Role Overview
We are delighted to invite Specialist Infection Prevention Control Practitioners to join our friendly IPC team. This comes at a very exciting time for the Trust as we play a critical role transforming our healthcare delivery in the New Hospital Programme. The role of Specialist Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner will be key to delivery of specialist advice across Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) and Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) Acute and Community Services. The post holder will have a high visible presence in clinical areas and assist the Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Head of Nursing, Matron and all members of the Infection Prevention and Control team in the provision of a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Service across the health economy. The Specialist Practitioner will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and apply their enhanced skills, knowledge, and experience to contribute to episodes of care.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide high standard complex, enhanced care using enhanced levels of clinical judgement, skills, and knowledge.
* Critically evaluate and analyse clinical problems using expertise and clinical knowledge, seeking out and applying relevant evidence, enhanced clinical assessments, diagnostics, interventions, and equipment to make clinical decisions.
* Deliver complex care in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, innovation and rapidly evolving technologies using critical analysis and their underpinning knowledge to manage complex interventions.
* Teach and advise others and/or support the multi-disciplinary team.
* Participate in clinical audits, research projects, and implement changes as required, including the development and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures. Work within national and local protocols where these exist.
* Continuously update knowledge, enhance clinical practice, and provide support, mentoring and supervision of others.
* Recognise and work within the boundaries of practice, knowing when and to whom to refer patients/situations. Delegate work or work with other members of the multidisciplinary team and take accountability for delegated activity.
* Contribute to the development of local policies, protocols and procedures in accordance with local and national standards including the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (2015), The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for England, Health Technical Memorandums and Health Building Notes.
* Provide IPC advice and comment on local policies, procedures and guidelines.
* Participate in the implementation of IPC policies, procedures throughout the trust and carry out audit to monitor compliance.
* Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care.
* Work with Estates and facilities to ensure all aspects of IPC are incorporated as part of their service delivery including Water Safety, Ventilation Safety and New Builds / Refurbishments.
* Engage in a range of appropriate learning and development, continually reflecting on IPC practice to maximise capabilities.
* Be open to feedback on IPC practice by colleagues to promote ongoing development.
* Evaluate at appropriate intervals the current and future requirements of their practice.
* Identify any capability gaps in IPC practice, agreeing personal development plans with line manager through activities such as induction and appraisal.
* Review and update personal development plans in the light of performance, any development activities undertaken, and any wider changes identified.
* Contribute to the development of new knowledge through supporting research in IPC.
* Critically evaluate published literature, research studies and application to IPC practice.
* Develop a combined approach to practice focused research, academic inquiry and innovation across the IPC service/pathway.
* Develop a culture of sharing knowledge that values research, evaluation and academic inquiry & its importance to contemporary IPC practice.
* Support and encourage colleagues in implementing changes relevant to best IPC practice.
* Encourage colleagues to ask questions, make suggestions and seek clarification in relation to the IPC work they have been allocated.
* Provide values‑based leadership across the IPC care pathway, services and systems in complex and changing situations.
* Review changes made – identifying any ‘lessons learned’ for future IPC work activities.
* Critically evaluate the culture present within IPC teams and enable an optimal working environment through positive compassionate role modeling and leadership skills.
* Lead change processes: ensuring collaborative working to improve the quality of IPC practice.
* Lead with emotional intelligence, in line with NHS constitution values of compassionate leadership to enable individuals/teams to flourish, grow and deliver high standards of IPC.
* Enable others to positively contribute to IPC service improvements and better ways of working, recognising their own role in such endeavours.
* Allocate work to others by taking account of their skills, knowledge, competence, backgrounds and experience.
* Provide opportunities for colleagues and peers to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and build mutual respect and trust.
* Implement IPC interventions working with multidisciplinary teams, using multimodal strategies, and campaigning as required.
* Use all available methods of communication to build and develop effective communication networks and processes both within and external to the specialist area and trust. Lead by example always adopting an accountable and professional manner acting as a role model/advocate for IPC.
* Assist in dealing with concerns/complaints in the first instance and act as an advocate for patients using the correct channels and procedures to refer on complaints that cannot be easily resolved.
* Act as a point of contact on IPC matters.
* Advise on IPC measures related to cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation processes.
* Establish and maintain good communication with patients/clients/residents and relatives regarding IPC care.
* Communicate IPC action plans with healthcare staff maintaining appropriate records of work per agreed protocols.
* Always apply Standard Infection Control Precautions for all individuals (whether infection is known to be present or not).
* Implement IPC measures related to invasive devices and procedures.
