Job summary
The Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist is a senior member of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team and provides expert clinical leadership, specialist advice, education, surveillance, assurance and quality improvement support across Whittington Health NHS Trust integrated care organisation.

The role requires excellent clinical leadership, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to influence practice, support service development and promote continuous improvement across the organisation. The post holder will act as a visible and credible specialist within the Infection Prevention and Control Team and contribute to achieving the Trust's strategic objectives for quality, safety and patient experience.

This is a replacement post within the established Infection Prevention and Control Team and provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced registered nurse with specialist IPC knowledge to further develop their leadership and professional practice within a dynamic NHS environment.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work autonomously and collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams to promote safe, effective and evidence-based infection prevention and control (IPC) practice across acute, community and outpatient services. They will contribute to the prevention, surveillance and management of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), support compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and lead initiatives to improve patient safety and quality of care.

As a specialist practitioner and educator, the post holder will support the development and delivery of IPC education and training programmes, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional development. They will provide expert advice, clinical supervision, competency assessment, coaching and mentorship to multidisciplinary staff.

The post holder will contribute to the development and delivery of IPC audits, surveillance and assurance programmes, using audit and compliance data to monitor standards, identify risks and support quality improvement. They will work with clinical teams to implement and sustain improvements in practice, strengthen organisational learning and enhance patient outcomes.

The post holder will lead designated areas of the Trust's Infection Prevention and Control Programme, contribute to governance and assurance processes, support outbreak and incident management, and deputise for the Operational Lead Nurse for IPC and/or the Head Nurse for IPC as required.

About us
Whittington Health NHS Trust provides integrated hospital and community healthcare services to people across North London. We are committed to delivering high-quality, safe and compassionate care, placing patients, families and staff at the centre of everything we do. Our values promote collaboration, innovation, respect and continuous improvement, creating an environment where staff are supported to develop and thrive.

The successful candidate will join a well-established and highly regarded Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team that works across acute, community and outpatient services. The team provides specialist advice, education, surveillance, audit and assurance functions to support the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and to ensure compliance with national standards and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, clinical teams, operational managers and senior leaders, the post holder will have the opportunity to influence practice across the organisation and contribute to strategic and operational IPC priorities. The role offers exposure to a wide range of clinical settings and quality improvement initiatives, supporting both personal and professional development.

We are committed to supporting lifelong learning. This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly, experienced and supportive team dedicated to improving patient safety, quality of care and staff experience across Whittington Health.

Job responsibilities
Main duties
Clinical Leadership
Provide highly specialist infection prevention and control advice to staff across the Trust.
Promote best practice and evidence-based infection prevention and control measures.
Act as an expert resource for complex infection prevention and control issues.
Undertake daily surveillance and review of microbiology and pathology results via the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), identifying healthcare-associated infections, alert organisms, clusters and emerging trends, and ensuring appropriate infection prevention and control actions are implemented in a timely manner.
Support clinical teams in reducing healthcare-associated infections and improving patient outcomes.
Provide visible leadership in promoting safe practice and a positive patient safety culture.

Specialist Infection Prevention and Control Practice

• Lead and participate in infection prevention and control inspections, assurance audits and governance across all Trust services.
• Participate in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) rounds with the Antimicrobial Lead and the Antimicrobial Specialist Pharmacist.
• Monitor compliance with national standards, Trust policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support compliance with the Health and Social Care Act, Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and national infection prevention requirements.
• Prepare reports and assurance documentation for Trust governance committees.

Education, Professional Development and Workforce Capability

• Act as a senior clinical educator for infection prevention and control across Whittington Health.
• Work with the team in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Trust's infection prevention and control education and training strategy.
• Design, deliver and evaluate infection prevention and control teaching programmes for all staff groups, including registered professionals, support workers, medical staff, students, volunteers and contractors while ensuring that education programmes reflect current legislation, national guidance, evidence-based practice and Trust priorities.
• Provide specialist education during outbreaks, incidents and emerging infection threats to ensure staff maintain safe and effective practice. Utilise audit findings, surveillance data, incident investigations and patient safety learning to inform educational programmes and improve practice.
• Support the development and sustainability of Infection Prevention and Control Link Practitioner programmes across all clinical areas.
• Contribute to the assessment and validation of staff competencies relating to infection prevention and control practice.
• Work collaboratively with the Practice Education Team, Clinical Leads, Professional Leads and Divisional Teams to identify learning needs and develop targeted educational interventions.
• Promote a culture of continuous professional development, reflective learning and evidence-based practice throughout the organisation.

Surveillance and Reporting

• Lead on the surveillance activities relating to healthcare-associated infections.
• Analyse surveillance data and identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce regular reports for clinical divisions, senior management and governance committees.
• Contribute to achievement of Trust infection reduction targets and quality objectives.
• Utilise electronic surveillance systems and digital reporting tools to monitor infection prevention and control performance.
• Interpret complex data sets and present findings in an accessible format to clinical and management teams.
• Develop data-driven recommendations to support quality improvement and patient safety.

