Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Lead Nurse

at  Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We’re looking for a highly motivated individual to join our team as the Lead Nurse for Surgical Site Infection (SSI’s) Surveillance. You must be passionate to drive this agenda forward, be an excellent communicator who is able to work independently, cross divisionally with multiple specialities; this role will require flexibility in your working day as at times, you will be under pressure to meet deadlines. You would ideally have a theatre scrub nurse background, as the driver for this work sits within this area.
You will create and embed strong links with both the Harms Free Care and Quality teams, to ensure we are feeding in to and supporting Quality of Care improvement work. A large part of your work will be education, that is data driven, to improve both compliance and reduce SSI’s across the trust; as well as linking in with the national agenda to reduce SSI’s- you will join round table discussions with colleagues from London and South East.
You join at an exciting time as we are planning the opening of an elective hub on the Ashford Site in the near future. The role will involve working cross site at both Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals.
Participate in both local, national, and international surveillance systems of Health Care Associated Infection.
Maintain, develop, and promote the position held by surveillance within the wider scope of the Clinical Governance agenda and Risk Management Strategies.
Participate in and manage systems, which enable the surveillance programme to function and evolve within the Trust.
The postholder will be responsible for planning and prioritising Trust SSIS objectives and participate in the delivery of team objectives.
To work autonomously
Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area. Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, using evidence-based practice and clinical standards.
Organise monthly SSIS Oversight Committee meetings
Provide professional and clinical leadership
Additional duties are included in the job description
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Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter’s, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
On-site Nurseries
On-site staff cafes
On-site parking
Support in career development
Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A CAREER AT ASPH PLEASE VISIT:

www.asph-careers.org
Clinical
To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team.
Be responsible for electronic record keeping and overseeing the SSIS Admin support in their data and record keeping.
Liaise with members of staff involved in the patient’s care to provide a high standard of care within the remit of the surveillance programme and maintain robust and accurate data collection.
Liaise with clinicians, nursing staff, Infection Prevention and Control Nurses and tissue Viability Nurses to monitor in-patient and post-discharge wound infection rates.
Liaise with Microbiology clinicians with regards to SSI diagnosis from specimen results
To be actively involved in ensuring compliance with Trust Policies and procedures amongst the multi-disciplinary team.
Work within the NMC Code of Conduct and scope of professional conduct.
Responsible for the safe use of equipment always.
To ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and that the expectations of both patients and their families are met, irrespective of culture, customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
To be accountable for care given and comply with the NMC or professional body Code of Conduct, working within the framework of the NMC or professional registered body’s scope of professional practice.
To ensure compliance and implementation of Trust policies and procedures, relevant legislation, Nursing and Midwifery strategy and Clinical Governance standards
Practise in accordance with the professional direction as stipulated in the Trust’s Nursing & Midwifery strategy.
To take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious Incident and Near Misses reporting procedure.
To have a visible presence within the clinical setting.
To be responsible for own professional development and have an awareness of clinical educational developments. To agree own personal, professional, and service objectives
According to Individual Performance Review with Manager.
Leadership/managerial
Participate in both local, national, and international surveillance systems of Health Care Associated Infection.
Promote the acceptance of the surveillance programme as an integral part of the working practice of all involved in clinical care in Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust.
Maintain, develop, and promote the position held by surveillance within the wider scope of the Clinical Governance agenda and Risk Management Strategies
The postholder will be responsible for planning and prioritising Trust SSIS objectives and participate in the delivery of team objectives. Workloads will be planned to ensure delivery of agreed and new objectives
Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.
Participate in the promotion of patient centred care.
Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, using evidence-based practice and clinical standards
Establish, develop, and maintain effective working relationship between clinicians, practitioners, and managers within the specialty, across the Trust and in the community
Act as patient advocate when appropriate, respecting patient confidentiality
In conjunction with the Line Manager/Directorate Management, participate in the Trust business planning cycle, identifying areas of service development.
Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.
Represent Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust as an expert practitioner in the speciality in external situations e.g., conferences, committees, etc.
Communicate and demonstrate politeness, courtesy, and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives, and colleagues, by overcoming barriers to understanding and maintaining good customer relations.
Act as a positive role model for the prevention of surgical site infections, Theatre etiquette and patient safety demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership in the specialist areas.
Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensuring that confidentiality of information is adhered to.
Organise own work and manage own caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
In conjunction with the other multidisciplinary colleagues, provide monthly reports of case mix, workload, and education activity.
Participate in the promotion of the specialty by publishing and presenting innovations and research findings locally and nationally.
To manage the efficient and effective use of supplies, provisions, and equipment within delegated budgets.
In conjunction with Line Manager identify, analyse, and discuss cost pressures and financial constraints in a timely manner.
To work in partnership with Procurement to ensure cost effective and evidence-based
Assist the Divisional Chief Nurse, Clinical Leads and Service Managers with the strategic planning for the service within Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust, as an expert practitioner.
Advise on best practice and guidance where needed
Head steering groups to track quality improvement projects
Advise specialities on implementing SSIS reduction pathways
To provide sound expert, clinical and analytical leadership and develop support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the clinical setting and Trust-wide.
Disseminate Trust and Divisional information to the team and act as a first point of contact for feedback on SSI’s.
Set and monitor standards of communication with internal and external clients.
Ensure that all communication with internal and external clients is delivered or processed in a timely fashion.
To assist in building appropriate links with local and national organisations where appropriate.
To provide specialist advice, guidance, and support to those undertaking audits supported by the SSISOC.
Take an active role in change management to improve and/or change evidence-based practice.
Promote the corporate image of the Trust to all individuals, groups, and organisations both within the Trust and to the community at large.
Information and reporting
Enter data, oversee data entry by team members and assist with data analysis.
Systematically collect and quality assure data
Detection and reporting of SSI’s
Undertake and communicate analytical findings to non-analytical professionals.
Identify and report post-operative wound infections arising both before and after discharge.
Ensure all deadlines for reporting are met both locally and nationally
Comply with guidance relating to the continued security and confidentiality of all surveillance information.
Adhere to national protocols pertaining to all surveillance programmes
Responsible for maintaining service standards as determined by local protocols and guidelines for surveillance
Responsible for the continued security and confidentiality of all surveillance information
To be actively involved in the development of Trust policies and procedures, providing specialist input, leading their implementation, auditing, and reinforcing their use.
To be actively involved in ensuring compliance with Trust Policies and procedures amongst the multi-disciplinary team.
Education and Development
To communicate surveillance process, outcomes, and improvement actions to ward and department staff through written (newsletter) and verbal means within scope of own knowledge and to deliver education and training as required.
Formulate the SSIS Education Programme.
Handler to the SSIS webpage and update regularly.
Responsible for publication of quarterly SSIS Newsletters.
Participate in the education of pre and post registered nurses, and curriculum development where appropriate in relation to SSI management and ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regard to mandatory training and PREP requirements.
Contribute to the development of a learning organisation alerting managers to resource issues which may affect this
General responsibilities
Maintain active status on NMC register
Act always in accordance with NMC Code of Conduct and guiding documents
Adhere to Trust Policy and Procedure
Maintain up to date skills and knowledge and maintain awareness of professional issues
Maintain a professional portfolio
To participate in the appraisal process for themselves and others
To identify, report and address poor performance issues
To diffuse challenging behaviour, ensuring that the situation is managed in a sensitive way.
To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties as qualified and able
See the full job description for the complete list of responsibilitie

Please refer the Job description for details