NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical 

• To work within the Infection Prevention and Control Team under supervision, providing specialist nursing input in the identification, prevention, monitoring / surveillance and control of infection within the Trust, learning to analyse a range of complex information and problem solving.
• To develop into a specialist nurse in infection prevention and control, advising all grades and disciplines of staff, continuously using problem solving and analytic skills, in order to provide the best advice in challenging situations.
• To visit wards and departments to manage alert organisms and advise on implementing the appropriate precautions, under supervision, using specialist IPC knowledge and analysing a range of complex information.
• To advise staff when patient isolation is necessary, ensuring the correct precautions are implemented and reviewed, under supervision of the senior IPC nurses.
• To work in conjunction with Ward Managers, Infection Prevention and Control Team and Bed/Service Managers regarding movement and isolation of patients with infections or infectious diseases.
• To learn how to identify and investigate outbreaks of infection and assist the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control / Associate Director Infection Prevention and Control in managing outbreaks.
• To participate in Infection Control Surveillance Programmes.
• To learn how to access and review microbiology / virology results provided for the infection prevention and control nurses via the Winpath system, including interpreting results accurately, entering results into the appropriate local and national databases and advising ward staff about appropriate control measures whilst analysing a range of complex information.
• To learn and understand the significance of microbiological results, in order to support Trust staff appropriately, in preventing and controlling infection.
• To assist with undertaking infection reviews using the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework and organising ward based swarms
• To give input into reviewing infection control policies and procedures, with other members of the Infection Control Team.
• To continually monitor infection control practice, including hand hygiene and correct use of personal protective equipment and provide feedback, as appropriate, to staff of all grades and local managers, in order to support staff in improving their practice.
• To monitor infection control aspects of the patient environment, under supervision, and provide feedback to local managers where improvements are needed.
• To collect relevant IPC information as indicated by the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control Nurse and Associate Director of Infection Prevention and Control, within agreed timescales.
• To provide effective communication with patients, their relatives and relevant others to impart information and support, which may be of a sensitive and emotive nature.
• To identify potential infection hazards, e.g. environmental or practice related, seeking advice from senior IPC nurses before advising on appropriate remedial action to relevant personnel, sometimes in challenging situations.
• To assist in the initiation of appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection.
• To use relevant information technology to collect and interpret data, review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations where necessary, as directed by the senior IPC nurses.
• To participate in the writing of infection control reports in conjunction with the infection control team.
• To be an active member of the Control of Infection Committee and attend other relevant committees and working groups.
• To participate in the development and implementation of the Annual Infection Prevention and Control Plan and contribute to the Annual Infection Control Report.

Leadership or managerial

• To act as a role model and visible leader for infection prevention and control in clinical areas, engaging staff and advocating high standards of IPC practice, and challenging poor practice, as appropriate.
• To assist with running the infection prevention and control link practitioner / champion programme, in order to help raise IPC standards across the Trust.

Professional

• The post holder will be expected to develop their own IPC knowledge, understanding and skills, including knowledge and understanding of microbiology / virology.
• The post will be expected to demonstrate competence in line with the Professional Core Competencies for Infection Control Nurses and NMC revalidation requirements.
• The post holder will be expected to take up learning opportunities as provided and actively participate in their own learning.
• The post holder will be expected to undertake and successfully complete a formal qualification in infection prevention and control, as discussed and agreed with the Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention and Control and within agreed timescales.
• The post holder will be expected to conduct themselves in accordance with Trust standards towards service users, carers, colleagues and other agencies, including maintaining high levels of communication and personal conduct at all times.

Clinical Research / Audit / Quality Assurance

• To critically evaluate information and research to assist in formulating evidence-based IPC advice.
• To learn how to competently carry out IPC audits, including knowledge and understanding of audit standards, providing clear verbal feedback to local managers and writing up audit reports to a high standard within agreed timescales and paying attention to detail.
• To assist with developing/reviewing audit tools pertinent to IPC, as required.
• To participate in quality assurance processes around infection prevention and control.

Service improvement

• To actively participate in the work of the IPC Team to improve clinical services and care for patients.
• To contribute to improving the way the IPC Team works, to maximise efficiency of team resources.

Communications and Engagement

• To use a range of communication skills, both written and verbal, with a range of staff and disciples in order to convey key messages and when providing advice, to ensure communication is effective.
• To be able to clearly articulate IPC advice, both verbally and in writing, taking account of the recipient’s level of knowledge and understanding of IPC matters.
• Learn to deliver IPC training for a range of staff across the organisation, using specialist IPC knowledge, to engage staff in the benefit of IPC and for improving patient care and safety.
• To contribute to developing training packages appropriate to the target audience, in order to adequately convey IPC learning, using specialist IPC knowledge.

 General responsibilities

• To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work.