Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Program Manager Gilmore Lodge (Fort Erie, ON)

Division

Important Notices & Amendments

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

We welcome all applicants! For more information about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Niagara Region, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Niagara Region, Ontario or email related questions to diversity@niagararegion.ca. To send input on reducing barriers in the current hiring process, please email myhr@niagararegion.ca

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.

Don’t have every qualification?

You may be hesitant to apply if you do not have every qualification listed in the posting. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience and education to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Please note that for unionized roles, we must follow collective agreement requirements. However, we encourage all interested candidates to submit their applications. We believe success in a role can extend beyond meeting every single requirement.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager Clinical Practice, the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Program Manager is responsible for implementing, overseeing, and managing the Long-Term Care (LTC) Home’s infection prevention and control program with an interdisciplinary team. This role also ensures the delivery of infection prevention and control education and enforcement to all staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors, and residents, auditing of practices in the home, monitoring surveillance and managing outbreaks in the home. The IPAC Program Manager will ensure the home is in compliance with all relevant legislation and best practices such as Public Health Ontario, Ministry Long Term Care, Ministry of Labour, and Accreditation Canada.

Education

• Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Nursing, or other related discipline.
• Current Certification from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC; LTC-CIP) or evidence of enrollment and plan to complete within 3 years
• Completion of an Infection Prevention and Control course endorsed by IPAC Canada, CHICA, or APIC-USA (preferred)
• Current Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development approved training program as required under section 9 of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Knowledge

• Minimum of 3 years recent experience working in infectious diseases and outbreak management
• Knowledge and/or experience working with cleaning and disinfectant products
• Knowledge of Public Health Regulations, Registered Health Professionals Act, Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC), Long-Term Care Act and Regulations, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and privacy laws
• Proficiency with PointClickCare (eHCR) an asset
• Knowledge of computer software applications, including word processing and spreadsheets, preferably Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills preferred
• Experience in a management role preferred and experience working in a unionized environment
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge and skills in the care of the geriatric population as well as training in dementia awareness
• Adult Education Certificate is preferred

Responsibilities

Managing the infection prevention and control program for the LTC Home (20% of time)

• Supervise the delivery of infection prevention and control education to all staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors, and residents.
• Develop, revise, and deliver staff education sessions on infection prevention and control topics, designed to meet legislative compliance requirements and improve staff skill levels
• Oversee management of cytotoxic hazardous and non-cytotoxic hazardous precautions and protocols
• Advise and support staff in the proper disposal of sharps, cytotoxic hazardous, non-cytotoxic hazardous, biomedical, and biohazardous materials
• Lead the Immunization and screening program for residents and immunization program for staff.
• Ensure screening measures are in place
• Coordinate the ordering, inventory management, distribution, and appropriate and safe use of PPE for the home.
• Ensure that there is a hand hygiene program in accordance with any standard or protocol issued by the Ministry LTC Director.
• Participate in the annual review of the outbreak management plan.
• Lead the IPAC Committee and provide data analysis, trends, and quality improvement initiatives via quarterly PAC meetings
• Attend various in-home meetings as required and present IPAC statistics (ex. Core Programs, monthly compliance meetings, daily clinical meetings).
• Screen and track antibiotic-resistant organisms upon admission and readmission to the homes.
• Oversee and carry out the antibiotic stewardship program in the home and monitor residents’ antibiotic use
• Review N95 fit testing report and determine when fit testing clinic is indicated for home
• Oversee and track the IPAC training and education program for staff and volunteers required by the Act and Regulation that meets requirements set in the IPAC Standards
• Complete infection prevention and control education for New Hire Orientation

Conducting regular infectious disease surveillance (20% of time)

• Audit daily and monthly screening results to determine whether any immediate action is required.
• Provide training to staff on how to monitor for the presence of infection in residents and ensure surveillance is performed by staff on every shift to identify cases of healthcare-acquired infections, device-associated infections, and antibiotic-resistant organisms
• Ensure symptoms indicating the presence of infection in residents are monitored in accordance with any standard or protocol issued by the Ministry LTC Director.
• Ensure symptoms are recorded and immediate action is taken to reduce transmission and isolate residents and place them in cohorts as required.
• Perform daily surveillance activities by collecting, analyzing, and communicating epidemiological data.
• Complete at a minimum, quarterly real-time audits of infection prevention and control practices in the home and demonstration of staff competency in these practices (ex. Hand hygiene, PPE selection, PPE donning/doffing). Address gaps or violations in protocols as required.
• In conjunction with/supporting the Department Managers provides development, coaching, and discipline when necessary related to infection prevention and control.
• Audit infection prevention and control documentation and practices
• Follow-up on staff communicable illnesses and provide return to work protocol

Leads the Outbreak Management Team at the outset of an outbreak and regularly throughout an outbreak (20% of time)

