Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Infection, Prevention and Control (IP&C) Team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. This is a vital role to provide leadership and professional advice, along with a constant focus on improving the profile of infection prevention and control throughout the Trust. As the Trust Deputy Director of Infection, Prevention and Control (DDIPC) you will work closely with the Director of IPC, IPC team, the Divisional Management teams, Consultants, Pharmacists and Directorate Heads of Nursing and Matrons and all grades of staff across the organisation. You will lead on developing the infection prevention and control strategic direction, through both short and long term strategic planning and development, implementation and evaluation of the organisation - wide service. Candidates require significant clinical experience in this specialist field of work within acute care as well as excellent interpersonal, organisational and leadership skills Main duties of the job Manage and provide a proactive strategic infection prevention and control service for the Trust. Continually improve the Trusts performance in reducing healthcare -associated infections by developing systems that are evidence-based and grounded in best practice. Be visible and accessible and innovatively lead the Infection Prevention and Control Team. Work autonomously, applying your expert knowledge in infection prevention and control, healthcare associated infection, communicable disease management and health emergency planning. Co-ordinate the care of patients, involving multi-professional colleagues across the Trusts departments and sites. Provide expert clinical advice and guidance, exercising a high degree of personal professional autonomy in order to make clinical judgements of the highest order. To lead, with the DIPC, the clinical management of infection control across the Trust with the intention of preventing, controlling and reducing the incidence of infection through risk assessment, surveillance, audit, intervention and education. Co-ordinate the care of patients, involving multi-professional colleagues across the Trusts departments and sites. About us Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey. We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre. Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms. Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs. Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package: At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefitsBlue Light card eligibilityAnd more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below Date posted 01 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8d Salary £88,168 to £101,677 a year per annum pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 359-7068681-T1 Job locations Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals Hermitage Lane Maidstone ME16 9QQ Job description Job responsibilities Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission. Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children) All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed. Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandardsnhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning. Job description Job responsibilities Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission. Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children) All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed. Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandardsnhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Nurse Leadership Development qualification First degree in infection control Masters degree or equivalent experience in IPC Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Qualification to doctorate level in a relevant area or relevant experience Teaching qualification or equivalent Knowledge and Experience - Non-Clinical Essential Leadership skills that are capable of establishing direction and purpose and lead others within a complex organisational structure Extensive experience of staff management Excellent understanding and proven application of clinical governance Understanding and application of audit and continuous improvement methodology Comprehensive knowledge of national infection control Experience of managing a budget Desirable Knowledge of research methodology including statistics Knowledge of health promotion activities and strategies Knowledge and Experience - Clinical Essential Extensive recent experience at a senior level in infection prevention and control in the acute setting Advanced practice skills Proven evidence of developing infection prevention and control practice Commitment to high quality, patient focused care Desirable Written for publication Presented at national conference Skills - Communcation/Relationship Essential Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills Able to communicate sensitive and highly complex information to the multi-disciplinary team Able to present complex information in papers and reports at local, national and international conferences, and at internal and external meetings Able to communicate highly sensitive information to patient, relatives and members of staff, including breaking bad news Desirable Coaching skills Skills - Analytical/Judgmental Essential Able to make autonomous decisions affecting patient care Understanding of ethical, legal and professional implications involved in changing practice Comprehensive understanding of professional nursing issues Commitment to achieving the corporate objectives of the Trust Evidence of being able to analyse data from different sources and present complex data to different levels of staff Skills - Planning/Organisational Essential Able to prioritise and manage own work, both day to day and longer term strategic work Able to plan a considerable role in developing, coordinating and adjusting strategic plans and strategies for infection prevention and control that impact across the Trust Able to be responsive to changing organisational demands and priorities Evidence of leading education development, including the organisation of local and national education sessions, study days and conferences Desirable Evidence of measuring outcomes Skills - I.T Essential Able to use Word and Excel to set up documents and spreadsheets and to extract information. Inputting data and maintaining infection control databases; generating and developing reports Able to use databases for the inputting and analysis of patient data Skills - Physical Essential Able to demonstrate safe use and cleaning of medical equipment Abilities - Physical Essential Able to visit many different wards / clinical areas across Trust. Abilities - Mental Essential Must be able to communicate with all levels of staff, from Board level to ward level, using appropriate language and presentation Able to concentrate when being frequently and unpredictably interrupted by clinical staff with requests/problems Be adaptable and cope with unpredictable changes to workload, remaining calm and approachable Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Nurse Leadership Development qualification First degree in infection control Masters degree or equivalent experience in IPC Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Qualification to doctorate level in a relevant area or relevant experience Teaching qualification or equivalent Knowledge and Experience - Non-Clinical Essential Leadership skills that are capable of establishing direction and purpose and lead others within a complex organisational structure Extensive experience of staff management Excellent understanding and proven application of clinical governance Understanding and application of audit and continuous improvement methodology Comprehensive knowledge of national infection control Experience of managing a budget Desirable Knowledge of research methodology including statistics Knowledge of health promotion activities and strategies Knowledge and Experience - Clinical Essential Extensive recent experience at a senior level in infection prevention and control in the acute setting Advanced practice skills Proven evidence of developing infection prevention and control practice Commitment to high quality, patient focused care Desirable Written for publication Presented at national conference Skills - Communcation/Relationship Essential Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills Able to communicate sensitive and highly complex information to the multi-disciplinary team Able to present complex information in papers and reports at local, national and international conferences, and at internal and external meetings Able to communicate highly sensitive information to patient, relatives and members of staff, including breaking bad news Desirable Coaching skills Skills - Analytical/Judgmental Essential Able to make autonomous decisions affecting patient care Understanding of ethical, legal and professional implications involved in changing practice Comprehensive understanding of professional nursing issues Commitment to achieving the corporate objectives of the Trust Evidence of being able to analyse data from different sources and present complex data to different levels of staff Skills - Planning/Organisational Essential Able to prioritise and manage own work, both day to day and longer term strategic work Able to plan a considerable role in developing, coordinating and adjusting strategic plans and strategies for infection prevention and control that impact across the Trust Able to be responsive to changing organisational demands and priorities Evidence of leading education development, including the organisation of local and national education sessions, study days and conferences Desirable Evidence of measuring outcomes Skills - I.T Essential Able to use Word and Excel to set up documents and spreadsheets and to extract information. Inputting data and maintaining infection control databases; generating and developing reports Able to use databases for the inputting and analysis of patient data Skills - Physical Essential Able to demonstrate safe use and cleaning of medical equipment Abilities - Physical Essential Able to visit many different wards / clinical areas across Trust. Abilities - Mental Essential Must be able to communicate with all levels of staff, from Board level to ward level, using appropriate language and presentation Able to concentrate when being frequently and unpredictably interrupted by clinical staff with requests/problems Be adaptable and cope with unpredictable changes to workload, remaining calm and approachable 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Address Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals Hermitage Lane Maidstone ME16 9QQ Employer's website https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)