* Utilise current evidence‑based guidance, policies and protocols to inform IPC practice.
* Apply Transmission Based Precautions when indicated by using clinical judgement and making risk‑assessed decisions based on suspected/known infectious agents and the severity of illness, transmission route, care setting and procedures undertaken.
* Encourage individuals to give feedback on guidance, policies, systems, procedures and practices and how improvements could be made.
* Contribute and participate in IPC monitoring, audit, and significant event reporting.
* Form respectful relationships with individuals, teams and organisations representing diverse constituencies, seeking regular input to better understand equality, diversity & inclusion issues.
* Plan, monitor and review guidance, policies/procedures to promote good IPC.
* Recognise circumstances or settings which create barriers to effective delivery of IPC and take appropriate action to overcome them.
* Investigate outbreaks using appropriate methods and interpretation of outbreak findings by working with others: establish case definition; identify parameters of investigation and case‑finding methodology; make hypotheses and identify source and mode of transmission.
* Undertake IPC assessments of clinical areas, providing feedback, identifying areas of good practice and remedial activity.
* Evaluate clinical areas; ensuring any improvement plans are being acted upon.
* Develop IPC policies and guidelines that are evidence‑based, clinically relevant and accessible to those who will follow them.
* Contribute and participate in IPC monitoring, audit and significant event reporting.
* Use surveillance data to reduce the risk of Healthcare Associated Infections among patients, staff, and others.
* Develop protocols for a surveillance programme with clearly defined objectives and goals relevant to target areas, procedures, population or event of interest.
* Support interventions tackling climate change and broader sustainability issues within IPC practice.
* Support estates department, hygiene services and others with IPC advice on cleaning standards and cleaning specifications for the working environment.
* Engage and collaborate with stakeholders to promote IPC in the built environment.
* Complete IPC risk assessments and advise on IPC key measures for the built environment, considering current building guidance and legislation.
* Provide IPC advice on water safety, specialist ventilation, decontamination, personal protective equipment and investigations.
* Deliver education in relation to AMR and AMS.
* Apply AMS principles and good practice, using evidence‑based guidance and local policies.
* Report patient safety incidents related to antimicrobial use.
* Identify, challenge and take action to rectify inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
* Support the implementation of IPC measures and transmission‑based precautions for people colonised or infected with resistant microorganisms.
* Support incident reviews and remedial actions related to AMR and AMS.
* Integrate audit into existing quality improvement programmes in relation to AMR/AMS.
* Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to implement national IPC guidance on Healthcare Associated Infections, AMR and AMS.
* Apply knowledge of microorganisms that cause infection in human healthcare and community settings.
* Support diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship programmes when required.
* Recognise key characteristics of pathogenicity, transmission, virulence and risk factors associated with chain of infection.
* Apply knowledge about clinical manifestation, diagnostic methods and screening to interpret reports and advise others.
* Advise in discussions on microbiological specimens for specific infection cases or outbreaks.
* Provide advice and support in applying standard and transmission‑based precautions depending on modes of transmission and virulence patterns identified through microbiological tests.
* Communicate in a timely and effective manner about modes of transmission, risks of specific pathogens and necessary microbiological investigations.
Key Messages
Not all NHS roles are eligible for sponsorship. Candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK are strongly advised to check the Government website for up‑to‑date and job‑specific information. The salary threshold for sponsorship is £25,000 for Health and Care Visas and £41,700 (with limited exceptions) for Skilled Worker visas. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules.
Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process and we'll be happy to discuss this with you. We actively promote flexible working so please discuss any requirements you may have with us. Secondments will be considered for fixed‑term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application.
All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account. Selection is based on the Trust's values, and the criteria outlined in the Job Description for the role.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the entry point (bottom) of the pay band. Appointments are subject to a 6‑month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3‑month probationary period.
You are required to pay for a DBS disclosure where the post requires one, and we encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service. We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses. Some posts may have implications on existing NHS Pension Scheme arrangements. For further information please visit the NHS Pensions Agency website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-pensions.
Trust Overview
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community services for East Cheshire (population 399 K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357 K). Our services include planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity, and intermediate care across Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford. Through our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we deliver extensive services in 26 medical centres and schools in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With 500 beds and around 5 500 staff, we are one of the area's largest employers. Since the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022, the Trust has become a key partner in Cheshire East & Cheshire West and Chester and in two provider collaboratives, aligning our strategic goals with the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System. As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we’re reimagining Leighton Hospital to create a new health and care neighbourhood, transforming healthcare delivery for a Healthier Future. Learn more on our Healthier Futures website. At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.
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