Clinical Nurse Specialist Infection Prevention and Control (Com & Acu)

at  Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

JOB SUMMARY:

To work autonomously as a qualified specialist infection prevention and control practitioner responsible, within the operational scope of the Infection Prevention and Control team, for facilitating the prevention, surveillance, investigation and control of infection within the Trust, working across both University Hospital Lewisham and the community settings within Lewisham borough.
The postholder will be based on the University Hospital Lewisham site for 50% of this role and the other 50% spent covering the Lewisham community sites.
The post will also involve five day working, plus two weekend days, i.e., Saturday and Sunday on a rota basis in order to provide a seven day service to the acute site.
The provision of specialist nurse advice and support to staff and teams including teaching on matters relating to infection prevention and control under direction of the matron.
The post holder will be required to operate flexibly within the infection prevention and 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.
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream

Key Result Areas & Performance: Clinical /managerial

• Participate in delivering an effective clinical service to the acute Trust and Lewisham community services, including providing specialist nursing input within the infection prevention and control team in the identification, prevention, monitoring and control of infection within the Trust.
• To act up for senior members of the team as appropriate in their absence
• Provide expert clinical knowledge, skills and experience in infection control, acting as a resource and facilitator as required.
• Provide supervision and support including professional developmental opportunities for junior/inexperienced members of the team.
• To explain the significance of microbiology data to senior members of staff to enable them to prevent and control infection.
• To work in conjunction with managers, infection prevention and control team, matrons, and lead clinical staff regarding movement and management of patients with infection or infectious diseases, ensuring the correct practices are implemented and reviewed.
• Review microbiological data to evaluate the efficiency of the intervention and plan future activity.
• Assist in the formulation and initiation of appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection.
• To identify potential infections hazards and suggest appropriate remedial action to relevant personnel. Initiate appropriate strategies to minimise the risk of infection.
• To identify, investigate and assist in managing outbreaks involving multidisciplinary teams, seeking advice from those with expertise outside the Trust where necessary and report to the Infection Prevention and Control team, the Trust Infection Prevention and Control committee and others where relevant.
• To visit hospital wards, departments, community settings and in some instances the patient’s home setting to ensure the correct management of alert organisms and implement appropriate action, ensuring correct techniques are implemented and reviewed.
• To liaise with Infection Prevention and Control team on matters relating to infection control where learning can be shared and best practice promoted.
• To use relevant information technology to collect and interpret data, review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations where necessary.
• To maintain complete records of patient management consultations and advice given.
• To be an active member of the Infection Prevention and Control team, relevant committees and working groups and disseminate information within the team
• To participate in the development and implementation of the annual infection control programme and contribute to the annual infection control report.
• To revise and develop Trust policies/protocols relating to infection control.
• To work autonomously and seek collaborative relationships with others across and within professional boundaries to access and manage infection risk.
• To establish and maintain professional networks within the healthcare organisation inclusive of doctor, microbiologist, matron, ward sister/charge nurse service lead, link practitioner, contracted services for soft and hard FM and other staff.
• To formulate and initiate strategies to reduce infection risk, taking into account relevant legislation, published guidelines and local policies.
• To act as an expert resource for staff at a clinical level in infection control, distinguishing levels of risk presented by individuals, equipment and the environment.
• Review critical incidents and produce written reports with recommendations as necessary.
• Investigate causes and develop solutions to complex infection control problems that may require root cause analysis, investigation, negotiation and advanced change management skills. This may involve conflict resolution and mediation.
• To prioritise own workload taking into account varying demands and resources.
• To support service level agreements for the provision of infection control services where applicable.
• To support the organisation to implement and monitor strategies to prevent and control infection both locally and nationally e.g., assist with ANTT training and validation in the Trust.
• To inspire others with values and vision through support in daily activities by communicating infection control data to community areas where relevant and visiting community sites for the purpose of support, audit and observation.
• Develop clinical guidelines that are evidence based to promote good infection control practice with other members of the Infection Prevention and Control team.
• Demonstrate awareness of national and local guidelines relating to Infection Prevention and Control and influence developments in accordance with these in the community settings.
• To represent the IPC Team on the Lewisham medicine and community governance committee meetings.
• To review the IPC needs of the community services, liaising with the community head of nursing and community matrons.
• Be able to support the community through specialist knowledge of IPC relating to refurbishments, new builds and re-design of services.

Education

• To formulate and implement teaching and learning strategies for different groups of clinical and non-clinical staff. This will include pre-registration and postgraduate education, formal and informal teaching.
• To identify, assess and meet the educational needs of the patient and their family where appropriate.
• To maintain a high profile within both the acute and community settings to ensure attitudes and working practices reflect the Infection Prevention and Control team commitment to a continual improvement in the quality of its service.
• To prepare and use a variety of methods to deliver appropriate information effectively.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used to facilitate the learning of others.
• To recognise and use opportunities to facilitate learning, providing situational support as necessary.
• To promote community IPC link practitioners within community settings.

Clinical Research

• To critically evaluate information and research to formulate advice on the prevention and control of infection.
• To incorporate relevant legislation, national and local guidance and public issues to provide advice on infection prevention and control.
• To synthesise evidence to produce written material in a logical and structured format that is appropriate for staff use.
• To participate with microbiologist and appropriate clinical staff in research projects that relate to healthcare associated infection, acting as a facilitator as required.
• To promote research based infection control practice by participating in research and development as required.

Surveillance and Audit

• To monitor infection control aspects of the environment, ensuring agreed standards are met with the use of environmental audit tools and observations within clinical areas of the Trust.
• To plan, organise and coordinate surveillance programmes in the community.
• Critically appraise and evaluate infection control practice through a structured audit programme e.g. audit of hand hygiene, enteral feeding.
• Distinguish levels of risk presented by individuals, equipment and the environment, auditing when necessary and advising accordingly.
• To assist in the identification and development of suitable audit tools as necessary for the targeted surveillance of healthcare associated infections, as required.
• To maintain links with wards/departments and community services in order to initiate and develop targeted surveillance projects.
• Identify sources of expert opinion, evidence and information to assess risks.
• Implementation of audit programmes for improvement of patient care and the reduction of infection rates.
• To correlate information and analyse data. To actively seek out information and peer review.
• To produce logical, structured written reports for the infection Prevention and Control team and other relevant clinical staff.
• To use the Infection Control software system or other systems such as RIO where appropriate, and be responsible for entering relevant data into appropriate IT systems.
• To communicate clinical problems of significance to other members of the Infection Prevention and Control team.

Partnerships

Communications and Working Relationships

• Liaison with multidisciplinary team members, directors and managers, other NHS trusts and other healthcare providers.
• To provide effective communication with staff, patients, their relatives and relevant others to impart information and support, which may be complex, and of a sensitive or emotive nature.

To communicate effectively with key individuals and groups as identified below:

Please refer the Job description for details