Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the IPC team as a Governance and Patient Safety Lead.
The Infection Prevention and Control Service (IPCS) provides infection prevention and control (IPC) specialist advice; via the single point of access, proactive & reactive support for surveillance of infection, prevention and control of outbreaks and delivers training, and conducts audit. The aim of the service is to provide ongoing IPC programme to reduce the risk of health care associated infection and so contributing to the quality of patient care and service delivery.
The job purpose is to lead service operational, improvement projects; QI and governance functions in IPCS at a strategic and operational level. The post holder will establish and maintain effective relationships with medical staff, managers, senior nursing staff, professionals allied to health and other multi-professional trust members in order to deliver the Infection Prevention and Control Strategy.
The role will entail being a clinically focused practitioner who will strengthen the IPC contribution to patients and service users across DGT. A key priority for the post holder will be to develop and ensure practice compliance across the Trust is in accordance with National Standards and policies through policies, protocols, guidelines and audit, and then improvement using established quality initiatives.
Main duties of the job
The role will further develop the Infection Prevention and Control Service and practice providing advice, leadership, education and support to staff across DGT.
The post holder will work under the direction of but without supervision of the Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC), so as to ensure data is kept, analysed, and available at all times. Taking responsibility for ensuring there is a policy planner and policies are maintained, ensure an education planner and analysis of the impact of educational activities is available and this informs and influences the onward strategies and initiatives. Take a lead on representing IPC at Surgical Site Infections programme; attend SSI MDT's with divisional colleagues, utilise this data against infection data and develop prevention strategies with the Trust SSI lead, represent at national networks.
The role will include ensuring audits are undertaken as per annual planner and in response to incidents as they arise, to participate in the cascading of learning from these, analysis of recurrent themes, and tracking actions to completions. To participate and drive the review of audit tools and methods, to ensure education plans are meetings the quality improvements.
About us
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities:
Produce and maintain surveillance information on new MRSA and Clostridium difficile isolates, GNBSI organisms, other mandatory surveillance system pathogens, notifiable infections, ensuring reporting is prompt and within agreed time deadlines i.e., daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly.
In line with national mandatory targets and reporting requirements, assist and work closely with IPCSC, Matron, CNSIPC in production of graphs and charts towards the preparation and provision of reporting of MRSA, Clostridium difficile, and GNBSI rates to UKHSA, and internal reports to Infection Prevention and Control Committee, Quality Committee, support the development of report writing skills to CNS IPC, & cross cover with the Matron IPC to develop draft reports, contributing to the accurate data, and drawing on themes, trends around patient safety, clinical effectiveness and clinical quality.
Utilise the Trust software such as Datix to record, and pull out incident information, actions, bring these to closure. Maintain trends on incidents.
Collate all the relevant information from a variety of sources to enable accurate and timely submissions of data in accordance with national mandatory targets.
Ensure data is current and readily available at short notice e.g., serious untoward incidents, outbreaks.
Regularly update and oversee the entry of patient information on the infection control database.
Lead in developing an annual schedule for the various audit programmes undertaken. This includes environmental/clinical practice audits. Undertake follow up actions as directed post audit/ site visits.
Input data from completed audits and prepare accurate draft reports. Distribute completed audits to the relevant Divisional Leads, and Departments/Wards filing these and related evidence.
Please see attached job description for further information.
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Good general education; Literate GCSE English, Numerate GCSE maths.
- Database creation and management, using Excel and scripts.
- Evidence of continuing education and development
- First level registered nurse (NMC), or AHP (Therapist/Pharmacy) or Public Health Practitioner / Health Promotion qualified or chartered professional with ILM PG Cert
- Educated to degree and/or post graduate level
Desirable
- Willing to undertake at a minimum diploma course in infection control, auditing and surveillance if not already poses.
- Educated to Masters level qualification or equivalent
- Clinical audit qualification
- QI certified
- Willing to undergo IPS credentialing pathway
- Fit2Fit Portacount or willingness to train up
- Project management such as PRINCE2, Agile
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent IT skills.
- Good communication skills.
- Able to deal with patients and service users sensitively.
- Presenting at large meetings, education forums
- Able to work as part of a small team.
- Able to work to deadlines.
- Able to take minutes.
- Accurate typing and data entry.
- Ability to organize own time and prioritise work whilst also meeting service priorities.
- Skilled in using word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, MS Teams, Datix to undertake work.
- Good Interpersonal skills.
- Ability to arrange MS Teams meetings.
- Ability to manage diaries efficiently and effectively.
- Ability to arrange meetings and other events.
- Advanced presentation skills with the ability to interpret and present complex information to a variety of audiences
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, particularly negotiation and persuasion skills to overcome significant barriers and opposing agendas to deliver improvements
Desirable
- Able to take basic notes on a laptop whilst in the meeting.
- Committee meeting admin, and attendance, presenting at boards
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in an acute NHS organization
- Experienced in use of MS Office including
- Excellent organisational skills. Project management experience
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Experience of working in clinical health setting caring for patients.
- Understanding of current healthcare issues i.e. clinical governance, risk management and quality controls assurance
- Ability to devise and implement strategic service plans, assure quality and measure against targets
- Proven clinical leadership and change management skills - Recent operational management experience
- Experience in managing staff, resources and budgets
Desirable
- Critical and strategic thinker, able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategic management issues
- Experience of surgical site surveillance programme
- QI methodology experience
- Representing Trust at external forums
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to travel to Trust sites, work in different locations, bases.
- Understanding of confidentiality
- Willingness to undergo further training or development.
- Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities. An awareness of working with a diverse community.
- Professional approach to work.
- Flexible and works well under pressure.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
Address
Darent Valley Hospital
Darenth Wood Road
Dartford
DA2 8DA