infection Prevention and Control Team on relevant committees, working groups etc and provide active membership and appropriate specialist input.

Participate in the production of infection prevention and control reports as necessary.

Deliver formal and informal IPC training to a wide range of staff in different settings.

Participate in the production of infection prevention and control reports as necessary.

Requirement to travel to different sites, as necessary.

Provide counselling and/or information to patients, carers and staff on infection prevention and control measures relevant to their individual needs.

Participate in the formulation and review of policies and guidelines for the prevention and control of infection.

Contribute to QI projects and initiatives to improve IPC practice.

• Have an awareness of the Trust financial position and work efficiently and effectively to contribute to budgets
• Act as a practice supervisor to students attached to the department as part of their training
• Support junior members of the team
• Conduct appraisals as required
• Maintain accurate records
• Proficient on Microsoft packages such as word and excel
• Ensuring all relevant logs are kept up to date
• Contribute to the IPCT clinical audit programme
• Required to work autonomously, prioritise own workload, manage own diary. With supervision and guidance available from the IPC team, IPC matron and IPC lead nurse.

Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities.

Participate in review of own performance regularly and development of personal development plan at least every 12 months

Take responsibility for own actions

Recognise own personal strengths and weaknesses and identify appropriate strategies to enhance the strengths and overcome or minimise the weaknesses

Apply personal effectiveness skills in terms of time management, prioritisation, resource management, self-motivation and team work