Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Are you an Infection Prevention and Control link nurse who is ready to step into an Infection Prevention and Control Secondment role? Here at King's College NHS Foundation Trust, we are looking for an enthusiastic Infection Prevention and Control Nurse to join our well-established Infection and Prevention and Control Team.
The Infection Control Nurse is based at Princess Royal University Hospital Site. The post holder, with the Trust's Infection Control Doctor, Senior Infection Control Nurses, and other Infection Control Nurses, is a member of the hospital's Infection Control Team.
The primary duties of the nurse are to assist the Senior Infection Control Nurse with the prevention of infection in the Trust's hospitals. To work under the scope of the Infection Control Team, facilitating the prevention, surveillance, investigation, and control of infection within King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
To participate in education programmes for all grades of clinical and non-clinical staff on aspects of infection control, to improve compliance with best practice. The post holder will be required to operate flexibly within the Infection Control Team structure to ensure that a comprehensive service is provided to the Trust, and when necessary, to act up and deputise for senior team members.
Main duties of the job
* To provide highly specialised clinical advice on all matters relating to infection control, outbreak management, and hospital hygiene with support from senior colleagues.
* To support the Trust in reducing the incidence of healthcare infections through risk assessment, surveillance, audit, intervention, and education.
* To act as a specialist nurse and role model, providing expert professional advice and education on the prevention and control of infection to other professionals, multidisciplinary groups, patients, and carers.
* To be an effective role model that inspires and motivates others, empowering them to ensure all Trust Infection Control policies and procedures are implemented.
* To have the authority through specialist knowledge to advise patients, their carers, and all hospital staff on Standards Infection Control Precautions (SICPs), supporting, facilitating, and implementing the philosophy of the Infection Control Programme.
* To explore current infection control practices, identifying areas for development and planning the appropriate change using research and experience to evaluate the outcomes.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year, and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste, and pollution wherever possible.
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
* To act as a specialist resource to all staff, clinical and non-clinical, on issues relating to infection prevention and control.
* To maintain close liaison with the Infection Control Doctor and other medical microbiologists and virologists on matters relating to infection prevention and control.
* To be highly visible, accessible, and approachable to staff, patients, and the public to ensure that open and honest communication channels are created and sustained.
* To communicate effectively with staff, patients, and relatives especially where feedback may be of a highly contentious, sensitive, or emotive nature.
* To maintain an overview of the standards of care being delivered in terms of the prevention of healthcare-associated infection and to instigate remedial action if necessary.
* To seek early evidence of cross infection with a view to recommending immediate control measures. The result to be documented and recommendations made to prevent recurrence.
* To explain the significance of cross infection with a view to recommending immediate control measures.
* To use relevant information technology to collect and interpret clinical data, review critical incidents, and produce written reports with recommendations where necessary.
* To maintain accurate records of outbreaks, incidents, and alert organism advice.
* To advise and supervise the management of patients with communicable disease in accordance with best practice and statutory requirements.
* To provide advice relating to infection prevention and control as required.
* To act as a role model to all staff.
* To work in conjunction with ward managers, other members of the Infection Control Team, Clinical Site Management Team, and bed managers to manage the movement and isolation of patients with infection or infectious diseases.
* To support with the investigation of outbreaks, seeking advice from those with expertise where necessary and report to Infection Prevention and Control Team.
Management:
* To work autonomously and seek collaborative relationships with others across and within professional boundaries. To be an active member of relevant committees and working groups.
* To provide cross-cover to the Infection Control Nursing Team, across sites when necessary.
* When necessary, to deputise for Senior Infection Control team members.
Education, Research and Audit:
* To promote and implement evidence-based practice taking the requirements of clinical governance, national targets, and national guidelines into account.
* To demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of continuous quality improvements by auditing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and using audit to change and improve practice.
* To promote good practice by sharing audit and research data within the organisation and externally through journals, meetings, and peer groups.
* In collaboration with the Head of Infection Control Surveillance, to participate in data capture for surveillance as required by national and local surveillance requirements.
* To be an active participant in the formulation of policies, standards, and protocols relating to infection control in liaison with multidisciplinary and management teams.
* To undertake and participate in research initiatives applicable to the service and be aware of new developments in infection prevention and control, including external clinical research trials.
* To maintain a high profile at ward level to ensure that attitudes and working practices reflect the Infection Control Team's commitment to continual improvement in the quality of its service.
* Participate and deliver local Infection Control education and teaching for different groups of staff.
* Prepare and use a variety of methods to deliver appropriate information effectively.
Personal Development:
* To adhere to the NMC Professional Code of Conduct at all times.
* To ensure clinical and administrative policies and procedures are adhered to.
* To maintain clinical competence and credibility.
* To take personal responsibility for own professional growth and to develop an agreed action plan with the Senior/Lead Infection Control Nurse.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* 1st level Registered General Nurse.
* Relevant qualification in Infection Control (or in the process of completion), e.g. Diploma / Degree in Infection Control / Microbiology.
* Relevant teaching qualification.
* Evidence of post-registration education at degree level.
Knowledge and Experience
* Up-to-date knowledge of the principles of infection control.
* Current, Consolidated experience in infection control.
* Knowledge of standard setting and audit process.
Skills and Competencies
* Communication skills - able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
* Team building and working skills - able to lead a team to achieve results.
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.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£42,939 to £50,697 a year per annum, including High Cost Area.
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