Assistant Director of Nursing - Infection Prevention
NHS AfC: Band 8b
At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Job overview
We're looking for an exceptional infection prevention expert and leader who's ready to make a real difference to patient safety at ELHT. This is a strategic role where you'll be the go‑to expert and the champion for infection prevention excellence. You'll have senior leadership experience and worked at a strategic level in the NHS, and understand the complexities of the role, as well as the statutory and governance requirements. You will be able to combine strategic thinking with operational excellence, writing policies, shaping the future of infection prevention, and rolling up your sleeves to solve problems on the ground. You are a confident communicator who can write and present papers to the Board as well as negotiate improved practices with clinical teams. You are able to drive change and are not afraid to challenge poor practice when patient safety is at stake.
You will bring genuine expertise in infection prevention and control along with a Master's degree (or equivalent experience), ENB 329 or equivalent and substantial experience working at senior nurse level.
Main duties of the job
You'll lead the Trust's Infection Prevention Nursing Team, providing strategic direction and hands‑on leadership to deliver excellence in infection prevention and control across all our sites. You'll develop the annual IPC programme and work plan, create and implement Trust‑wide policies, and design surveillance programmes that track and reduce healthcare‑associated infections. You'll present complex data and recommendations to the Board and senior committees, influencing decision‑making at the highest level.
When outbreaks occur, you'll take charge, investigating, implementing control measures, and managing incidents through to resolution. You'll be the go‑to expert for staff at all levels, providing advice on everything from complex clinical cases to capital building projects.
You'll drive quality improvement through robust audit programmes, deliver education and training across the organisation, manage the IPC budget, and ensure we meet all regulatory requirements including the Health and Social Care Act.
Working for our organisation
At ELHT we serve over 530,000 people across East Lancashire, and employ around 10,000 colleagues, many of whom are internationally renowned and award‑winning. We're rated 'Good' by the CQC and have sustained continuous improvement through our relentless focus on Safe, Personal and Effective Care. We're a professional and passionate team working together in an open and supportive culture. Our leadership is accessible and visible, our senior nurses meet regularly with colleagues at all levels, creating an environment where everyone's voice matters. We've built a continuous improvement culture that encourages learning and problem‑solving, where staff are treated with respect and supported to grow. As part of the Corporate Nursing team, you'll be at the heart of strategic decision‑making, working alongside the Deputy Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention. You'll be shaping Trust‑wide policy, influencing culture, and seeing the direct impact of your work across all our sites. We're committed to your development. We take training seriously and provide comprehensive opportunities for continuous professional development. Our compassionate leadership approach means we recruit, induct, appraise, and lead on the basis of values that matter.
Join us, and you'll be part of a team that's making a genuine difference to staff and patients every day and where your expertise will be valued.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will also play a critical role in several other key areas.
* Deputy chair of the Infection Prevention Committee and a key member of Decontamination, Water Safety and Ventilation Safety groups.
* Work closely with Risk Management, Patient Safety and Clinical Governance teams, identifying where new guidelines could improve care quality.
* Line management responsibilities, conducting appraisals, managing performance, supporting professional development, and building a high‑performing team.
* Managing the IPC budget, preparing business cases, and making strategic decisions about resource allocation.
* Working and networking with IPC colleagues locally and nationally, representing the Trust at conferences and professional meetings.
* Provide expert infection prevention advice when emergency situations arise requiring business continuity.
* Oversee patient information literature, manage the Trust's IPC intranet pages, and coordinate the IPC Champion network across clinical areas to ensure infection prevention expertise reaches every corner of the organisation.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Masters degree or equivalent
Experience
* Experience of working at a senior management level within the NHS
* Experience of MDT working with medical staff and other clinicians
* Previous experience at Senior Nurse level
Knowledge
* Evidence of professional/clinical knowledge of IPC supplemented by specialist clinical, managerial training and CPD
* Expertise in the knowledge and practice of Infection Control nursing
* Up to date knowledge of IPC research
Other
* Ability to deal with competing priorities and demanding workload
* Effective communicator able to communicate complex and sensitive information
It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
* Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro‑rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay‑scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
* This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
* Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
* Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short‑listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)
If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.
The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.
The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.
This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first‑class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.
We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.
We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under‑representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible. By telephone 01254 732075 or email admin.recruitment@elht.nhs.ukor write to Employment Services, Parkview Offices, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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