University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Corporate Director of Infection Prevention & Control
The closing date is 04 June 2026
Main duties of the job
As Corporate Director of Infection Prevention & Control, the post holder will lead the Infection Prevention and Control strategy and agenda in collaboration with the Deputy Chief Nurse/Chief Nurse. The post holder will also be a senior member of the Corporate Nursing team and provide leadership and support to the wider portfolio within the Chief Nurse's remit. The post holder is responsible, with the Chief Nurse (Director of Infection Prevention and Control) and Infection Control Doctor (ICD), for the prevention, monitoring, investigation and control of infection within the Trust.
Job responsibilities
* Provide senior leadership, strategic support and specialist clinical expert advice across the organisation in relation to infection prevention and control, clinical sustainability and clinical quality, including the drive to improve standards of care and patient experience.
* Exercise high levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
* Ensure the delivery of a robust Infection Prevention and Control service to the Trust (across all sites) thereby reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections and contributing to the quality of patient care and service delivery.
* Work with a high level of autonomy, working closely with the divisional teams and corporate services such as Estates, creating workable solutions, providing highly expert advice and acting as a representative for the Trust on external advisory groups/bodies as required.
* Work in collaboration with the Chief Nurse Senior Leadership Team to be the public face of infection prevention and control and be responsible for the production of the annual report, providing details on the organisation's infection prevention and control programme and publication of Healthcare Associated Infection data for the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Knowledge and skills
* Degree level or equivalent education
* Registered Nurse
* Master's degree or equivalent knowledge/experience; MBA or Doctorate
Experience
* Senior Nurse Leadership experience in an acute healthcare organisation and a credible clinician in their field of IPC
* Experience as a Deputy DIPC – credibility of knowledge of IPC
* Experience of clinical governance and measures to ensure patient safety
* Can demonstrate a track record of successful delivery and innovation
* Experience of strategy development
* Establishing and sustaining effective strategic direction
* Experience of outbreak management
* Experience of teaching to undergraduates and postgraduates
* Detailed knowledge and understanding of current nursing policies such as safe staffing, revalidation and safeguarding
* Extensive and detailed knowledge of surveillance/epidemiology, screening, outbreak management in acute healthcare setting, surgical site infection, IPC in the built environment, decontamination/sterilisation, disinfection, water safety, soft FM/cleaning, endoscopy, effective monitoring arrangements, training and education
* An understanding of the value of epidemiological analysis within the IPC function
* Able to take full independent responsibility for clinical advice and management of HCAIs
* A good understanding of the current context of health and social care, and of clinical learning and research
* Experience of incident management
Communication Skills
* Highly developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills
* Ability to convey highly complex and contentious messages
* Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of clinical professionals
* Ability to present complex information to a range of audiences
* Skilled in conflict resolution and partnership working
* Confidence and ability to challenge colleagues
* Develop good working relationships with colleagues across the Trust and with external stakeholders
* Experience of media engagement
People Management and Development
* Highly developed and credible leadership skills
* Able to lead, motivate and influence individuals both within and external to the organisation
* Ability to hold others to account
* Experience of managing performance, change and complex people issues
* Ability to work under pressure and lead through ambiguity
* Coaching or mentoring qualification
Analytical & Judgment skills
* Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
* Ability to interpret complex data and make sound decisions
* Experience of critical decision making in relation to operational and clinical risk
Planning & Organisational Skills
* Strong problem-solving abilities
* High level objective setting
* Demonstrate efficient use of resources
* Excellent time management and prioritisation
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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