Job summary
The Infection Prevention and Control Healthcare Assistant will assist the IPC team in supporting the overarching IPC safety agenda by ensuring reliability in IPC practices, consistency in safety measures, ensuring assurance in bio safety aimed at reducing the risks associated with healthcare infections.

Main duties of the job
The Infection Prevention and Control Healthcare assistant is a supporting member of staff and is competent and confident to assist health care workers in all matters related to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).

They will act as an ambassador for IPC safety and will be able to demonstrate an interest in Infection Prevention and understand current improvement projects and initiatives in relation to IPC.

The post holder will support collaborative working across both the Community and Acute Care Organisations and other healthcare providers, thereby strengthening the IPC service and agenda across the NCA.

About us
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and collaborating closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we are always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Details
Date posted: 03 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £2,576,000 to £2,747,600 a year Pro Rata Per Annum
Contract: Secondment
Duration: 9 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 236-NCA-CS264-26

Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

The NCA is committed to providing inclusive, accessible care and building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, identities and beliefs.

We are proud supporters of the Armed Forces community and offer a guaranteed interview to eligible applicants who meet the essential criteria. As a Disability Confident Employer, we also guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Vacancies may close early where high application volumes are received or an internal redeployee is identified.

For fixed-term roles, current NHS staff will be considered for secondments, while fixed-term contracts will be offered to external non-NHS applicants.

If you are applying for a secondment, please discuss this with your line manager before applying. Any secondment offer will be subject to management approval and service needs. Where release cannot be supported, the secondment may unfortunately be unable to proceed.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship - or equivalent experience
• Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy (GCSE English and Maths Grade D-G)
• Care Certificate

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential

• Previous Healthcare Experience
• Experience of working within a MDT
• Basic Life Support
• Evidence of Infection Prevention and Control knowledge
• Evidence/experience of clinical audit and can process audit findings including managing data
• Knowledge of IT packages
• Good level of communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and also independently
• Willingness to undertake relevant further study as required for the post
• The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English
• Able to work under pressure
• Willingness to work flexibly to cover the demands of the service

Desirable

• Evidence of the acquisition of relevant skills associated with the post i.e. Fit testing etc

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Employer details
Employer name: Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Salford Royal Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford, Greater Manchester, M6 8HD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Nurse – Infection Prevention and Control, Khadija Noor, khadija.noor@nca.nhs.uk, 01612065036

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