We have an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Sheffield Community Infection Prevention & Control (CIPC) service.
Background
Sheffield is a large city with a diverse population and geography, over one-hundred care homes, supported living homes and Extra Care housing facilities, as well as a number of early years, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools, and temporary accommodation settings that support some of the most vulnerable residents of the city.
The newly established Sheffield Community Infection Prevention & Control (CIPC) service, which sits within the Public Health and Integrated Commissioning Directorate, aims to provide high quality, specialist IPC advice, support, local surveillance, and care to community-based settings such as these that provide health and social care services.
The role
We are looking for those experienced in working with community health and care settings, and with knowledge of infection prevention and control, to join the Community Infection Prevention & Control (CIPC) team. As a Practitioner you will contribute to the provision of all aspects of the Sheffield Community Infection Prevention & Control Delivery Plan.
You will support the team in promoting effective IPC practice and techniques to both staff and service users, with the aim of reducing the burden of avoidable infections, the transmission of infectious disease, and subsequent poor health outcomes across the community. You will help to foster a service that is flexible, convenient, confidential, and tailored to meet the needs of the population.
Key responsibilities
Service and Programme Delivery: You’ll provide timely specialist IPC advice and support to community settings and commissioners, both proactively and reactively. You’ll also promote compliance with IPC standards using evidence-based and behavioural science approaches, and assist in developing local IPC strategies and best practice. You will contribute to IPC audits and help providers establish effective policies and procedures, and will support outbreak management as necessary.
Performance Management: You will support the effective delivery of the Sheffield Community Infection Prevention & Control Delivery Plan, contribute to improving Public Health Outcomes Framework indicators, and assist in reducing preventable infections in CQC-registered care settings.
Planning: You’ll support the development of policies and plans through partnership working and long-term planning, and contribute to population health surveillance and data analysis to inform strategies and services.
Stakeholder Management: You will build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, commissioners, and health system partners to support collaborative working. You will keep key Sheffield City Council teams and health protection stakeholders informed on IPC issues, service outcomes, and relevant data. You will also use your strong communication skills to engage diverse audiences, deliver training, and handle challenging conversations professionally.
Representation: You will represent the service in relevant forums and communities of practice to support the operational delivery of IPC quality improvement. You will actively contribute to local, regional, and national discussions on antimicrobial resistance, ensuring the service’s interests and expertise are represented.
Skills and experience
We are looking for somebody who:
1. Has substantial experience in healthcare, social care, or health and safety, with strong knowledge of infection prevention and control.
2. Can communicate complex information clearly to a range of audiences, including through training, while building and maintaining positive working relationships.
3. Has experience developing and managing audits, including reporting, action planning, and follow-up.
4. Brings strong critical analysis skills to interpret and apply data, research, and guidance to practice.
5. Is committed to tackling health inequalities, team working, and continuous professional development.
There are many benefits to joining Sheffield City Council. The package includes one of the best pension schemes available as well as flexible working arrangements, and we offer generous annual leave entitlement.
Shortlisting will be based on the specific skills and experience requirements listed above.
Dates for interview will be: 9th or 10th September
Please contact Ruth Granger, Consultant in Public Health for an informal discussion about the post.
We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.