Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infection Prevention & Control
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity for an experienced and ambitious IPC nurse has become available to join the Infection Prevention & Control Team at Bedford Hospital as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
This role will suit those with experience in IPC, looking to undertake supported development into a more senior role. The successful applicant will work closely with and be supported by the Senior IPC nursing team and DIPC to lead a comprehensive IPC service.
Acting as an expert IPC practitioner, the post holder will lead on risk assessment, surveillance, audit, training & education, policies & guideline development. Deputising for the Senior IPC nurse as required, the post holder will also undertake line management responsibilities and support the nursing and admin teams professional development.
The successful candidate will be based at Bedford Hospital, but will on occasion be required to visit satellite sites and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. The role will involve 7 day working, with the expectation of working approximately 1 in 4 weekends.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
1. Work closely with the Director of IPC and the IPC Team in the planning, provision and promotion of a comprehensive 7-day service for the Trust.
2. Work under the direction of but with minimal supervision of the senior IPC nursing team, so as to provide comprehensive assistance and support to the IPC team across Bedford hospital and community satellite clinics.
3. Deputise for and manage the day to day running of core business functions in the absence of the senior IPC nursing team and will supervise and support the team.
4. Work to ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for the NHS on the prevention and control of HAI and related guidance.
5. Work in partnership with key stakeholders across the local health economy to respond to the evolving infection prevention agenda demonstrating innovative and inspirational leadership.
6. Communicate effectively with key individuals and groups.
7. Be responsible for the provision of advice, training and information to staff in the Trust.
8. Have highly developed specialist knowledge and experience, in order to act as an expert advisor on all aspects of infection control.
9. Support the development and implementation of a program across the Trust that will achieve prevention, surveillance, investigation and control of infection in line with national guidance for Infection Control.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Job responsibilities
IPC PRACTICE
1. Will have specialist knowledge and experience in order to provide expert advice and consultancy on infection-related matters to all Trust staff, this includes all clinical staff, estates etc.
2. The job holder will be expected to attend further training to develop existing knowledge and skill base as directed so as to aid the comprehensive provision of a quality, safe and efficient service.
3. To evaluate and update control of infection measures throughout the Trust, promoting the principles of Infection Prevention & Control and introducing new practices in accordance with recent findings overcoming potential barriers to understanding and compliance in liaison with the appropriate Trust staff.
4. To advise and facilitate expert care to patients with infections, in collaboration with nursing and medical staff through assessment and interpretation of complex and conflicting information based on environmental conditions and individual patients laboratory results in the management of infection and its control.
5. To act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing roles.
6. To take responsibility, with other members of the Infection Prevention & Control Team, for critical incident management related to infection prevention and control within the Trust, including outbreak management and root cause analysis and ensuring actions are followed through within the relevant service areas across the organization.
7. To develop and implement new ways of working, thus enabling clinical teams to take accountability for Infection Prevention & Control issues.
PATIENT CARE
1. To advise patients, patient groups and relatives on general and specific measures to prevent and control infection, either by telephone or ward visits and face-to-face interviews.
2. To ensure that appropriate, consistent information is available for patients, relatives, and visitors and is regularly reviewed, updated and promoted.
3. To provide effective communication with patients, relatives and relevant others to impart information which may be seen to be of a highly emotive and stressful nature.
4. To act as an expert resource by giving detailed information to distressed/anxious patients and relatives regarding Infection Prevention & Control issues as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Experience at band 6 or above in an IPC / health protection role
* Management or leadership qualification or experience
* Relevant teaching qualification
* Master's degree or role specific professional knowledge acquired through specialist training, experience/short courses to Master's Level equivalent
Experience
* Evidence of writing policies / guidelines
* Teaching experience
* Audit and Surveillance experience
* Management and leadership skills
* Experience of report writing
Knowledge
* Proven clinical knowledge and expertise in relation to Infection Prevention & Control
* Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills
* Developed interpersonal and influencing skills
* Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload appropriately to meet tight deadlines
* Ability to manage complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within an organisation
Personal Skills
* Highly developed interpersonal skills
* IT skills including the ability to use a variety of clinical systems and Microsoft applications.
* Desire to pursue own professional development and support development of other members of the team
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr