Job overview
We are looking for an energetic and motivated healthcare practitioner who genuinely has a desire to work in the speciality of Infection Prevention and Control. You must be passionate about patient care, enthusiastic about exploring new ways of working and a team player, to help us deliver our overall Healthcare Associated Infection improvement strategy at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We are a small team with a supportive administration team and work closely with Microbiology to deliver safe, patient centred care, providing a 7 day service to our 2 acute hospitals and 3 community hospitals as well as our community nursing service.
Main duties of the job
Your duties will include; undertaking audit, surveillance, supporting campaigns, along with guiding and supporting clinical staff on Infection Prevention and Control guidelines and policies and therefore promoting safe, quality, patient centred care. You will be committed to quality improvement.
In return you will be joining a team who are committed to supporting you in your development, providing you with the knowledge and skills to undertake your role.
The successful applicant will receive a 4 week induction period and be supported in the use of core competencies to assess knowledge and skills as part of their continuous professional development in this field.
Please note this post may close at sufficient applicants.
Working for our organisation
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our staff in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:
·Your Leadership Impact
·Leading Your Team to Success
·Service Improvement for Beginners
·Developing your Service Improvement Skills
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
·Explore leadership within the NHS
·Promote Trust values and behaviours
·Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
·Equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these three and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer further in-house courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Level 2 in Maths and English
2. NVQ Level 3 in Health or Social Care (Level 3 Diploma in Health Care).
3. Completion of the Core Competency pack.
4. Foundation Degree.
Desirable criteria
5. Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
6. Care Certificate
7. Teaching Certificate
8. Audit certificate
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Knowledge and experience on patient safety/IPC practices.
10. Previous experience of working as part of a team.
11. Demonstrate skills of infection prevention and control practices and act as a professional role model.
12. Previous experience of working in health and/or social care.
13. Understands the principles of audit and surveillance.
14. Previous experience in managing own calendar/work load
15. Previous Audit experience
16. Previous Teaching experience
17. Experience of working independently
Desirable criteria
18. Ability to work flexibly in hours/days
Knowledge
Essential criteria
19. Work in line with the Trust Code of Conduct.
20. Excellent communication and listening skills and adopts an appropriate style and method of communication.
21. Ability to present written information clearly.
22. Ensure compliance with confidentiality at all times.
23. Positive approach to customer care.
24. A team player able to work well with others and demonstrate commitment to team objectives.
25. Ability to work effectively and co-ordinate and prioritise workload without direct supervision.
26. Ability to use initiative to make a decision within sphere of work and/or knowledge recognising where assistance is required.
27. Leads aspects of quality and service improvement.
28. Work with minimal supervision and will challenge the practice of others.
29. Intermediate level information technology skills Microsoft Office, database entry.
Personal Atributes
Essential criteria
30. Caring and empathetic attitude to patients and colleagues professional at all times.
31. Motivated and enthusiastic, receptive to change.
32. Undertake further training and development to maintain competence.
33. Successful candidate must have access to a vehicle for work purposes to meet the requirements of the role.
34. Flexible approach to working hours and practices.
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.