NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE SCOTLAND

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title: Professional Medical Adviser for Prevention and Control of Infection, Healthcare Associated Infection Policy Unit – Reference CNO/07/2013.
Immediate Senior Officer: Managerially accountable to the Associate Chief Nursing Officer (interim) and Chief Midwifery Adviser. Professionally accountable to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Location: St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh.
2. JOB PURPOSE
Provide specialist prevention and control of infection medical advice, and briefings to the Scottish Ministers, Chief Nursing Officer, the Associate Chief Nursing Officers, the Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Policy Team, and the wider Scottish Government on matters relating to the prevention and control of infection including antimicrobial resistance and decontamination.
Work within Government, and with other agencies and stakeholders to drive and support the implementation of relevant policies, including the integration of work streams related to prevention and control of infection policy and the HAI Delivery Plan 2011 Onwardswith other work programmes related to the NHSScotland Quality Strategy to facilitate the delivery of safe, effective and person centred care at the point of care.
3. DIMENSIONS
This 2 year secondment opportunity is based in the Safe Team within the Chief Nursing Officer, Patients, Public and Health Professions Directorate (CNOPPP) within the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate (SGHD). The Safe Team leads on HAI policy and the work of the HAI Task Force. More widely CNOPPPis responsible for supporting the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in driving forward key health and social care policies as well as Scottish Government wide policies in relation to the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHP) education, regulation and workforce development agenda.
The main dimensions to this post are:
  • Provide professional and expert advice to the Scottish Ministers, the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and other colleagues in the Scottish Government on matters relating to health protection and HAI, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emerging organisms(including linking with the office of the Scottish Government’s Chief Veterinary Officer on related animal health issues) and decontamination.
  • Identify linkages between key areas of HAI work and other key policy initiatives such as the Scottish Patient Safety Programme and Patient Experience Programme.
  • Provide practical solutions to ensure coherence between key policy areas across all healthcare settings.
  • Take joint responsibility for HAI in SGHD with the lead HAI Nursing Adviser, working in a multi-disciplinary way to ensure delivery of key aims and objectives in the Scottish Government’s HAI Task Force’s HAI Delivery Plan 2011 Onwards.
  • Lead and contribute to policy formulation and provide supporting evidence and key policy documents to support this work.
  • Work closely with Scottish Government and external stakeholders to support effective implementation of HAI policies and procedures.
  • Represent SGHD specifically on matters relating to the HAI programme and areas relating to the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.
  • Represent SGHD’s interests on UK expert committees and liaise actively with colleagues in other UK Health departments and agencies on policy development and strategic implementation.
  • Maintain close working relationships with Health Protection Scotland (HPS), NHS Health Improvement Scotland, Health Facilities Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, Information Services Division, Scottish Microbiology Forum and Virology Network (SMVN), and other national agencies and groups.
  • Maintain a visible strategic high profile across Government agencies and NHS Scotland to advocate for further improvements in HAI.
  • Provide strategic input into training strategies based on the analysis of training needs of staff in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland and other agencies, to deliver the work streams in the HAI Delivery Plan 2011 Onwards.
  • Participate in relevant research, dissemination and evaluation, including contributing to strategic development and prioritisation within the Scottish Infection Research Network programme.

4. KEY RESULT AREAS
The post holder will:
  • Provide professional and expert advice on policy initiatives to the Scottish Ministers,the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Medical Officer and other colleagues in the Scottish Government around HAI,antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and decontamination including norovirus, resistant and emerging organisms (including related animal health issues), and Chief Nursing Office/Scottish Executive Nurse Directors (SENDs) meetings.
  • Provide clinical leadership as appropriate on matters arisingwithin and outwith the NHS and across Scotland around HAI, AMR and decontamination. Current matters include the review of mandatory surveillance, norovirus winter planning, overseeing the national reponse on pseudomonas and water, and quarterly presentations at the Scottish Infection Prevention and Control Network, though there will be scope for flexibility.
  • Lead on support to the Scottish Government HAI Policy Unit around AMR and decontamination ensuring appropriate systems are in place at a strategic level to support the HAI programme.
  • Maintain close working relationships with Infection Control Managers, Doctors,Nurses and Teams and other relevant NHS Board leads to secure policy implementation at tactical and operational level, and with senior NHS staff such as Directors of Public Health, Medical Directors, Chief Executives, colleagues in Health Protection Scotland, NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Health Facilities Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, Information Services Division, SMVN, and other UK Health Departments and Agencies on policy development and strategic implementation.
  • Provide liaison with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and other Directorates over HAI and AMR.
  • Support HPS as the main tactical and advisory technical/professional body in HAI.
  • Convey key strategic and policy messages on HAI to a wide audience and link with and advise SGHD communications colleagues on issues and messages for the media (such as norovirus).
  • Provide support and advice from medical and Board perspective to the HAI Policy unit for Parliamentary Questions, ministerial correspondence, briefing papers and other issues as arise such as NHSScotland Health Board Annual reviews, Healthcare Environment Inspectorate Reports and HEAT targets, as well as strategic input to the application of the HAI Task Force budget.
  • Collaborate with the other Senior Medical Officers who work in other areas of health protection including Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Bloodborne Viruses, Gastro-intestinal disease and Zoonotic disease. This is to ensure that each has a broad overview of all health protection functions of Scottish Government and to contribute to resilience within the Chief Medical Officer’s team.
  • Represent SGHD at appropriate UK committees, specifically the Department of Health Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) and liaise actively with colleagues in other UK Health departments and agencies and internationally on policy development and strategic implementation.
  • Participate in an out-of-hours on call rota (currently one in five) and cover CMO Team professional colleagues on other health protection issues as needed, in close collaboration with Health Protection Scotland.
  • Provide cross cover for major incidents with Public Health colleagues for example on legionella, pertussis, influenza, crypto, PCP, anthrax, E coli.

5. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
The post holder is accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer and reports to the Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Midwifery Adviser. The post is responsible for providing advice which supports the delivery of person centred, safe and effective care in relation to the prevention and control of infection across NHS Scotland. The post holder is Professionally accountable to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Objectives and priorities in support of the key result areas will be agreed with the line manager and will be subject to ongoing review. Work will largely be generated through the HAI Task Force HAI Delivery Plan 2011 Onwards, but will also be generated in response to enquiries, incidents or outbreaks. Work will be largely self-generated and prioritised and agreed in consultation with the HAI Policy Team Lead and the Nurse Adviser. The postholder will be accountable for identifying both short and long term objectives within the parameters of the SGHD priorities. Training may be provided as appropriate.
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will be expected to provide support and advice to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing,the Chief Nursing Officer, and Associate Chief Nursing Officers on the prevention and control of infection including AMR and decontamination.
The post-holder will be expected to work with a range of key Scottish Government and external stakeholders including policy leads across Scottish GovernmentDirectorates, NHS Board Medical Directors and Infection Prevention and Control Professionals, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, National Services Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and other UK Health Departments and agenciesto support the development and delivery of person centred, safe and effective care related to the prevention and control of infection.
7. QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE SPECIFIED FOR THE POST
Competencies and experience required
Self Management
You will demonstrate energy, commitment and confidence in understanding the complexity of the prevention and control of infection to ensure delivery of safe care. You will be able to plan and use your time effectively to balance demands and priorities.
Leading Others
You will provide clear direction and focus on the delivery of strategic outcomes to both colleagues and Ministers. You will be a visible leader who inspires trust, actively uses teamwork to deliver objectives and takes responsibility for overcoming setbacks. You will demonstrate the ability to communicate complex information clearly to all levels and with diverse groups on the prevention and control of infection.
Programme Management
You will identify, engage and maintain relationships with all internal and external stakeholders, making cross-cutting connections between issues and departments. You will demonstrate understanding of stakeholders’ needs, maintaining trust and credibility, and managing conflict for the benefit of all.
Professional Credibility
You will have professional credibitly with peers and others, having gained wide ranging experience in senior healthcare roles. A significant part of the role will be demonstrating a working understanding of the prevention and control of infection across all settings healthcare is delivered.
Skills Knowledge and experience required
The post holder must be able to demonstrate and provide details of the essential skills and experience required for the post as listed below and in the attached person specification:
Essential Criteria
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the professional culture and political environment needed to achieve change at local and national level.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and to use this to develop and evaluate policy and programme objectives.
  • Proven change management skills in the delivery of outcomes.
  • Proven experience of effective strategic working.
  • Ability to work within a wide and complex multidisciplinary environment.
  • Ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines, often at very short notice.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in a wide range of settings and to different audiences.
  • Ability to prioritise tasks and work to tight deadlines.
  • Broad range of IT skills (use of Word, Excel, Outlook etc).
  • Professional medical practitioner background with at least five years experience at a senior level.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain high levels of credibility and authority with the most senior staff across the NHS and more widely.
  • Strong management and leadership skills, with emphasis on negotiation, persuasion and influence.
  • Ability to think strategically but still have an understanding of working at an operational level within the NHS.
  • Ability to work on own initiative as well as being a team player.
  • Commitment and flexibility.

8. ORGANISATION CHART

PERSON SPECIFICATION

PROFESSIONAL MEDICALADVISER FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTION

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Must be a registered medical practitioner on the Specialist Register of the GMC
/
  • Public health experience at a senior level, ideally as a Consultant in Public Health
  • Additional professional qualifications such as Membership or Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine or Director of Public Health
  • Experience of dealing with issues relating to HAI
  • An interest in microbiology and/or prescribing

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the professional culture and political environment needed to achieve change at local and national level.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and to use this to develop and evaluate policy and programme objectives
  • Proven change management skills in the delivery of outcomes.
  • Proven experience of effective strategic working.
  • Ability to work within a wide and complex multidisciplinary environment.
  • Ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines, often at very short notice.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in a wide range of settings and to different audiences.
  • Ability to prioritise tasks and work to tight deadlines.
  • Broad range of IT skills (use of Word, Excel, Outlook etc.).
/
  • Knowledge of the NHSScotland Quality Strategy

EXPERIENCE
  • Professional medicalpractitioner background with at least five years experience at a senior level.
/
  • Strong relationships with and working with national bodies such as National Services Scotland, NHS Education Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain high levels of credibility and authority with the most senior staff across the NHS and more widely.
  • Strong management and leadership skills, with emphasis on negotiation, persuasion and influence.
  • Ability to think strategically but still have an understanding of working at an operational level within the NHS
  • Ability to work on own initiative as well as being a team player
  • Commitment and flexibility.