IPC Nurse Consultant

The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play. As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.

This is an exciting part-time opportunity to join the national infection prevention & control team at NHS England. The post plays an important role in the delivery of the IPC commitments and human health targets within the 2024-2029 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Action Plan (NAP). As a Nurse Consultant (IPC), the post holder will work as part of a dynamic team in delivering an effective service leading and supporting strategic clinical delivery of the national IPC programme.

Main duties of the job:

• Develop and lead IPC service reform and modernisation initiatives.
• Take a lead role, as requested, in the analysis of highly complex problems, including the development of solutions related to the modernisation of IPC clinical and care practice.
• Develop and support the implementation of agreed IPC service improvement standards.
• Support the effective delivery of services and the achievement of IPC performance targets, standards, and quality indicators across all HSC services.
• Work collaboratively with professional and policy leads at the DoH influencing a range of policy functions including the development of national standards, commissioning directions and performance indicators.

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Using their specialist knowledge and expertise in IPC to advise and inform the development of long-term strategic plans for reducing HCAI, which impact across the whole of the NHS and social care in England.
• Developing IPC strategy and policy which impact on the care of patients throughout the NHS and social care and support the implementation of these strategies and policies throughout England.
• Providing expert advice and leadership for the development of national IPC resources, policies, and standards.
• Collaborating with others in securing funding to develop research and development programmes in IPC & HCAI, to improve current clinical practice and service redesign.
• Developing and implementing systems to ensure clinical information is effectively managed and best practice is shared across the team, Directorate, and the wider NHS organisations as appropriate.
• Taking a lead in the coordination of training and development of Clinical Fellows across the Department or Directorate.
• Oversight and management of all aspects of any allocated clinical budgets.

Person specification:

• Live on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register and have at least 5 years’ experience working at a senior management level in health and social care.
• Educated to master’s level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Evidence of post registration specialist qualification/training in IPC.
• Demonstrate experience of delivering improvements in infection control and across a range of patient pathways in line with evidence-based best practice.
• Demonstrate a track record of leading, supporting and delivering significant change in IPC services, including hospital and community.
• Demonstrate experience and ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in IPC organisational change, improvement, and service delivery.
• Demonstrates evidence of a proven track record of achieving challenging targets and standards.
• Demonstrate evidence of involving and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders, internal and external to the organisation.
• Demonstrate a wide breadth of knowledge in health and social care achieved through operational and strategic experience at an organisational level.
• Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to a range of disciplines e.g., IPC service improvements, financial management, performance management, staff management and information management.

Skills Capabilities & Attributes:

• Demonstrate evidence of designing and implementing effective IPC service improvement programmes and measures to address poor performance to maximise the likelihood of successful delivery of improved services and outcomes for patients.
• Demonstrate evidence of addressing issues of IPC standards and performance while maintaining effective and positive working relationships.
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to build effective cross-functional working relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders to drive organisational agenda.

Values and behaviours:

• Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do.
• Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
• Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients.
• Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects, and learns from the contribution of others.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity taking into account and being aware of how individual actions contribute to and make a difference to the equality agenda.

Others:

• Ability to travel nationally across sites where required.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes. We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. We’re passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that. We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker route are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.