Infection Prevention Specialist

Overview:

This position is based within a private hospital in Empangeni, and reports to the Nursing Standard Manager. The focus of this role is to identify, manage, mitigate and evaluate infection prevention risks to patients, employees, and the community and business stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

• Be a qualified Infection Prevention and Control Specialist, holding a completed qualification from a recognised institution (qualification should hold a minimum of 60 credits)
• Sound clinical and applied Infection Prevention knowledge
• Practical application knowledge as an IPS/IPC or as a second-in-charge
• Excellent computer skills, with solid MS Office experience
• Understanding of the private healthcare industry

Responsibilities:

Execute the hospital infection prevention strategy

• A well communicated and effective strategy with clearly defined objectives in line with organizational requirements.
• Implement an infection prevention plan aligned to the business objectives of the business unit; and based on the historic facility experience, incidents and audit findings and the organisation’s national targets.
• Lead the Infection Prevention Committee and direct reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, trending and actions of all infection related incidents or risks.
• Set the business unit Infection Prevention targets with the Nursing team.
• Comply with legal and company requirements through internal audits (laundry, sterilization and storage department, catering, healthcare risk waste, internal infection and prevention control audit), and the hazardous biological agent risk assessment.
• Participate in and manage the close out of findings of the Department of Health inspection.
• Participate in and manage the close out of findings of the external and internal QMS reviews.
• All close outs from internal audits, external audits and inspections are monitored and evaluated for effectiveness at Management and Quality Review meetings.

Surveillance and reporting to minimise infection prevention risk

• Patient and environmental risks identified and mitigated.
• Monitor and assess high risk patients to minimise infection risk.
• Monitor and assess the environment to identify and minimise infection risk.
• Consult with relevant subject matter experts in order to take appropriate remedial action and monitor effectiveness.
• Communicate infection risks, trends and actions to the Management, Unit Managers, Medical Advisory Committee, and Quality Review Committee.

Identify, minimise and manage occupation exposure to hazardous biological agents

• Occupational risks identified and mitigated
• Ensure that Hep B programme is offered to all HCW’s
• Monitor and evaluate the placement of high risk employees to minimise occupational health risks.
• Monitor and evaluate the environment to identify and minimise occupational health risks.
• Consult with relevant subject matter experts in order to take appropriate remedial action and monitor effectiveness.

Ensure excellence in infection prevention practice and build competence in infection prevention management within the facility

• Technical and professional competence in infection prevention at business unit level.
• Keep your knowledge updated and abreast of international best practice in infection prevention.
• Provide subject matter knowledge and advise to the business unit.
• Facilitate standard and ad hoc training as required to align business unit to organizational training strategy for e.g. (not limited to)
  • Hand hygiene
  • exposure to body fluids
  • infection prevention bundle compliance
  • significant resistant organisms
  • link nurse training
• Identify the risk profile of each unit and design and coordinate an appropriate in-service training strategy with the enabling team for the business unit.
• Induct new employees in infection prevention and occupational health risk.

Manage internal and external outbreaks to minimise risk

• Patient, employee and environmental and risks identified and mitigated.
• As a member of the Emergency Action committee annually review the Outbreak Management Process in the hospital emergency plan.
• In the event of the outbreak, lead the outbreak task team to control the outbreak and minimise further risk.
• Communicate the outbreak status, epidemiology, risk, prevention measures and impact to internal and external stakeholders.

Competencies:

• Leadership skills, Influencing
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Practical Execution
• Building Relationships
• Communication
• Customer Responsiveness
• Knowledge Management
• Rule Orientation
• Research Skills
• Ethical Behaviour
• Leading by Example
• Resilience