Infection Control Co-ordinator

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We are united by a common purpose of providing the best and safest care; and by our shared values of Care, Truth, Participation, Compassion and Dignity.

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ROLE SUMMARY

The role of the Safety, Health, Environmental and Infection Control Coordinator is to aid and assist hospital employees in the management of prevention, identification, and control of infections in patients and staff as well as to contribute and support the development and maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment.
This includes but are not limited to:
• Will be responsible to plan, develop and implement an infection control programme for the hospital using basic infection control standards.
• Implement and monitor OHS and Waste activities to continuously improve OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) and Waste Management.
• The identification of key risks and critical risk controls,
• Identifying and analysing training needs,
• Designing, conducting, and evaluating training.
• Coordinating and/or Managing OHS, IPC and waste administrative processes.
• To design, develop and implement innovative site-level activities to improve IPC, OHS and Waste Management.

KEY WORK OUTPUT AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The key work outputs include:

• Supporting the implementation and monitoring of IPC, OHS, Waste Management Systems, policies and procedures.
• Facilitate, monitor, and support management practices and projects aimed at achieving an organizational culture focused on IPC, OHS & Waste.
• Coordinate and support the development and maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment by ensuring identification of key risks, implementation, and maintenance of critical risk controls.
• Co-ordinate processes for monitoring, measuring and evaluation of OHS, Waste & IPC performance.
• Use data management systems for collecting and validating information relevant to IPC, OHS and Waste.
• Communicate, engage with and influence line management and workers to mitigate risk and optimize effective infection prevention and control, waste management as well as optimising health and safety of workers and others at the workplace.
• Apply legal, professional, and ethical standards to practise to promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations relating to OHS and waste.
• Provide the necessary technical support in terms of Safety, Health, Environment (Waste) and Infection prevention and control.

CONSISTENCY OF CARE

Infection Control Management

• Aid and assist all hospital employees in managing the prevention, identification and control of infections in patients and staff.
• Plan, develop and implement an infection control programme for the hospital using basic infection control standards.
• Responsible to the hospital management for reporting on a regular basis all infections in the hospital.
• Review of environmental hygiene, cleanliness, the care of linen and waste on a regular basis and document results for discussion with hospital management.
• Identify indications for environmental microbiological monitoring.
• Notify the Department of Health timeously of notifiable diseases where applicable.
• Ensure an environment safe from infection for all hospital staff.
• Organise regular infection control committee meetings and document the proceedings.
• Interpret results of diagnostic/laboratory results.
• Differentiate among colonisation, infection and contamination when analysing laboratory results.
• Identify occurrence, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms and susceptibility associated with the disease process.
• Recognise limitations and advantages of type of tests used to diagnose infectious processes.
• Recognise epidemiologically significant organisms for immediate review and investigation.
• Plan and implement the procedure used to identify and investigate an outbreak of infection (either community or hospital acquired) using accepted infection control standards.
• Implement, when needed, isolation protocols that are effective and understandable to all hospital personnel.
• Maintain an up-to-date infection control file that is available and accessible to all nursing and house-keeping staff
• Maintain written and acceptable protocols for infectious diseases including VHF, SARS, Meningitis and Covid-19.
• Accountable for the availability of all equipment needed for the management infectious diseases.

Facility and equipment management

• Recommend specific equipment, personnel and resources for the infection prevention and control program.
• Ensure the provision of protective clothing for all staff and members of the public when needed.
• Supply appropriate and reliable disinfectants, sterilants and monitoring equipment and ensure that nursing and other staff understand the use of these items.

Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality (SHEQ) Programme

• Compile and revise the annual SHEQ Year Programme with the relevant Facility Manger to ensure the Business and Strategic SHEQ objectives for the facility will be met.
• Advocate, monitor and drive the protection and promotion of workers' health, the protection of the environment and contribution to a safe and sustainable development.
• Provide technical support to drive current OHS and Waste practices to ensure company goals and objectives are achieved.
• Co-ordinate the required SHEQ Risk Assessment and Management Processes at facility level
  • Ensure SHEQ Risks assessments are conducted and reviewed as per Legislative requirements and Group Policy.
  • Advise line managers on the recognition, evaluation and control of environmental factors or stressors arising in or from the workplace.
  • Support identification and implementation of critical controls for effective OHS risk management and OHS risk minimization.
  • Advise Line managers and workers on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clothing, based on appropriate Risk Controls.
  • Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of hazard and risk controls with an emphasis on critical controls, including the identification of actual and potential failure in controls.
  • Conduct and co-ordinate workplace inspections/walkthrough surveys to evaluate effectiveness of risk controls.
• Advise on Occupational Hygiene Survey requirements.
• Implement, monitor and evaluate processes and procedures to investigate, analyze and report on incidents and nonconformities indicating failures or inadequacies of controls.
• Provide facility management and operations with legal compliance advice on strategy requirements for Safety, Health and Waste related acts and legislation.
• Coordinate and Facilitate Health, Safety and Integrated Waste Committee meetings in line with legislative requirements and best practises.
• Participate in the Major Incident Committee Meetings; provide input into the Major Incident Plans, training and drills required.
• Participate and/or coordinate emergency and disaster preparedness in line with Netcare policies.
• Coordination of annual employee wellbeing days/initiatives in conjunction with HR and/or the Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner.
• Collate and Review monthly Occupational Health and reports to ensure timeous identification of trends and associated risks or opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure appropriate maintenance of OHS & Waste records.

