Reporting directly to and working with the Trust's Infection Prevention & Control Lead Nurse (IPC Lead Nurse), the senior IPC Nurse is key to ensuring that the clinical environments and practice across the Trust conform to the highest IPC standards.

The Senior ICN will support the IPC Lead Nurse in the planning and implementation of an effective and consistent IPC programme of work across the Trust, ensuring that the Trust is compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 -Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance and delivery of regulatory compliance.

They must will be able to work in what can be a very challenging environment at times. In addition, they need to be able to travel between the various sites within the Trust; these sites are spread over quite a wide geographical area

Main duties of the job

Working collaboratively with the wider IPCT to deliver the IPC annual programme of work ,in addition to responding to other work resulting from new emerging infections or changes in guidance.

Being a visible IPC presence around the Trust.

Providing expert IPC advise to the staff and patients in the Trust either in person, on the telephone or via email or Teams.

Undertake IPC audits and provide detailed reports and action plans arising from the audits.

Undertake surveillance and keep accurate retrievable data.

Provide an IPC teaching programme

Write accurate and timely IPC reports as required

Represent the IPCT in both internal and external meetings

About us

Barnet and Enfield and Haringey is a very busy and very welcoming Trust.

The Trust is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for the service users and actively involves patients in decisions about their care.

The Trust values it's staff and works hard to ensure they are happy and safe at work.

The Trust works hard to live by its values:

Compassion

Respect

Being positive

Working together

Job description Job responsibilities

Operational Management and Leadership:

• Assist the IPC Lead Nurse to develop and implement an effective IPC work programme
• Take a lead on specific workstreams of the IPC annual programme of work as required by the IPC Lead Nurse, Deputy Nursing Director of Nursing, and the Infection Control Doctor.
• Lead by example, being a role model for IPC, always demonstrating appropriate, professional, and personal behaviours in accordance with the Trust values.
• Deputise for the IPC Lead Nurse where required
• Support a positive, proactive culture of service delivery across all areas of patient care which embeds best practice.
• Be a visible and accessible IPC expert within the Trust, providing expert advice and guidance in person, by telephone and email and on Teams
• Support the Trust staff to reach and maintain the required standards of IPC
• Provide accurate, high level, timely IPC reports where required
• Participate in relevant internal and external meetings, forum and workshops as directed by the IPC Lead Nurse.
• Chair meetings where required
• Contribute towards the developing and reviewing of the most effective research-based policies and procedures that underpin infection prevention and control.
• Complete After-Action Reviews where required and share learning with the relevant colleagues
• Complete Root Cause Analysis where required and share learning with the relevant colleagues
• Respond to Ulysses reports escalated to the IPCT
• Keep contemporaneous, accurate IPC data records
• Assist the IPC Lead Nurse with the clinical overview of the influenza vaccination programme
• Escalate issues to the appropriate team, in a timely manner, documenting actions

Clinical Provision

• Be a visible presence in the clinical areas
• Carry out an agreed schedule of IPC environment and practice audits, producing reports and action plans and follow-up on the progress of the required actions.
• Be present at the cleaning teams audits as required- to observe for inconsistencies in findings
• Investigate and assist in the management of infectious outbreaks, in collaboration with Trust staff, the microbiologist, Facilities & Estates Teams, the CCG and UKHSA, as necessary.
• Advise on the management of patients with communicable diseases, in accordance with best practice and statutory requirements.
• Provide specialist and expert advice on decontamination of patient and staff equipment and the environment, to Trust staff in accordance with the Trust decontamination policy
• Work with and support the IPC Champions across the Trust, providing expert knowledge for the Champions to implement and share in their own work area.
• Devise and present an annual IPC Champion away day to update the current Champions.
• Annually, relaunch the IPC Champion programme to recruit new Champions
• Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines, standards monitoring, benchmarking and skills development.
• Assess and manage risks through formal systems including incident reporting and audit.
• Identify and address clinical governance issues which impact on patient care and patient safety in relation to infection prevention and control.
• Work collaboratively with the PLACE Lead for the Trust to complete the PLACE assessment.

Education and Teaching:

• Devise and implement an evidence-based, rolling programme of teaching on infection prevention and control, to all levels of Trust staff and patients where appropriate
• Establish links with educational providers through the Trust Workforce Development Team
• Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others within the team and across the Trust.
• Work with the IPCT and Champions to ensure all wards and clinics have an IPC information board with the content reviewed at least 6 monthly

Professional Development and Research:

• Always act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (and other) relevant professional codes of practice and statutory guidelines and be accountable for own actions.
• Act as a professional leader and role model in all aspects of work.
• Take responsibility for own professional, clinical, and managerial development and actively seek opportunities for appropriate research and development in promoting best practice.
• Participate in regular supervision, appraisal, engage in reflective practice and be committed to continued development.
• Keep abreast of advances in IPC matters by keeping up to date with relevant literature and journals, attending appropriate courses, professional meetings, and conferences.
• Participate as requested in the identification of areas for research as well as the undertaking of agreed research and the application of research into practice where appropriate, as part of identified objectives
• Keep IPC data and be able to retrieve it when required to provide reports for local and national surveillance.
• Incorporate the principles of the Data Protection Act into methodology and data handling.
• Assist the Lead Nurse IPC in evaluating the IPC service through a process of audit and research to examine and develop evidence based, cost effective practice
• Contribute towards practice development initiatives and evaluate their effect on clinical practice.
• Undertake and participate in appropriate audit, quality assurance programmes and research as directed.

Communication:

• Ensure effective communication (written and verbal) with members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in the writing of communication to be shared by the Chief Nurse or the Communications Team
• Demonstrate high levels of interpersonal skills including diplomacy, negotiation, and motivational, to support best practice.
• Manage challenges to IPC guidance with care and sensitivity

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Nurse at diploma or degree level.
• Evidence of IPC study or qualification or significant experience in an IPC role.
• Teaching, mentoring or assessor course or significant experience.

Desirable

• BSc or MSc in IPC or working towards or willingness to undertake if requested to do so.

Experience Essential

• A minimum of 2 years' experience as a band 6 or 7 IPC Nurse.
• Proven experience in a clinical setting in performing audit, surveillance and delivering change packages.

Knowledge Essential

• An awareness of UKHSA and NICE IPC related guidance.
• Sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management.

Skills Essential

• High level of competence with IT skills including working with Excel spreadsheets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Other Essential

• To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area either by own car or public transport.
• Effective team working skills.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

306-BEH-230