Job Description
Advanced Practitioner Infection Control
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Job Title: Advanced Practitioner Infection Prevention & Control for NHS Western Isles
Band: 7
Based: WesternIslesHospital
Reports to: Head of Infection Prevention & Control, Decontamination and Cleaning services
Hours of duty: 37. 5 hours per week plus involvement in out of hours’ duties as
required
No of jobholders: 1
2 Job Purpose
The post holder assists in the infection prevention and control (IPC) service provided to NHS Western Isles and has the responsibility for the Hospital division. The function of the service is to deliver a comprehensive IPC service throughout the NHS Western Isles in order to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection to patients, staff visitors and others. The service will be in compliance with NHSScotland Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards
By using evidence-based knowledge and a pro-active approach, work with the Acute sector, and primary care, assist withPublic Health within NHS Western Isles Health Board in the prevention, surveillance, investigation, and control of infection and communicable disease within the Western Isles
The post holder will implement the Annual Planned Programme based on the priorities identified in national standards and will be instrumental in producing the IPC Annual Report. The Annual report is submitted for approval to the Control of Infection Committee, Risk and Management Committee and the Chief Executive.
3 Dimensions
The post requires the development, management and delivery of the IPC service throughout NHS Western Isles
The post holder gives highly specialised advice to directors, senior managers and key committees e.g. Infection Control Committee.
The service is provided to all grades of staff within all disciplines, including nursing, medical, allied health professional and support services staff. The service covers all wards and department in the 3 hospitals throughout NHS Western Isles
Where required, assistance is given to the Public Health Department to provide infection prevention & control advice in the community setting, including nursing and residential homes, e.g. in the management of outbreaks.
The post holder also provides specialist knowledge and advice relating to the prevention and control of infection to community care environments e.g. Hospice, care homes, to the general public, other statutory sector, private and voluntary organisations.
4 Organisational Chart
5 Role of the Infection Prevention & Control Department
Infection Prevention & Control is a high priority for the NHS in Scotland. The Infection Prevention & Control Team (IPCT) aims to ensure the provision of a managed environment, which minimises the risk of infection to all patients, staff, carers and relatives. The IPCT provides a service to the whole of the NHS Western Isles and at present consists of a Head of Service, an Infection Control Doctor (based in NHS Highland)1 Advanced Practitioner (this post), 1 Infection Control Nurse, 1 Audit and Surveillance Nurse and an Administration Assistant.
The IPCT provides a comprehensive IPC service to NHS Western Isles and other previously named organisations. The key functions of the department are:
Policy & guideline provision
Audit
Education
Surveillance
Outbreak management
6 Key Result Areas
Play a significant key role as a member of the IPCT as the Infection Control Doctor provides an on call service and advisory service only.
Development, management and delivery of IPC service for the Hospital Divisions throughout the Western Isles
The post holder is responsible for developing, managing and delivering an effective IPC service to the above as well as providing information and advice to the community care environments e.g. Hospice, care homes, to the general public, other statutory sector, private and voluntary organisations.
The NHS Western Isles IPC service must meet the requirements detailed in the Scottish National Infection Prevention & Control Manual and the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards.
Annual Planned Programme
The post holder will lead the implementation of the Annual Planned programme which hasclearly defined objectives and priorities for the forthcoming year.
Annual Report
The post holder will have input into the Annual Report on the delivery of the IPC Planned Programme. This report is submitted to the Infection Control Committee and Chief Executive for scrutiny and approval.
Policy Provision
The post holder takes the lead and responsibility for assessing the IPC policy and guideline requirements of NHS Western Isles. Where required the post holder will lead the development of new policies and guidelines and undertake regular reviews of existing policies and guidelines within agreed review dates.
Audit
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring thatthe comprehensive IPC audit programmes progressed will ensure that IPC practices are maintained in the clinical environment. The post holder will ensure that results are reported back to clinical and non-clinical operational staff, managers and relevant committees in an appropriate format to allow remedial action and service improvements to be undertaken. The post holder will review all action plans submitted by the appropriate staff.
Education
The post holder will be pro active in assessing the IPC education and training needs of NHS Western Isles, delivering appropriate education and training to all grades of clinical and non-clinical staff. The education and training provided will be both formal and informal.
The post holder with other members of the IPC team provide IPC induction training to all new starts every 6-8 weeks
The post holder with other members of the IPC team will provide IPC education and training to pre registration students of University of the Highlands and Islands Students. The post holder will work with groups of staff to ensure awareness and understanding of the implications of surveillance/audit programmes prior to their commencement
The post holder will deal with queries from professionals and members of the public regarding IPC and communicable diseases.
The above is not intended to be exhaustive but merely indicates the main duties of the post.
Surveillance
The post holder will be responsible for the day to day IPC surveillance, monitoring of the surveillance systems for setting up and maintaining a programme of alert organism and condition surveillance throughout NHS Western Isles.
Where agreed, the post holder will facilitate other surveillance programmes within NHS Western Isles.
Outbreak Management
The post holder will play a leading role in identifying outbreaks and takes part in managing outbreaks of infection within NHS Western Isles. This involves investigation; collection and collation of data; instructing on control measures; liaising with relevant parties including management, Infection Control Doctors, laboratory, and Public Health.
The post holder will work closely with, and assist the Director of Public Health as a member of the Health Protection Team by assisting with the management of outbreaks of infection e.g. meningitis, hepatitis B, and diarrhoeal infections.
7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
The equipment operated routinely by the post holder include
PC – Desktop, Laptop
Digital camera
PowerPoint projector
7b. SYSTEMS
The post holder will produce and maintain manual and electronic patient information records relating to the IPC input into patient care.
