About this role
Job summary
The Infection Prevention and Control Team at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust are looking to recruit a talented and enthusiastic Infection Prevention and Control Site Lead as part of a job share.
This position offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to be a key member of the Infection Prevention and Control Team, interfacing between Care Groups across the Trust, providing expert advice and support and collaborative working with internal and external partners.
We are seeking an experienced specialist, who can jointly lead a team at the William Harvey Hospital, as well as take on a Trust wide strategic lead role on key IPC issues, supported by the Deputy DIPC and DIPC.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be a dynamic and experienced advanced practitioner with expert knowledge in infection prevention and control, who can support our people in complex decision making. They will need to be self-motivated and have a flexible approach to work, acting as a role model across disciplines. They will (jointly) manage the IPC Nurse Specialists at the William Harvey hospital (as a job share) , and provide clear leadership for infection prevention across the Trust, influencing and improving the quality of care delivered to our patients.
The post will be characterised by the four pillars of practice:
o Clinical Practice
o Leadership
o Facilitating Learning
o Evidence, Research and Development
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
To work as a highly specialised member of the team, acting as an expert resource on infection prevention and control issues and provide evidence based infection prevention and control advice to promote best practice.
To promote the reduction of healthcare associated infection across the Trust, through education, surveillance, audit, policy development/review and innovation.
To be the (joint) site lead for ensuring that the Trust Wide Improvement Plan (TWIP) for Infection Prevention and Control Programme is completed for the site and the wider IPC/Decontamination portfolio as agreed.
To be visible and accessible to all healthcare staff across all disciplines as an expert specialist resource, guide clinical staff to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients with regard to infection prevention and control.
Communication and Relationship Skills
Demonstrate a high level of communication and interpersonal skills enabling negotiation and influence with all grades of multidisciplinary staff in complex situations involving sensitive issues across the organisation and beyond.
Demonstrate the ability to receive and provide highly complex and sensitive and sometimes contentious information to patients, relatives, carers, members of the public and staff, where there may be significant barriers to acceptance/understanding, requiring negotiating, persuasive, reassurance skills.
Diffuse potentially hostile and antagonistic situations with staff, patients and relatives, using highly developed negotiation and interpersonal skills.
Required to develop and make formal presentations to large groups in a manner that is effective and credible.
Analytical Skills
To assess and interpret highly complex and sometimes conflicting information based on individual patient/environmental conditions and laboratory reports, e.g. the management of outbreaks.
To make decisions regarding patient care (e.g. movement/transfer of patients with infections/communicable diseases, closure of wards, availability of isolation facilities) which involves assessing available resources.
Planning and Organisational Skills
Will deputise for the Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control as required.
Plan and organise the complex workload of the site Infection Prevention and Control Team.
A full list of responsibilities is available within the Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training Essential
Registered General Nurse (or equivalent professional registrant) Diploma/Degree in Infection Prevention and Control Educated to or working towards Masters level degree, ideally related to infection prevention and control Teaching qualification (ENB 998 or equivalent)
Clinical skills and experience Essential
Experience of working as a qualified nurse in a variety of settings at a senior level, within an acute trust environment Minimum of 5 years' experience as an Infection Control Nurse (at least 3 years' experience post diploma/degree) in an acute NHS trust 3 years' experience post diploma/degree) in an acute NHS trust Able to demonstrate working within the field of Infection prevention and control OR public health, at an 8a (or equivalent) and clearly identify governance and risks of the services Experience of dissemination of work through presentation/publication Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills - written and verbal Able to work alone effectively and as a member of a team and must be calm under pressure Must be able to prioritise workload in response to changing/competing demands Must be able to implement/manage change in a turbulent environment Must be able to demonstrate problem solving and analytical skills Must be persuasive and innovative, and able to motivate others Must be able to deal with conflict Must be able to act as a professional role model Must be IT literate including competency in keyboards skills, ability to use email and Word Must be able to drive and hold a current UK driving licence Must be able to travel around the Trust, as required
Desirable
Evidence of leading senior projects in healthcare (equivalent settings)
Governance Essential
Understanding of current issues in Infection Control i.e. NHS England targets for healthcare associated infections
Personal/ professional attributes Essential
Highly developed specialist knowledge relating to Infection Prevention and Control and how it relates to the acute trust setting Highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures/practices relevant to the acute setting Must be conversant with national standards and initiatives and have knowledge of other issues affecting healthcare
Other requirements Essential
To be aware of and adhere to the Trusts' Vision, Mission and Values Flexible and adaptable Open and honest
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 East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address William Harvey Hospital
Kennington Road, Willesborough
Ashford
TN24 0LZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)