Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a strategic role within Public Health Wales (PHW) for leadership, advise and support on matters relating to Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) best practices standards and organisational arrangements. The post holder will be responsible on leading the provision of specialist IPC advice and support to the Healthcare Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing Programme (HARP) for Public Health Wales.    The post holder will be an experienced IPC specialist nurse/practitioner able to advise and supports managers and teams in complex decisions in the management prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections. in This person will be dynamic and adaptable and be able to work on their own, as part of a team and in collaboration/matrix working.

The post holder will provide system resource, support, and expertise in IPC to all areas in NHS Wales, providing assurance that performance and regulatory functions (as applicable) and responsibilities are met. You will assist and support NHS Wales, and health and social care to provide oversight and assurance to ensure safe, efficient, and effective IPC provision is maintained

. Through effective leadership, strategic and professional management s, the post holder will drive forward a planned programme of work through partnership working within Public Health Wales and wider NHS teams and work with other key partners as relevant to IP&C  e.g. Health Board and Trust Infection, Prevention & Control Colleagues, Health and Social Care, Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW), NHS Executive or associated specialists in AMR, microbiology, decontamination, procurement, education and  training.

The post holder will utilise their expert knowledge and experience to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of high standards of care ensuring equality of service. You will be responsive to the needs of the services and its users and empower both clinical and non-clinical staff to make informed decisions regarding IPC through the education and training provided. The post holder will be experienced in quality improvement methodology and practice to enable a quality improvement approach to be taken, where applicable to the IP&C agenda. This will include providing leadership and advice on IP&C audit related activity.

The post holder will promote the provision of safe environments of care for Service users, the public and staff (to include contractors) in terms of infection prevention and control. The role involves high level advice and support for the care and management of service users with known or suspected communicable infections, leading local surveillance, auditing of clinical and non-clinical practice, management and control of outbreaks and periods of increased infectious incidence (to include Welsh Government no surprises reporting), research and practice development.

The post holder will provide senior leadership and operational support for the development, implementation and ongoing review of the Infection Prevention and Control Strategy, policies, systems and processes, decontamination. This includes providing an advisory function for commissioned services and any capital developments which have IP&C implications or requirements. 

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the prevention and control of infection is integral and embedded in the day-to-day activities and practice of the organisation. This work also contributes to achieving the PHW strategy ‘Working to Achieve a Healthier Future for Wales’ specifically the objective of ‘protecting the public from infection and environmental threats’.

All professional staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they are deemed competent.  Clinical staff are also required to comply with the requirements of their professional organisation regarding supervision and validation. The safe care of service users and patients will remain central to this role with a strong focus on preventing harm and improving practice in IP&C.

This post incorporates clinical sites across Wales; therefore, it is essential that the post holder has the ability to travel to ensure the needs of the service and role are met. The post holder will primarily be based at a Public Health Wales office, with also the ability to work from home (hybrid working).