• Lead an outbreak management system for detecting, managing, and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. This includes defined staff responsibilities, reporting protocols based on requirements under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, communication plans, and protocols for receiving and responding to health alerts.
• Advise on IPAC practices to manage the outbreak and minimize risk(s) to residents and staff and implement changes to IPAC practices as needed to support the outbreak response.
• Assist with securing IPAC-related resources needed to support outbreak management response
• Ensure accurate disease-related information is tracked and documented.
• Engage with public health on the outbreak response, when relevant, including when an outbreak has been declared.
• Develop corrective action plans when non-compliances in infection prevention and control arise from inspections by local public health unit, Ministry of Labour, and MLTC.
• Complete initial, amend, and finalize critical incident reporting to MLTC
• Report any suspected or confirmed occupational illnesses to Ministry of Labour
• Provide ongoing updates to MLTC and Public health regarding outbreak
• Lead inspection with Ministry of Labour during follow-up to any reported occupational illnesses
• Lead outbreak inspections with MLTC and Public health
• Increased audit frequency and unit rounding for the duration of the outbreak

Data Analysis and Quality Improvement (20% of time)

• Analyse audit data collected to determine trends and potential risks
• Implement required improvements to the infection prevention and control program in collaboration with the interdisciplinary IPAC team, as required by audits, data analysis as well as recommendations arising from the quality program for IPAC
• Responsible for daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting of infection control data and activities. Including hand hygiene compliance, outbreak(s), antibiotic stewardship, immunization rates, and infection control module report.
• Conduct risk assessments and audits to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs and plans and collaborate with the Manager, Clinical Practice to develop short and long-term goals.
• Lead the completion of the Infection Control Program Evaluation annually.
• Support departmental managers with implementation of required practices such as cleaning and disinfecting, food safety monitoring, and equipment. Consults with the Medical Director on policies and procedures for the IPAC program that impact medical care.
• Seek advice from the interdisciplinary IPAC team and other health care professionals in the home on specific policies and procedures of the IPAC program, in particular those that directly impact resident care.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Clinical Practice to review, at least annually, IPAC policies and procedures and ensure they are complete, accurate, and align with evidence and with best practice.
• Implement Ethical Framework to inform decision-making when deemed necessary
• Review construction, renovation, maintenance, and design as it pertains to infection prevention and control concerns

Communication and IPAC representative of the Home (10% of time)

• Act as the primary contact for Public Health and Ministry of Labour inspections at the home.
• Lead MLTC infection prevention and control inspections
• Provide regular communication for the staff, residents, and families in the event of an outbreak.
• Develop and deliver outbreak management training for staff at minimum with the onset of an outbreak (disinfecting products, high touch surfaces, PPE protocols, isolation requirements, cohorting etc.).
• Communicate risks and treatments for all residents within the home when infection is identified.
• Engage residents, families, staff, and volunteers to promote an infection control culture.
• Regular communications and education related to infection prevention and control provided to residents, visitors, staff, and volunteers via various methods
• Ensure prompt reporting of reportable disease to Public Health, Ministry of Labour, and the MLTC.
• Report immunization rates of staff and residents as required.
• Notify the Home’s leadership team of risks, declared outbreaks, and appropriate mitigation measures and precautions required to respond to incidences of infection.
• Work in collaboration with the IPAC Hub.
• Regularly meet with the interdisciplinary team.
• Regularly engage with the Resident’s Council and Family Council to seek advice on IPAC measures and their impacts on residents and families/caregivers and to evaluate the IPAC program and quality activities.
• Conduct debrief sessions with the outbreak management team following the resolution of an outbreak to assess IPAC practices that were effective and ineffective in the management of the outbreak.

Leads the Occupational Health & Safety of the Home (5% of time)

• Ensures Occupational Health & Safety policies, programs, and practices are implemented and maintained.
• Chair the Joint Health and Safety Committee, complete, post, and upload meeting minutes
• Organize/schedule monthly building inspections
• Participate in monthly in-home health and safety inspections
• Investigate, analyze trends and/or review of home specific accidents, incidents, near misses, including workplace violence and harassment
• Report work-related incidents/injuries/ illnesses to Ministry of Labour
• Act as a primary contact for Ministry of Labour inspections at the home
• Review results and outcomes of MOH, MLTC, and PH inspections and develop action plans when needed.
• Identify situations that may be a source of danger or hazard and make recommendations for the improvement of worker health and safety;
• Annual completion of the Annual Joint Health and Safety Function Checklist
• Member of the Safety Steering Committee, attending meetings quarterly or more frequently as required.
• Maintaining and recruiting management and employee union members. Promoting certification and re-certification requirements as needed

Special Requirements

• In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Records Check, including a vulnerable sector search, and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license
• Must maintain the ability to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations, or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

• Email: myhr@niagararegion.ca
• Phone: 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
• In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department