Health Protection Nurse
Hays Healthcare have a fantastic opportunity for a Band 7 Health Protection Nurse, to work in Birmingham, on agency rates, for full time hours until September and extension until March 2016 is likely.
The post holder will be a key member of the team, assisting with the provision of specialist advice on health protection; through professional leadership and advice to the local population. He/she will contribute and lead on health protection issues as part of the health protection team including the prevention, surveillance, investigation and control of infection/communicable diseases. He/she will be the team lead for health protection areas which will be agreed with the post holder. The post holder will have a significant role in the acute service. The post holder will also be expected to take part in the out of hours on call rota.
COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal
• Centre Director
• Deputy Regional Director for Health Protection
• Members of the team, the Field Epidemiology Service, other local and regional PHE centres and divisions, including Colindale, CRCE
External
• Public health colleagues, including Directors of Public Health (DsPH), Public Health Consultants and Specialty Registrars, and other trainees
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Community health care providers, including: General Practitioners, Health Visitors, Practice Nurses, School Nurses, Minor Injury Units
• NHS Trusts including acute, learning disability, mental health ambulance
• Consultant Microbiologists, paediatricians, critical care and other clinicians
• Hospital and community infection prevention and control teams
• Environmental Health Teams
• Local Authorities, including Social Services, education and housing
• Fire and Rescue
• Relevant specialist services, e.g. sexual health, occupational health, TB services
• General public
• Department of Health
• Other national agencies including: the Environment Agency, Defra, Animal Health, Health and Safety Executive and Care Quality Commission
• Voluntary, charitable and independent sector providers
• Water Companies
• Nursing, and residential care homes and hospice staff
• Nurseries, universities, schools and colleges
• Prison and military staff and service providers
• Special treatment (tattooists/body piercers)
• Large scale gatherings such as national events and festivals
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
• Participate in the investigation and management of individual cases and outbreaks of communicable disease in the population, assessing the risks and providing expert advice on the management and control. .
• Ensure early identification and investigation of cases and outbreaks so that the risks are minimized to prevent further spread of infection.
• Provide specialist health protection advice and support to the general public and healthcare workers about the management of infectious diseases.
• When necessary, visit premises and advise on the management and control of infectious diseases.
• Work in partnership with other members of the Health Protection Team and, where necessary, with internal and external stakeholders to ensure a coordinated acute response to outbreaks and health protection incidents.
• Participate in the investigation and control of exposure to environmental hazards to health such as radiation, hazardous chemicals and other poisons.
• Communicate highly sensitive and complex information and advice in a timely manner to individuals, the public and the multidisciplinary team and partner agencies at local, regional and national levels.
• Attend multi-agency meetings as a representative of the HPT and communicate meeting outcomes to the Programme or team leads.
• Lead on specific projects that have been identified by the Programme leads
• Participate in the review, analysis and interpretation of complex facts, laboratory results and surveillance data and make appropriate judgments on operational actions required
• Participate in the testing and exercising of PHE and multi-agency emergency plans.
• Contribute to surveillance of communicable disease and infections.
Management and leadership
• Take a leadership role in designated aspects of communicable disease or non-infectious environmental hazards.
• Develop and implement policies, protocols and guidelines, for and with other professionals, relating to health protection for the population served. Monitor standards and ensure safe and effective practice.
• Develop clinical practice networks within health protection to enhance public health activities and capacity in order to protect the public’s health.
• Contribute towards the development of a governance culture within the HPT/region.
• Promote evidence-based practice for the protection of health through professional leadership
• Actively disseminate professional experiences through reports, internal and external presentations, publications and participation in working groups as appropriate.
Audit, surveillance and research
• Undertake clinical audits to improve evidence-based practice and improve clinical effectiveness and service delivery.
• Interpret audit findings and make recommendations for change and assist in the planning of future services and training needs.
• Establish and implement relevant research led practice to protect the public and minimize risk.
• Assess and critically appraise peer reviewed journals and literature to determine and influence practice.
• Develop and format questionnaires and databases. Record and maintain statistical data, case notes and reports within the boundaries of confidentiality policies.
Other
• The post is subject to Agenda for Change and relevant organisational employment policies.
• All staff are required to work in accordance with their professional codes of conduct. This post will be subject to criminal record check prior to employment.
• All staff are required to undertake an annual appraisal, in accordance with PHE policy.
• The post is currently based at 5 St Philips Place, Birmingham but will involve travel within West Midlands and occasionally nationally for which appropriate mileage rates will be paid. A mobile phone and laptop will be provided for work purposes.
• The NHS and the PHE are currently working in a climate of great change. It is therefore expected that all staff will develop flexible working practices both within the organisation on a cross-directorate basis, and with external organisations and relevant public health networks, to be able to meet the challenges and opportunities of working within the field of health protection
• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
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