Audit, Assurance and Quality Improvement

• Act as a clinical specialist for infection prevention and control audit and assurance activities across Whittington Health.
• Develop, coordinate and implement the Trust-wide IPC audit programme to ensure compliance with local and national standards.
• Lead and participate in audits relating to:
• Hand hygiene.
• Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions (SICPs).
• Transmission-Based Precautions.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Isolation practices.
• Environmental cleanliness.
• Invasive device management.
• Aseptic technique.
• Decontamination and equipment management.
• Analyse audit findings, surveillance data and compliance reports to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce comprehensive audit reports and assurance summaries for clinical divisions, governance groups, the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC) and Trust Board reporting structures.
• Develop and monitor action plans arising from audit findings, inspections, incidents and outbreaks.
• Support clinical teams to implement audit recommendations and achieve measurable improvements in compliance and patient safety outcomes. Provide expert advice and challenge where audit findings identify non-compliance or unsafe practice.
• Contribute to organisational preparedness for internal and external inspections, including CQC visits and PLACE-based partnership reviews.
• Support the development of audit tools, performance indicators and assurance frameworks aligned to national guidance and Trust priorities.
• Utilise quality improvement methodologies to support sustainable changes in practice and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
• Ensure lessons learned from audits, outbreaks, incidents and investigations are disseminated effectively and embedded into clinical practice.
• Work collaboratively with divisional leads, matrons, ward managers and governance teams to promote continuous improvement and demonstrate assurance against statutory and regulatory requirements.

Incident and Outbreak Management

• Lead and coordinate infection prevention and control responses to outbreaks, incidents and clusters.
• Undertake and contribute to post infection reviews (PIR) and serious incident investigations (SII).
• Participate in outbreak control meetings and implement agreed actions.
• Escalate infection prevention risks appropriately and support organisational risk management processes.
• Liaise with UK Health Security Agency and other partner organisations when required.

Service Development and Quality Improvement

• Lead and participate in quality improvement projects aimed at reducing infection risks.
• Contribute to the development and review of IPC policies, procedures and guidance.
• Support implementation of national guidance and emerging evidence.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative approaches to infection prevention.

Strategy, Policy and Governance

• Contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of the Trust Infection Prevention and Control Strategy and Annual Programme.
• Lead on the implementation of national infection prevention and control guidance and regulatory requirements across the organisation.
• Develop, review and update Trust infection prevention and control policies, procedures and guidance documents.
• Support organisational compliance with the Health and Social Care Act Code of Practice.
• Contribute expert specialist advice to Trust governance committees and working groups.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

• Critically appraise emerging evidence and best practice guidance relating to infection prevention and control.
• Support and participate in research, service evaluation and quality improvement projects.
• Promote evidence-based practice across all clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Disseminate learning from research, audits, outbreaks and incidents to improve patient outcomes.

Leadership and Management

• Deputise for the Operational Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control when required.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to junior members of the IPC team.
• Support appraisal, supervision and professional development processes.
• Represent the IPC Team at Trust meetings, working groups and external forums.
• Contribute to strategic planning and development of the IPC service.

Communication and Collaborative Partnership

• Communicate complex, sensitive and potentially contentious information effectively.
• Influence and challenge practice where infection prevention and control standards are not met.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with medical, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, estates, facilities, operational and community teams.

Revalidation and registration
It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:
Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects and supporting training.
Ensure optimum use is made of working time.
In addition to the standard Trust requirements, the post holder will:

• Maintain active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Comply with the NMC Code and associated professional standards.
• Maintain evidence for revalidation and continuing professional development.
• Act as a role model for professional practice and support colleagues in meeting revalidation requirements.
• Maintain specialist knowledge of infection prevention and control through ongoing education and professional development.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
• Degree in Nursing or related healthcare subject
• Evidence of Level 7 academic study or equivalent specialist experience in Infection Prevention and Control
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Teaching, mentorship or assessing qualification

Desirable

• Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control
• Master's degree or working towards Master's level
• Leadership or management development training

Skills and abilities
Essential

• Ability to provide specialist IPC advice across a range of services
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data and surveillance reports
• Ability to design, deliver and evaluate educational programmes for multidisciplinary staff groups.
• Ability to challenge and influence practice in all organisational levels
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently
• Ability to lead investigations and formulate action plans
• Ability to manage complex situations requiring negotiation and diplomacy
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Significant experience of leading IPC audits within acute and community healthcare settings including developing, implementing, and monitoring action plans following audits and inspections
• Experience in analysing and presenting complex audit and surveillance data to support quality improvement programmes and demonstrating measurable outcomes
• Experience in analysing and presenting complex audit and surveillance data to support quality improvement programmes and demonstrating measurable outcomes
• Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Office applications

Desirable

• Excellent facilitation, coaching and presentation skills
• Project management skills

Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration nursing experience
• Extensive experience working within Infection Prevention and Control services
• Experience in developing policies, guidelines or standard operating procedures
• Experience of HCAI surveillance and reporting
• Experience of audit, governance and quality improvement activities
• Experience of outbreak and incident management
• Significant experience in delivering education, training and competency assessment within healthcare settings.
• Experience developing and implementing learning programmes that improve clinical practice and patient safety.
• Experience of post-infection review (PIR) analysis and incident investigations
• Experience presenting assurance reports and support CQC inspections or equivalent external assurance reviews.
• Detailed knowledge of IPC legislation, standards and guidance
• Knowledge of microbiology relevant to infection prevention and control
• Knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship principles
• Experience in supporting workforce development and practice improvement initiatives.

Desirable

• Experience of leading Trust-wide improvement initiatives
• Acute and community NHS experience

Personal qualities
Essential

• Professional credibility and integrity
• Strong leadership qualities
• Commitment to patient safety and quality improvement
• Ability to work collaboratively across professional boundaries
• Resilient and adaptable approach to work
• Ability to challenge constructively and professionally
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Self-motivated and proactive

Desirable

• Willing to travel to Whittington Health Community sites as required
• Ability to respond flexibly to infection incidents and outbreaks

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).