The post holder will manage the day to day activities of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team, ensuring that staff comply with IPC policies to reduce healthcare-acquired infections. The postholder is responsible, along with other members of the IPC team, for the prevention, surveillance, investigation, and control of infection in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Kings Lynn. They will provide advice and education to staff to promote best clinical practice across the QEH and offer guidance when required. The post holder will participate in mandatory surveillance programmes, audit and monitor IPC practice using recognized audit tools, and provide feedback to staff to improve IPC standards. Additionally, they will support the Director of IPC (DIPC) and the Head of IPC in developing infection prevention and control strategies, ensuring engagement of all groups of staff, patients, and external organizations where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
1. Officially deputise for the Head of IPC, having delegated authority for decision making.
2. Manage some members of the IPC team, providing clinical and professional leadership to ensure that the service meets the needs of the Trust.
3. Work autonomously within a wider healthcare team.
4. Actively participate in the collection, collating, and analysis of surveillance data and clinical benchmarking through an agreed program for infection prevention and control.
5. Develop and deliver complex risk assessments of patients infected/colonized with alert organisms or with confirmed or suspected infectious diseases, ensuring appropriate management to safeguard the wellbeing of others.
6. Provide IPC advice and support to all levels of staff, promoting best practice.
7. Interpret laboratory reports and convey information to clinical and non-clinical staff across the QEH.
8. Identify, investigate, and monitor hazardous practices in relation to IPC, planning actions to minimize risks in accordance with best practice.
9. Participate in the investigation and control of outbreaks of infection and maintain accurate records.
About us
There's never been a more exciting time to join TeamQEH. We're working on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a new state-of-the-art hospital to open in 2030 and we are also carrying out one of the biggest pieces of digital transformation work we've ever undertaken. Our new electronic patient record (EPR) will replace paper-based patient records from 2026 and will lead to better, safer, joined-up care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and beyond. At The QEH, we provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics, and community-based services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, North Cambs, and South Lincs. We are an ambitious organization that upholds our values of kindness, wellness, and fairness. We strive for continuous quality improvement, recently demonstrated in our 2024 CQC maternity inspection rating our services as 'Good', and we are proud to be a place to learn and grow through recognized learning and apprenticeships. We recognize and reward our 4,000 staff and volunteers, priding ourselves on a community atmosphere and positive team spirit. We have approx. 530 beds across 33 wards and have newly built education and training facilities, a range of modern award-winning centers alongside a talented team of people ready to give you a warm welcome. We love working here and think you will too.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further details about this vacancy, please see the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Registered Nurse with relevant experience at a senior level
* Relevant IPC qualification and/or relevant experience
* Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
* Teaching Qualification
* Degree in IPC, working towards or willingness to undertake
Experience
Essential
* Knowledge and experience of IPC
* Experience of working in an Acute Trust
* Experience of management and leadership
* Experience of undertaking audits and writing reports
Desirable
* Experience of leading and managing projects across differing clinical areas
* Experience of teaching large groups of staff with differing roles
Skills/Ability
Essential
* Effective communication skills, able to communicate effectively and confidently across multi-disciplinary teams
* Understanding of current IPC policies, guidance, and national standards
* Ability to manage own workload and prioritize effectively
* IT skills - Word, PowerPoint, Excel
Knowledge/Understanding
Essential
* Understanding of operational issues in an acute trust and relationship to IPC and patient safety
* Highly motivated with knowledge of change management
Desirable
* Knowledge of clinical governance, IPC objectives and relationship with the wider NHS
Employer details
Employer name
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
Address
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn
Gayton Road
Kings Lynn
PE30 4ET
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