Job overview
The Infection Prevention Health Technician is a unique role for an unregistered practitioner with health care assistant background to work with the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) to enhance patient safety and maintain IPC standards across the trust.
The post holder will work with other members of the IPCT on the prevention, surveillance, investigation, audit, and general control of infection in UH Sussex hospitals and satellite units. The postholder will predominantly base in the clinical environments of the Trust.
The post holder will be designated to Worthing and SouthlandsHospitals. Whilst the post will be site specific, there may be an occasional requirement to visit other sites. There may be an occasional need to work at weekends.
Main duties of the job
To carry out IPC audits as directed by the IPC nursing team.
To be a visible presence in wards and clinical environment, identifying IPC concerns within scope of competency and referring where needed to senior colleagues.
To assist in collecting information for post infection reviews
To deal with patients in a kind, sensitive and professional manner at all times.
To manage IPC signage including posters for isolation and hand hygiene.
To assist in the assessment of clinical areas with respect to IPC.
To carry out ward based education activities including hand hygiene technique and compliance, safe use of water outlets, equipment cleaning and decontamination and other areas as required.
Use a range of audit tools e.g. tendable to carry out audit activity.
Review information collected and give relevant feedback in the clinical area and escalate any concerns to IPC Nurse.
Maintain suitable and accurate records of activity and advice.
Champion good IPC practice and act as a role model in the clinical environments.
Support the IPC Champions at local level.
Participate in maintaining a friendly, professional, open environment where the contribution of all team members is valued.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.
If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
To be a visible presence in wards and clinical environment, identifying IPC concerns within scope of competency and referring where needed to senior colleagues.
To participate as directed in the programme for surgical site infection surveillance (SSI).
To assist in collecting information for post infection reviews including C.difficile, E. coli and others as needed.
To deal with patients in a kind, sensitive and professional manner at all times.
To manage IPC signage including posters for isolation and hand hygiene.
To assist in the assessment of clinical areas with respect to IPC.
To carry out ward based education activities including hand hygiene technique and compliance, safe use of water outlets, equipment cleaning and decontamination and other areas as required.
Use a range of audit tools e.g. tenable to carry out audit activity.
Review information collected and give relevant feedback in the clinical area and escalate any concerns to IPC Nurse.
Maintain suitable and accurate records of activity and advice.
To have highly developed knowledge and skills in word processing packages, presentations, and email to support productions of reports and graphs.
Champion good IPC practice and act as a role model in the clinical environments.
Support the IPC Champions at local level.
Support provision of study days and other educational events.
To participate in specific IPC focussed events e.g. hand hygiene week, antimicrobial awareness week.
To enter information and data accurately and efficiently onto the relevant databases and systems and prepare the records and files.
To create and maintain manual and computerised filling systems, enabling timely and accurate information retrieval.
With relevant training to use the Trust data systems to provide colleagues with up-to-date information.
Communication
Contribute to effective communication with the multidisciplinary team.
Speak politely and confidently to staff at all grades to praise good practiceand raise any IPC concerns.
Be creative with ideas to enhance IPC practice across the trust.
Participate in maintaining a friendly, professional, open environment where the contribution of all team members is valued.
Visit wards and departments, communicating routine infection prevention information with healthcare professionals and patients to collect sensitive clinical information.
Participate in meetings and share information with other members of the team.
Feel confident to report any concerns to the Infection Prevention Nurses to facilitate improvements.
Respect confidentiality of all information received.
Service delivery and improvement
To identify areas for service improvement and participate in the implementation of appropriate actions.
Work with staff in clinical areas on infection prevention practices where tact, persuasion may be required to obtain the required information i.e. from nursing records, verbal conversations, medical records.
Support the IPCT with the audit annual programme (program will involve, daily, weekly, monthly, and annual audits), ensuring accuracy of data collection, recording and data entry.
Monitor practice through observation, reporting to the IPC nurses any issuesidentified, making analysis of facts as observed.
To contribute and participate in departmental audits as required and in conjunction with the IPCT.
Contribute under supervision to the reporting of surveillance microorganisms, ensuring that recording is accurate.
Produce statistical information as determined by the IPC Nurses.
People management anddevelopment
Act as a role model for infection prevention practices and challenge other staff as appropriate, demonstrating practices where required to other staff.
Learning and development
Use the IPS competency tool to help with development in the specialist area of IPC.
Be willing to undertake further specific IPC training.
Undertake relevant healthcare assistant training.
Maintain mandatory training (STAM).
Be proactive in identification of areas for improvement and escalate solutions to deal with identified concerns.
Propose and discuss solutions with the wider IPC Team.
To be aware at all times of the limitations of own knowledge, skills, and job responsibility, referring to IPN’s, as necessary.
There is a requirement for speed, accuracy, and mental effort in gathering clinical data using a range of sources including theatre records, medical and nursing notes, electronic pathology systems and UKHSA, Healthcare Associated Infection Data Capture System.
Liaise with the Information Analysis to ensure optimal methods are used to collect, store, and analyse infection prevention surveillance data.
Participate in and meet agreed objectives through the appraisal scheme.
Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager.
Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
People Management and Development
Essential criteria
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications