Regional Ipac Specialist

Position: REGIONAL IPAC SPECIALIST
Location: Quinte Shores, East Northumberland County & Prince Edward County (Picton)

Company
Southbridge Care Homes

Location
Simcoe Region, York Region, Northumberland Region and Eastern Ontario

Position
Regional IPAC Specialist

Salary Range
$90,000–$

Employment Type

Full‑Time, Vacancy

Southbridge Care Homes provides exceptional acquisition, management, and redevelopment services for long‑term care homes and retirement communities across Ontario. Our mission is to maintain a best‑in‑class portfolio that consistently delivers excellence in care and services while ensuring economic sustainability. The homes you will support include Sara Visa, Oak Terrace, Eagle Terrace, Mackenzie Place, Warkworth and Hallowell House.

Job Purpose
The Regional Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Specialist is a resident safety expert who leads the planning, implementation, coordination and evaluation of improvements in infection prevention and control and serves as a role model to promote the goals of the IPAC program. The role carries out a broad and complex range of epidemiologic activities to identify disease trends, risk factors, clusters or outbreaks and to develop interventions for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

The specialist also facilitates change through the interpretation and application of standards and policies and provides best‑practice recommendations with the goal of improving resident outcomes and preventing disease outbreaks.

Reporting to
Vice President of Infection Prevention and Control

Direct Reports
None – Supports 6‑7 IPAC Leads

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate, implement and oversee the IPAC program of homes in the region.

Plan an infection surveillance program for residents and staff and manage outbreaks in consultation with health units.

Support homes in infection surveillance and develop monthly surveillance reports.

Contribute to the development of IPAC policies and procedures.

Support local IPAC Leads to chair IPAC committee meetings and strengthen relationships with local public health units.

Analyze trends, risk factors, evaluate prevention and control strategies and develop quarterly quality reports.

Monitor local, provincial, national and international epidemiologic trends and advise in a timely manner.

Educate staff on infection prevention principles and practices and act as a resource regarding best practices.

Ensure compliance with infection control guidelines mandated by the Long‑Term Care Homes Act.

Coordinate and lead the roll‑out of all vaccination campaign activities.

Participate in regional IPAC hubs and other communities of practice.

Plan, develop, deliver and implement all training/orientation for new employees in accordance with legislation and health care standards.

Liaise with related facilities, educational institutions and professional associations to develop effective networks.

Identify and report safety hazards, conduct regular safety inspections and follow safe working practices and behaviours.

Review IPAC audits; lead investigations of IPAC breaches, conduct risk assessments and lead development of corrective action plans.

Lead implementation of changes mandated by regulatory, accrediting and licensing agencies (including reporting communicable diseases to local public health).

Monitor staff compliance with infection prevention guidelines regarding disposal of sharps and biomedical waste, use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene practices.

Support occupational health and safety programs in the assigned homes.

Provide expert guidance on facility design, maintenance and construction projects to promote resident safety.

Provide general IPAC consultation to the homes and be accountable for the success of the IPAC program in the assigned homes.

Knowledge and Skills Required

RN/RPN degree or diploma and current certificate of competence from the College of Nurses of Ontario as an RN or RPN; OR bachelor’s degree in another healthcare‑related field such as Microbiology, Epidemiology/Public Health, Medicine.

Completion of an approved IPAC Canada infection control course.

Must be certified in Infection Control (CIC) or LTC‑CIP.

Knowledge of disease surveillance, design and management of surveillance systems.

Knowledge of epidemiologic trends, public…