Clinical Nurse Specialist Infection Prevention & Control

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IPC PRACTICE:

·    Will have specialist knowledge and experience in order to provide expert advice and consultancy on infection related matters to all Trust staff, this includes all clinical staff, estates etc.

·        The job holder will be expected to attend further training to develop existing knowledge and skill base as directed so as to aid the comprehensive provision of a quality, safe and efficient service.

·     To advise and facilitate expert care to patients with infections, in collaboration with nursing and medical staff through assessment and interpretation of complex and conflicting information based on environmental conditions and individual patient’s laboratory results in the management of infection and its control.

·         Will have highly developed specialist knowledge and experience, in order to act as an expert advisor on all aspects of infection control.

·    Develop and implement education/training in infection control for all staff groups.

·         Develop and maintain a service in line with local and national strategies.

·         Support the development and implementation of a program across the Trust that will achieve prevention, surveillance, investigation and control of infection in line with national guidance for Infection Control.

·    Maintain close links with other Infection Control Nurses within the local health economy 

·      To act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing roles.

PATIENT CARE

·   To advise patients, patient groups and relatives on general and specific measures to prevent and control infection, either by telephone or ward visits and face-to-face interviews.

·         To ensure that appropriate, consistent information is available for patients, relatives, and visitors and is regularly reviewed, updated and promoted.

·    To provide effective communication with patients, relatives and relevant others to impart information which may be seen to be of a highly emotive and stressful nature.

·  To act as an expert resource by giving detailed information to distressed/anxious patients and relatives regarding Infection Prevention & Control issues as required.

Management and Leadership

·         To act as a model of good practice.

·  Seek collaborative relationships with others across organizational and professional boundaries, thus promoting the Infection Control Team and ensuring an accessible and approachable service.

·         With other members of the Infection Control Team review and evaluate the Infection Control Strategy annually and the development of infection control guidance, taking into account relevant legislation and published professional guidelines.

·         To evaluate and update control of infection measures throughout the Trust, promoting the principles of infection control and introducing new practices in accordance with recent findings, overcoming potential barriers to understanding and compliance in liaison with the appropriate Trust staff.

·    Provide assessment and interpretation of complex and conflicting information based on individual patients, environmental conditions and laboratory results in the management of infection control advice. 

·         Be an active member of the Infection Control Team and a member of the Infection Control Committee. To be available for co-option to other committees when required, in close liaison with the Infection Control Consultants.

·         To represent the Trust in the nursing infection control specialist field at appropriate professional meetings and conferences.

·         Within the Trust advice the Directorates, Clinical Nurse Specialists and other appropriate staff on input into the development/review of guidelines, policies and procedures about infection control issues.

·         Assist the Infection Control Team in producing the infection control annual report.

·         Work closely with the risk managers and health and safety personnel to identify both actual and potential risks and where the development of clinical guidelines could improve the quality of care provided.

·     Maintain close links with other Infection Control Nurses within the local health economy

·       To act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing roles.

PATIENT CARE

·   To advise patients, patient groups and relatives on general and specific measures to prevent and control infection, either by telephone or ward visits and face-to-face interviews.

·           To ensure that appropriate, consistent information is available for patients, relatives, and visitors and is regularly reviewed, updated and promoted.

·     To provide effective communication with patients, relatives and relevant others to impart information which may be seen to be of a highly emotive and stressful nature.

·  To act as an expert resource by giving detailed information to distressed/anxious patients and relatives regarding Infection Prevention & Control issues as required.

Management and Leadership

·         To act as a model of good practice.

·  Seek collaborative relationships with others across organizational and professional boundaries, thus promoting the Infection Control Team and ensuring an accessible and approachable service.

·         With other members of the Infection Control Team review and evaluate the Infection Control Strategy annually and the development of infection control guidance, taking into account relevant legislation and published professional guidelines.

·         To evaluate and update control of infection measures throughout the Trust, promoting the principles of infection control and introducing new practices in accordance with recent findings, overcoming potential barriers to understanding and compliance in liaison with the appropriate Trust staff.

·     Provide assessment and interpretation of complex and conflicting information based on individual patients, environmental conditions and laboratory results in the management of infection control advice. 

·         Be an active member of the Infection Control Team and a member of the Infection Control Committee. To be available for co-option to other committees when required, in close liaison with the Infection Control Consultants.

·         To represent the Trust in the nursing infection control specialist field at appropriate professional meetings and conferences.

·         Within the Trust advice the Directorates, Clinical Nurse Specialists and other appropriate staff on input into the development/review of guidelines, policies and procedures about infection control issues.

·         Assist the Infection Control Team in producing the infection control annual report.

·         Work closely with the risk managers and health and safety personnel to identify both actual and potential risks and where the development of clinical guidelines could improve the quality of care provided.

·           Maintain close links with other Infection Control Nurses within the local health economy

·           To act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing roles.

PATIENT CARE

·    To advise patients, patient groups and relatives on general and specific measures to prevent and control infection, either by telephone or ward visits and face-to-face interviews.

·           To ensure that appropriate, consistent information is available for patients, relatives, and visitors and is regularly reviewed, updated and promoted.

·           To provide effective communication with patients, relatives and relevant others to impart information which may be seen to be of a highly emotive and stressful nature.

·  To act as an expert resource by giving detailed information to distressed/anxious patients and relatives regarding Infection Prevention & Control issues as required.