Infection Prevention and Control Support Nurse
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Infection Prevention and Control Team in Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust as an Infection Prevention and Control Support Nurse.
We are a dynamic team dealing with the ongoing challenge of Healthcare Associated Infections. Our drive to reduce infection rates requires a dedicated and hardworking individual with excellent communication skills and a keen interest in infection prevention and control.We are seeking a team player, who is looking to expand their nursing skills in a specialist team.
The role offers the opportunity to develop your experience, knowledge and skills around IPC. You will be involved with supporting the day-to-day work of the IPC Team, including checking patients with infections have the correct precautions are in place, IPC audits, contact tracing and delivering informal ward based one-to-one staff training.
Main duties of the job- Support the functions of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / specialist nurses.
- Undertake IPC audits as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant.
- Provide informal IPC training in clinical areas on a one-to-one basis, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant /specialist nurses.
- Carry out contact tracing, e.g. for COVID and other healthcare associated infections, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / specialist nurses.
- Provide a visible presence in wards / departments, role modelling correct IPC standards at all times.
- Understand the principles of IPC in preventing the spread of infection, in order to carry out all other aspects of the role.
Working for our organisation
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
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- To support the functions of the IPC Team on a day-to-day basis, including monitoring patients with infections to ensure the correct IPC precautions are in place, reminding staff about IPC precautions, and challenging poor practice as and when necessary, under the direction of the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses.
- To participate in IPC ward rounds and carry out tasks as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses during the ward rounds.
- To collect and collate IPC information, as requested by the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses.
- To carry out contact tracing for COVID and other healthcare associated infections, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses.
- To work within own scope of knowledge and skills, taking responsibility for seeking further information or assistance as and when necessary.
- To carry out IPC audits, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses, to assess compliance with IPC standards/policies, within agreed time frames and completing to a high standard, e.g. hand hygiene, commode and single room audits.
- To feedback on progress and audit results according to agreed format and timescales to the IPC Nurse Consultant.
- To work alongside clinical staff to demonstrate in practice how to correctly apply IPC precautions / standards, i.e. provide clinical facilitation in wards / departments, as directed by the IPC Nurse Consultant / other specialist IPC nurses.
- To support the Infection Prevention and Control team to identify, monitor and investigate healthcare associated infections and hazardous practices and procedures that may compromise good IPC.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Registered Nurse (adults)
Experience
Essential criteria- 5 years or more, varied nursing experience working in the NHS
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of carrying out audits / audit cycle
- Experience of carrying out IPC audits, e.g. hand hygiene audits
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of change management
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Good understanding of IPC issues, particularly in the hospital setting in the NHS
Skills
Essential criteria- Good communication skills, written and verbal
Skills
Essential criteria- Can demonstrate a real interest for working in IPC