Specialist Practitioner Infection Prevention and Control

Role Overview

We are delighted to invite Specialist Infection Prevention Control Practitioners to join our friendly IPC team. This comes at a very exciting time for the Trust as we play a critical role transforming our healthcare delivery in the New Hospital Programme. The role of Specialist Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner will be key to delivery of specialist advice across Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) and Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) Acute and Community Services.

The post holder will have a high visible presence in clinical areas and assist the Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Head of Nursing, Matron and all members of the Infection Prevention and Control team in the provision of a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Service across the health economy. The Specialist Practitioner will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and apply their enhanced skills, knowledge, and experience to contribute to episodes of care.

• Provide high standard complex, enhanced care using enhanced levels of clinical judgement, skills, and knowledge.
• Critically evaluate and analyse clinical problems using expertise and clinical knowledge, seeking out and applying relevant evidence, enhanced clinical assessments, diagnostics, interventions, and equipment to make clinical decisions.
• Deliver complex care in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, innovation and rapidly evolving technologies using critical analysis and their underpinning knowledge to manage complex interventions.
• Teach and advise others and/or support the multi-disciplinary team.
• Participate in clinical audits, research projects, and implement changes as required, including the development and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures. Work within national and local protocols where these exist.
• Continuously update knowledge, enhance clinical practice, and provide support, mentoring and supervision of others.
• Recognise and work within the boundaries of practice, knowing when and to whom to refer patients/situations. Delegate work or work with other members of the multidisciplinary team and take accountability for delegated activity.
• Contribute to the development of local policies, protocols and procedures in accordance with local and national standards including the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (2015), The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for England, Health Technical Memorandums and Health Building Notes.
• Provide IPC advice and comment on local policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Participate in the implementation of IPC policies, procedures throughout the trust and carry out audit to monitor compliance.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care.
• Work with Estates and facilities to ensure all aspects of IPC are incorporated as part of their service delivery including Water Safety, Ventilation Safety and New Builds / Refurbishments.
• Engage in a range of appropriate learning and development, continually reflecting on IPC practice to maximise capabilities.
• Be open to feedback on IPC practice by colleagues to promote ongoing development.
• Evaluate at appropriate intervals the current and future requirements of their practice.
• Identify any capability gaps in IPC practice, agreeing personal development plans with line manager through activities such as induction and appraisal.
• Review and update personal development plans in the light of performance, any development activities undertaken, and any wider changes identified.
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge through supporting research in IPC.
• Critically evaluate published literature, research studies and application to IPC practice.
• Develop a combined approach to practice focused research, academic inquiry and innovation across the IPC service/pathway.
• Develop a culture of sharing knowledge that values research, evaluation and academic inquiry & its importance to contemporary IPC practice.
• Support and encourage colleagues in implementing changes relevant to best IPC practice.
• Encourage colleagues to ask questions, make suggestions and seek clarification in relation to the IPC work they have been allocated.
• Provide values‑based leadership across the IPC care pathway, services and systems in complex and changing situations.
• Review changes made – identifying any ‘lessons learned’ for future IPC work activities.
• Critically evaluate the culture present within IPC teams and enable an optimal working environment through positive compassionate role modeling and leadership skills.
• Lead change processes: ensuring collaborative working to improve the quality of IPC practice.
• Lead with emotional intelligence, in line with NHS constitution values of compassionate leadership to enable…