Role purpose: 

The Infection Preventionn and Control Nurse (IPCN) is responsible for the development, direction, implementation, management and operation of the infection prevention in Dublin Simon Community. The Infection Preventionn and Control Nurse will work to identify, investigate, monitor, and report healthcare-associated infections and communicable disease. The IPCN collaborates with teams and individuals to create, educate, and sustain infection prevention strategies, as well as provide feedback.

The IPC Nurse will be responsible for the onboarding of new Nurses to DSC Clinical Services: supporting New Nurse inductions, continuous professional development, training and performance improvement; ensuring Quality, best practice and adherence to Organizational Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and NMBI standards and guidelines.

Location: Ushers Island

Reports to: Senior Manager Clinical Services

Responsibilities of Role

Requirements Specific to this Post (in addition to competency-based requirements)

Program Management:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the organisational infection prevention program to include policies and procedures for surveillance, pandemic preparedness, hand hygiene, standard precautions, employee and resident infection control education, employee health, outbreak management, and transmission-based precautions.
• Establish routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance date to identify infections, infection risks, communicable disease outbreaks and to maintain or improve resident health status.
• Utilize nationally recognized surveillance criteria such as but not limited to HSE and CDC’s National Healthcare
• Develop an annual surveillance plan based on the population(s) served, services provided, and analysis of surveillance data.
• Evaluate and modify the surveillance plan and infection prevention policies and procedures no less than annually and as needed.
• Develop and Onboarding Induction programme for new nurses starting in Clinical services: to include a list of HSE land mandatory training for new nurses (i.e. medication management).

Design and Deliver Education

• Provide infection prevention education at time of hire, no less than annually and when lapses in adherence occur.
• Acts as subject matter expert and resource within the healthcare center to residents/families, partners, providers, visitors, community, and public health regarding infection prevention and control measures, including identification of infectious disease processes.
• Ensure staff have access to up to date PPGS, and NMBI Protocol and Guidelines and that this access is maintained.
• Create a process for demonstrating competencies following each training activity
• Work with wider clinical team to develop local onboarding training programme specific to new nurses starting in clinical services
• Work with Learning and Development Dept. to ensure that all CPD and training is integrated and tracked for all Nursing staff.

Performance Improvement (PI)

• Participate in interdisciplinary performance and quality improvement process.
• Serve as a member of the quality assessment and assurance committee (QAAC) and report to the committee on the infection prevention control program on a regular basis
• Monitor resident care practices and develop/maintain resident health program.
• Participates in the antibiotic stewardship program that includes antibiotic use protocols and a system to monitor antibiotic use.
• Assist Nurse Managers to support the development and performance improvement of their nursing staff, through quality improvement initiatives, performance improvement or additional training plans

Occupational Health

• Participate in the development/review of occupational health policies and procedures related to infection prevention and control.
• Reviews the risk of blood borne pathogens and exposure control plan to ensure implementation of best practice for occupational health to decrease the likelihood of exposures to infectious diseases.
• Develop (or assist with) rates and trends of occupational exposures. i.e. needle stick injuries

Facility Management

• Environmental rounding to observe infection control and prevention compliance of general maintenance, plumbing/ventilation, food preparation/storage, laundry collection/cleaning, infectious waste collection/disposal, housekeeping/cleaning, disinfection/sanitation, and equipment cleaning

Note: This Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

Person Specification

• Candidates must at the latest date of application:
• Be registered in the relevant division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or entitled to be so registered.
• Confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).
  And
• Hold a BSc Nursing degree (or equivalent).

Candidates must at the latest date of application:

• Have a minimum of 5 years full time post registration experience, 3 of which must be in the Acute Hospital setting, including 1 year in IPC nursing.
• Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional responsibility within his/her scope of practice.
• Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.

Specific Nursing Competencies Required for Post.

Leading on Clinical Practice & Service Quality

• The IPCN will demonstrate; Evidence of conducting healthcare audit and quality improvement.
• Evidence of practicing and promoting a strong focus on delivering high quality person-centred services.
• The ability to build, lead and manage a team when carrying out all aspects of infection control clinical audit work.
• The ability to achieve positive results at all levels of the service.
• Knowledge of quality assurance practices and their application to nursing procedures.
• An awareness and respect for the patient’s views in relation to their care.
• A commitment and responsibility towards shared learning to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and service user experience in the DSC.
• Opportunities to promote nursing as a significant contributor or leader in interdisciplinary service improvement projects.

Planning and Organisation

• Ability to attain designated targets, manage deadlines and multiple tasks.
• Strong project management skills in developing new ideas and has a flexible approach and welcomes change.
• Evidence of effective organisational skills including awareness of appropriate resource management.
• Ability to be self-directed and work on own initiative.
• Evidence of maintaining a disciplined and professional level of performance under sustained or situational pressure.
• Knowledge on how to recognise and manage own stress levels.

Personal and Professional Development

• Provides evidence of on-going professional development
• Contributes to the learning experiences of colleagues through support, teaching and sharing of knowledge.
• Educates clients to maintain and promote health.

Apply for the position

Application due date: 13/09/2024
For queries relating to this position please telephone (01) 6354860