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Lead Nurse & Deputy Director, Infection Prevention & Control

Employer
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Location
Lewisham
Salary
£70,417 to £81,138 per annum plus HCA
Closing date
30 Jul 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
Profession
Nurse
Grade
Band 8C
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
Accountable to and deputising for the Chief Nurse(DIPC) in the day-to-day leadership and direction of professional staff in the provision of expert infection prevention and control advice and guidance.

Along with the Chief Nurse lead the Trust strategy for the delivery of a high quality and responsive infection control service delivering safe patient care across the Trust. Ensuring the delivery of on-going improvement in patient safety in accordance with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, controls and resource constraints.

The successful candidate

Main duties of the job

The postholder must be an expert nurse, providing leadership and professional advice with the DIPC to reduce infection rates to the lowest levels possible. To act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing roles.

Ensure the Trust continually improves its performance in reducing Healthcare Associated Infection by developing systems that are evidence based and grounded in best practice. The post holder will lead on education and support the Infection Prevention and Control team with audit and evaluation.

Provide supportive line management to the infection control teams for the Trust.

In collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control clinical lead respond rapidly and flexibly to emerging infections to ensure outbreaks are minimised, staff are informed, and systems and processes are established to monitor incidence.

In collaboration with the Associate Director of Estates and Facilities and the Deputy Chief Nurses ensure the hospital estate, cleaning, water and ventilation is managed to ensure high quality infection prevention and control and a safe environment for patients.

This post will include working and travelling to all hospital sites.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
  • Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  • Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  • Improving the experience of staff with disability
  • Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  • Making equalities mainstream


  • Job description

    Job responsibilities

    Performance

    1. Provide clinical leadership of Infection Prevention and Control practice ensuring the provision of interdisciplinary care for patients using professional expertise. Contribute to the professional development in infection prevention and control across Lewisham and Greenwich Trust.

    2. Deputise for the DIPC within the Trust and externally.

    3. Act as an expert advisor to medical, nursing, health professionals, patients, and relatives within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. This involves acting as an expert practitioner through leadership, consultation, clinical advice, teaching, research and mentorship/support for staff. Demonstrate advanced clinical skills and knowledge in the field of infection prevention and control to achieve high quality clinical outcomes and reduction in infection rates.

    4. Lead programmes to achieve a high level of compliance with the Health Act 2008 (updated 2015), its Code of Practice and national guidance for infection prevention and control. Ensure that these strategies are interpreted and linked through to the clinical governance and performance framework. Provide the Trust Board with assurance of compliance with the Hygiene Code.

    5. Lead on ensuring the Trust has in place up to date policies and procedures related to IPC, which are subject to an annual audit programme to monitor compliance, taking responsibility to address any gaps in assurance.

    6. Contribute to the clinical governance systems with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Liaising with the governance department in relation to the preparation of the Care Quality Commissions Statements of Compliance and the achievement of the Care Quality Commission core standards and other similar strategies.

    7. Lead the mandated IPC reporting on behalf of the DIPC, including reporting to the Trust Board.

    8. In collaboration with the DIPC and other key members of the IPCT produce a comprehensive annual report and annual programme of work that outlines the Trust annual strategy to the prevention and control of infection.

    9. Oversee investigations of infection incidents, outbreaks and decontamination incidents, identifying lessons learnt, sharing best practice and identifying teams or individuals where additional support is required fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

    10. Organise and lead new practice initiatives in the management of healthcare associated infections involving key professionals within the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

    11. Act as a professional advisor to staff within the Trust on all matters relating to Infection Prevention and Control including key contact for all clinical and non-clinical teams that support the delivery of excellent infection prevention and control services.

    12. Function as an autonomous, expert practitioner providing an advanced level of care, including the assessment of patients and the initiation of treatment and investigations, as clinical leader of the Infection Prevention and Control Nursing Team.

    13. Ensure that appropriate, consistent information is available for patients, relatives, staff, and visitors and is regularly reviewed, updated and promoted.

