Infection Control Lead Nurse in Esher

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our In-Patient Unit (IPU) as an Infection Control Lead Nurse, to help lead our multi-professional team to deliver a high standard of end of life care to our patients.

Main duties of the job:

• You will be a true team player, with excellent communication skills and a compassionate approach to care.
• Youll be motivated to provide excellent patient care using your holistic assessment skills, whilst liaising closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Comfortable acting as a mentor, supervisor, and assessor, youll enjoy providing support and a positive learning environment to new and junior staff within our IPU.
• Perhaps you have similar experience in palliative or end of life care, or you have transferrable skills gained in intensive or elderly care.

About us:

Princess Alice Hospice is a charity supporting people in life, death and grief. We are dedicated to working closely with individuals, communities and organisations in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond and large parts of Surrey, to ensure more people receive the support they need.

About the In-Patient Team:

Here at Princess Alice, youll have the opportunity to make a satisfying, rewarding difference to the lives of our patients, their families and friends, and be supported every step of the way. We support our clinical staff to be the difference in these precious days, with outstanding patient to carer ratios, time to build valued relationships with your patients, their families and friends, and one-to-one clinical supervision.

The secret to our CQC outstanding rating is simple. We are ambitious - blazing new trails in end-of-life care - and supporting the ambitions of our nurses with on-site training and qualifications. Youll be part of a great team of experienced professionals to learn from and learn with.

Job responsibilities:

• Responsible for infection control within the Hospice.
• Assist in surveillance of hospital acquired infection.
• Provide advice in relation to the purchase, decontamination and/or condemning of equipment.
• Develop measures to reduce the incidence of infection.
• Act as a resource on infection control staff throughout the Hospice, both clinical and non-clinical.
• Investigate infection control problems and advise on follow-up care for persons exposed to infection.
• Outbreak management: Identify outbreak, advise staff/patients regarding isolation, monitor and report to appropriate outside agencies.
• Instruct the multi-professional team in standard and specific infection control procedures.
• Maintain links with Kingston Hospital Infection Control Department and the Occupational Health Department to ensure that all necessary infection control measures are implemented.
• Ensure that the infection control annual audit is serviced and that results are disseminated as appropriate.
• Ensure that agreed audits are undertaken on a regular basis.
• Report back to Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, SECA and other meetings as appropriate on the results of all audits.
• Meet regularly with the IPU Senior Team to update on infection control measures and possible risks to staff and patients.
• Maintain effective communication and liaison with patients, their families and carers, all members of the multidisciplinary team, community services and local statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Teach on all aspects of infection control as required.
• Liaise with other hospice infection control nurses.
• Produce an annual report and annual infection control plan.
• Coordinate and chair quarterly infection control and prevention group meetings.
• Recognise own learning and professional development needs.

Experience:

• Interest in Palliative Care.
• Previous experience of working within a nursing team.
• Interest in infection control.
• Experience of nursing terminally ill patients and caring for their families.

Personal Qualities and Other Requirements:

• Ability to deal with palliative care environment.
• Flexibility of shifts.
• Realistic ideas of the Hospice environment.
• Commitment to personal training and development.
• Awareness of, and commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of the Hospice.

Qualifications:

• Infection prevention and control qualification or course - Or willing to undertake Palliative Care qualification i.e. ECEPC or similar - Or willing to undertake Assessor module or equivalent - Desirable.
• Willing to undertake further qualification.

Particular Skills and Aptitudes:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication with people.
• Ability to articulate in a clear and sensitive manner.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Able to work effectively in a demanding environment.
• Contribute to the learning environment.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Skills in teaching and developing others.
• Contemporary knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• Awareness of current issues and relevant practice guidelines in palliative care.
• Knowledge and experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£40,000 a year Full-time - pro rata for part-time - depending on experience.