Job overview

The Band 5 Infection Prevention and Control Surveillance Nurse plays a vital role in supporting the Trust's commitment to preventing and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). 

Working as part of the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT), the post holder will work to provide expert advice, education, and visible leadership across clinical and non-clinical areas promoting best practice in the prevention of hospital acquired infection including surgical site surveillance. This role will involve conducting clinical review, surveillance, clinical audit, and staff education. This role will be responsible for collecting, analysing, and presenting SSI data, conducting patient follow-ups, and producing regular reports to inform service improvement and enhance patient safety and surgical outcomes. 

Acting as a key link between the IPCT, surgical teams, and other stakeholders, the post holder will ensure timely escalation of concerns, contribute to post-infection reviews, and support the implementation of action plans to reduce infection risks. They will actively participate in Trust-wide IPC audits and initiatives, helping to embed a culture of continuous improvement and high standards of infection prevention across the organisation.

You will be expected to work independently/autonomously and at times without direct supervision, accountable for your own professional working. 

Main duties of the job

·        Responsible for carrying out surveillance of infections within the clinical areas, follow up of patients on surveillance according to current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge, transfer. 

·       Gather surveillance data (including Surgical Site Infection Surveillance) as required by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) where you will ensure data is correctly validated and transcribed before being entered onto the DCS (Data Capture System). 

In liaison with senior members of the team; advises staff on robust cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation techniques for specialised equipment in relationship to the care of infected patients.

     Working with the IPC team and Surgical teams to develop a planned programme of surgical site surveillance (SSI) for hip and knee surgery and also for colorectal procedures. You will oversee the collection of, analysis and submission of data this includes pre and post surgery discharge questionnaires.

          Deliver ward-based education training programmes to enhance the understanding and knowledge of IPC practice within the clinical areas.

·  Attend and participate in ward meetings, huddles during periods of increased incidence and help promote new ideas and methods and assist in their implementation of safe clean care.

Working for our organisation

Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision is achieved for our patients.

Our culture and values define us here at Medway NHS Foundation Trust and are the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation.

Our BEST values underpin Patient First and are at the core of the care we give to our patients, the support we offer to our staff and our overall leadership approach:

B – Bold

E – Every person counts

S – Sharing and open

T - Together

Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious and dynamic environment; our employees are able to choose the coverage and supplemental benefits that best fit their needs and those of their families. This includes the promotion of flexible working opportunities across the Trust.

The Infection Prevention and Control team here at Medway Foundation Trust are a multicultural, dynamic team who support growth, learning and support career progression. 

As a team we have lead on a number of projects and are a flagship team for Students and Link Practitioners.