    14. Work collaboratively with the Infection Control Doctor and Antimicrobial Pharmacist to ensure appropriate antimicrobial prescribing practices are in place.

    15. Contribute to the IPC programme of work on the relevant Trust committees as delegated, e.g., Water and Ventilation Committee, assuring the Trust that the programme meets regulatory and best practice standards.

    16. Provide rapid response and support for patients identified as at risk by ward staff/clinical site managers, ensuring the safe allocation or transfer of patients. Decide when, where and how wards/departments should be closed/open in relation to outbreaks of infection.

    Workforce

    1. The post holder will head the IPCT, ensuring that post holders discharge their responsibilities effectively.

    2. Conduct annual appraisals, providing support, guidance and personal development as required.

    3. Ensure that all staff have an annual performance and development review (utilising the knowledge and skills framework), have a personal development plan and are up to date with their mandatory training.

    4. As part of line management responsibilities, the postholder will be responsible for the management of sickness absence for staff, any grievance, or disciplinary matters, contribute to the recruitment and selection decisions and the departmental workloads.

    Financial

    1. Hold the budget for the Infection Prevention and Control Team, authorising expenditure within an allocated budget.

    2. Be accountable for ensuring that the Infection Prevention and Control Team remains within the agreed budget levels. Ensuring that the departments physical resources are used to maximise safe and effective patient care.

    3. Take responsibility for business planning, formulating cases of need and submitting bids for funding.

    Partnerships

    1. Develop collaborative links with local universities, the Clinical academy and other appropriate education establishments to develop new and innovative education programmes, which meet the need of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust service developments.

    2. Take part in the direct delivery of education and training programmes at pre and post registration level and for other healthcare workers to develop critical thought processes and knowledge to improve patient care.

    3. Actively engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the Trust is a leading edge in delivering healthcare governance and clinical standards in relation to infection prevention and control.

    General

    1. To be influential in managing change in accordance with research-based evidence.

    2. To support reflective practice and undertake root cause analysis as appropriate.

    3. To contribute to the development of their own area of practice outside their own setting through disseminating their work improve the health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities.

    4. Actively participate in the trusts nursing and midwifery research agenda.

    5. Develop and/or collaborate in an active programme of research and evaluation in infection prevention and control.

    6. Collaborate with other health care professionals in initiating and promoting research. Support where appropriate other individuals in the conduct of research and promote dissemination and implementation of findings.

    7. Contribution towards the internal and external academic research programme.

    8. Attend national and regional meetings within and outside the speciality.

    9. Actively participate as a member of the Infection Prevention Society and attend regular meetings/study days and disseminate information across the MDT.

    10. To develop appropriate practices through understanding the implications of and applying epidemiological, social, political and professional trends and developments.

    11. To identify gaps in evidence and/or practice and alert appropriate agencies.

    Person Specification

    Qualifications and Training

    Essential

    • RGN - current registration
    • Diploma or Degree in Infection Control
    • Teaching qualification
    • MSC in related subject


    Desirable

    • Master's degree


    Experience

    Essential

    • Extensive post registration experience to include at least significant experience at Band 7 or above.
    • Broad range of clinical experience
    • Experience in managing change and introducing innovations
    • Experience of project management.
    • Experience and evidence of developing evidence based guidelines or information.
    • Evidence of publication or ability to write to that standard
    • Track record of applying research to practice
    • Evidence of recent significant expert clinical skills.


    Desirable

    • Experience in governance and PSIRF


    Knowledge & Skills

    Essential

    • Knowledge of how corporate and NHS organisations work and how to manage change within them.
    • Knowledge of current research and developments in the field of infection control.


    Personal Qualities

    Essential

    • Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills
    • Organisational skills
    • Presentation and teaching skills
    • Ability to listen to and respond appropriately to information.


    Employer details

    Employer name

    Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

    Address

    University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital

    Lewisham High Road

    Lewisham

    SE13 6LH

    Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

    197-AO5548

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