Infection Prevention Specialist - Empangeni - Abantu Staffing Solutions

• 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: Minimise infection prevention risk by identifying and mitigating patient and environmental risks, monitoring high-risk patients and environments, consulting with subject matter experts, and communicating risks and trends to management and stakeholders.

• 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.

Occupation Exposure: Identify, minimise and manage occupation exposure to hazardous biological agents by occupational risks identification and mitigation, Hepatitis B programme offering, placement of high-risk employees, environmental evaluation, and consultation with subject matter experts.

• 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.

Competence Building: Ensure excellence in infection prevention practice and build competence in infection prevention management within the facility by providing technical and professional competence, updating knowledge, advising, facilitating training, and inducting new employees.

• 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 organisational training strategy for e.g. (not limited to)

Outbreak Management: Manage internal and external outbreaks to minimise risk by identifying and mitigating patient, employee, and environmental risks, leading outbreak task teams, communicating outbreak status and prevention measures to stakeholders, and reviewing the Outbreak Management Process annually.

• 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