The post holder will produce and maintain a record of information on all patients referred to the IPCT. This data will be analysed by the post holder to produce summary to be included in annual reports to the Infection Control Committee.
The post holder will produce and maintain records of all audit data collected. This information will be analysed by the post holder to produce individual audit reports for operational staff and managers as well as summary reports for the Infection Control Committee.
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
The post holder will assist in the planning and prioritising of the work of NHS Western Isles IPCT within the framework of the Annual Planned Programme. The post holder will prioritise work that is generated by national reports, guidance and evidence based research, which is not included in the planned programme. Directors and the Infection Control Committee may delegate work. The post holder must ensure that unforeseen incidents such as outbreaks that require immediate action, such as the closure of wards, are appropriately managed and prioritised.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
Within the broad framework of the Annual Planned Programme and the quarterly meetings of the Infection Control Committee the post holder will participate in making decisions on the day-to-day management and activities. This includes:
- Scheduling the activities in the planned programme,
- Prioritising work generated out with the planned programme, such as the Scottish Government infection control directives or evidence based research guidance, and integrating these into the activities of the IPCT
- Analyse data collected from IPC audits and surveillance programmes and using this data to plan, prioritise and implement infection control measures and activities.
- Risk assessing and advising on the infection control management of individual patients.
- Responding on a daily basis to requests from staff and managers for IPC advice or input
- Taking a lead in the management of outbreaks of infectious disease. This includes closure of wards, isolating/cohorting patients, increasing cleaning frequencies in clinical areas.
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
The most challenging aspect of the job is ensuring that high quality IPC advice and input is maintained across the whole spectrum of NHS Western isles from clinical to non-clinical services at all levels from directors to untrained operational staff. This creates enormous and varied demands.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder is be required to be an effective and diplomatic communicator working with all grades of clinical and non clinical staff (e.g. consultants, doctors, senior nurses, general manager, nursing staff, administrative staff etc) as well as a range of personnel from external agencies. Maintaining relationships and gaining the co-operation of all staff is an essential, therefore the post holder requires skills in being able motivate, negotiate and persuade staff to comply with good infection control practice. The post holder will communicate highly specialised information in an appropriate and easily understood manner, both verbal and written, to staff, patients, relatives, visitors, staff of other organisations and the general public.
Internal
- Consultant Microbiologists
- Director of Public Health
- Senior Managers
- Laboratory Staff
- Clinical staff of all disciplines trained and untrained
- Senior Nurse Managers
- General Managers
- Hotel Services
- Facilities Manager
- Department Managers
- Nursing Staff
- Risk Management
- Occupational Health
- Health and Safety
- All members of the Multi Disciplinary Team
- Patients and relatives
External
- Healthcare Improvement Scotland
- Other NHS Boards
- General Practitioners
- Health Protection Scotland
- Public Health Department
- Environmental Health Officers
- Western Isles Council social services
The post holder will utilise a range of communication methods including:
- Written reports
- Verbal reports
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Meetings
- Training/education sessions to target audiences ranging from 1-30 individuals
The purpose of the communication includes
- Informing and advising directors, senior managers and Committees
- Advising and instructing staff on infection control policies and procedures
- Risk assessment
- Prioritising prevention and control of infection requirements based on available resources
- Effective outbreak management
- Policy and guideline development
- Explaining infection control measures to patients and relatives
- Advising occupational health and individual staff on fitness to work
12 PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
PHYSICAL EFFORT/SKILLS:
The potholder is required to sit for prolonged periods at a PC
The post holder must have keyboard skills to allow the daily use of a PC
It is essential that the post holder is a car driver. The post holder will be expected to travel several times a year within and out with NHS Western Isles.
MENTAL EFFORT/SKILLS:
The post holder requires undertaking prolonged periods of intense concentration on specialised issues and being able to assimilate complex scientific, technical and research-based information. This post holder must summarise and present complex information in a manner that is easily understood by the target audience, which includes staff at all, levels of the organisation. Strict deadlines set by Directors, committees and the Scottish Government all have to be met.
The work pattern is very unpredictable based on the requirements of clinical and non-clinical departments and the organisation, as well as that of external agencies. IPC emergencies such as Outbreaks take priority and require immediate action. As well as having to adjust and respond to the constantly changing and developing situation the post holder must be able re-prioritise the original goals and activities that were being undertaken before the emergency situation arose.
EMOTIONAL EFFORT/SKILLS:
The national profile of healthcare associated infection can make it difficult to deal with the conflict that can arise between public/media perceptions of infection prevention & control and the reality.
The post holder will occasionally deal with distressed patients and relatives to explain the rationale for IPC measures such as isolation.
Being a rural island setting relatives and patients can contact the post holder direct to seek information or advice, patient and relatives can often be upset and sometimes angry.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Advanced Practitioner Infection Control for NHS Western Isles
CRITERIAESSENTIALDESIRABLE
Qualification/ExperienceFirst level RGNMasters level
Educated to degree level or relevant
Post graduate Advancedexperience
Practitionerqualification in
Infection Prevention & Control.
Minimum 5 years experience at a senior level
within an IPCT.
General and clinical Self reliant practitioner
skills /abilityAssertive communicator
with the ability to be
diplomatic
Excellent verbal, written
and communication skills
Presentation skills
Ability to work under pressure
Word processing and computing
Skills
Excellent organisational skills
Ability to work effectively in team
settings
Management skills/ Project management Ability to lead
Experience projects
Understanding and experience of objective
Setting
KnowledgeComprehensive understanding of Knowledge of
Infection control issuescommunicable
disease issues