Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Nurse

Supervise (and where needed participate in) the data collection of patients in the relevant SSI categories. 

Supervise the activities of the SSIS Assistant ensuring that deadlines for the national surveillance data submission are achieved, escalating challenges to line manager. 

Contributes to the provision of specialist protocols and policies to facilitate accurate collection of information and dissemination of results. 

Undertakes personal development review for SSIS Assistant 

Responsible for organising own workload within the requirements of the specialist team activities and work plan. 

Produces and presents surveillance and audit reports as required. 

Provide representation of committee/working groups as required. 

Ensure concerns regarding the quality of service provided are escalated to line manager. 

Ensures that accurate and detailed information is collected. 

Participates in the collection of relevant data. 

Works as part of the wider surgical team to provide, develop and promote high-quality care to reduce surgical site infection promoting excellence throughout the Trust. 

Uses specialist knowledge and skills for assessing and interpreting highly complex surveillance data across a wide variety of disciplines, providing advice in the development of nursing standards and guidelines for patient care. 

To provide senior nurse support through clinical assessment skills, clinical interventions and clinical management support for all the clinical areas where needed 

Explains the significance of laboratory reports to hospital staff and relates clinical information to laboratory staff when required.  

Communicates information to other members of the Surgical Team and other staff where relevant. 

Develops co-operation from staff and strategies for overcoming barriers to understanding. 

Undertakes staff education by organising study sessions for surgical teams and nurses as part of the clinical governance agenda 

Ensures the implementation of best practice to reduce the incidence of surgical site infection by using a problem-solving approach and facilitation of the change process. 

Supports ward staff, junior and senior doctors by assisting with clinical skills appropriate to scope of practice such as aseptic technique and facilitates staff training for aseptic technique and surgical wound care. 

Assists in strategies for early identification of wound problems and signposts patient or staff for relevant intervention to prevent deterioration and patient harm. 

Troubleshoots wound management throughout the patient pathway and ensures patients get timely assessment of wound infection  

Contributes to the development of guidelines / protocols based on NICE guidelines to be used in theatres and wards 

Develops care plans specific for wound care of acute surgical site. Actively seeks to improve practice through the application of research. 

Visits wards/departments as part of the surveillance role audits, evaluates and updates efforts to prevent SSI. Supports staff to take ownership of local issues. 

Acts as a role model as part of an integrated multi-professional team, ensuring high quality care is delivered to the patients 

Undertakes surveillance of patients post discharge. Develops strategies to do this to obtain accurate information regarding SSI 

Formulates, completes and manages surveillance documentation. 

Participates in the Trusts clinical, professional and managerial meetings and committees relevant to the service 

To provide information to management on surveillance and audit by collating clinical data. Prepare reports for Infection Control Committees and Clinical Governance meetings for surgical division 

Prepares and presents statistical information as required and collates and records relevant data and information. 

Liaise with the Consultant Microbiologists and laboratory staff as needed. 

Audits current practice i.e. the day-to-day baseline standards of infection prevention and advises as appropriate. 

Develops skills to assess and interpret specialist information and takes appropriate action. 

Provides specialist advice about surveillance to patients and their families/carers, staff and students. 

Understands and recognises own limitations and refers/ escalates when required.