Waste management (Environment)

• Perform duties as the designated Waste Officer for the Facility.
• Advise line managers and workers on legal requirements with regards to appropriate Waste Management which include segregation, containerisation, storage, transport, and disposal of waste.
• Compile the Site-Specific Waste Management plan.
• Conduct and co-ordinate workplace inspections/walkthrough surveys to evaluate effectiveness of Environmental (Waste) risk controls.
• Coordinate, monitor and provide support to facilities with environmental aspects and impact assessments. (Part of SHEQ Risk Management process)
• Advise on sentinel and/or major environmental and waste incidents.
• Coordinate the capturing and monitoring of waste volumes at facilities. Evaluate reports and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure appropriate maintenance of waste records.
• Drive waste minimisation projects and initiatives in order to meet the zero waste to landfill goal

Radiation Safety

• Co-ordinate and manage compliance with regards to Dosimeters and Radiation Safety at the facility.
• Investigate radiation incidents and refer over exposure incidents for assessment by an OHNP.
• Assist the responsible radiographer and licence holder of the facility by fulfilling the duties of the Radiation Safety Officer.
• Coordinate and Manage administration relating to Individual Equipment Records with the applicable line manager, responsible radiographer, and physicist.
• Co-ordinate and participate in Radiation Protection committee Meetings.

Quality Management, Reviews & Auditing

• Ensure that there is a written quality insurance programme for infection control after a base line survey and that evaluation and remedial measure are in place.
• Co-ordinate and drive quality improvement in infection prevention and control, safety, health, and waste.
• Demonstrate QIP projects utilising the quality methodology.
• Coordinate and participate in Netcare Quality reviews and/or external certification audits.
• Identify, analyse, and evaluate risks, non-conformances, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOCIETY

Build and maintain Internal and stakeholder relationships

• Develop and establish professional and collaborative relationships with all line managers and heads of departments within the organisation.
• Work effectively and co-operatively with others to establish and maintain good working relationships that are mutually beneficial.
• Maintain and encourage effective communication and consultation within the facility, other members of the multi-disciplinary team and the public on SHE and IPC related processes.
• Engage with managers at all levels in the organiza­tion to develop their responsibility and leadership in IPC, OHS and Waste.
• Communicate and liaise with other business partners, OHS regulators and other external bodies on behalf of the organization.

Education and training facilitation

• Support the development and maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment by analysing IPC and SHE training needs within the facility.
• Co-ordinate and/or facilitate IPC, OHS and Waste related training, workshops, and discussions.
• Conduct induction training for Infection prevention and control, Occupational Health & Safety and Waste for all new employees in order to ensure full understanding of duties of employer and employee.
• Oversee the development and facilitation of Infection Control in-service training programmes based on a needs analysis and evaluate the training regularly.
• Manage and ensure the introduction of a programme for the use of new products and equipment from an infection control viewpoint.
• Provide information on the infection prevention and control to patients, family and general public when required.

Teamwork

• Co-operate and collaborate with all hospital departments to provide appropriate support services.
• Managing the implementation of all IPC and SHE processes and systems at site level and providing the line managers, SHE Representatives and IPC link nurses with the required support throughout the implementation.
• Lead by example to peers and co-workers on good IPC and SHE practice and behaviour. 
• Actively provide leadership to the team to achieve goals. Create an environment where staff are aware of the role they play in the provision of quality nursing care and their value to the organization.
• Assign decision making, authority, tasks and responsibility to appropriate persons in order to maximize organisation and employee effectiveness.
• Co-operate with Netcare Education Division to ensure appropriate nursing training for the delivery of quality care.
• Facilitate a culture that is supportive of talent management and the initiation of required implementations to hone nursing talent.
• Enforce staff dress code within and on leaving the Hospital.
• Enforce hand hygiene and bare below elbows.

Research activities

• Active involvement in IPC research activities to discover new knowledge about products, processes, and services, and then applying that knowledge to create new and improved products, processes, and services that meet the hospital needs.
• Apply critical reading skills to evaluate research findings.
• Incorporate research findings into practice through education and consultation.
• Motivate and encourage staff to participate in research within their Scope of Practice.

Personal and professional development

• Active involvement in own professional development to maintain a satisfactory level of skill and knowledge. Ensure currency of own SHE conceptual understanding, industry practice and technical knowledge.
• Keep up to date with Netcare’s evolving IPC and SHEQ Management Systems, policies, and procedures.
• Attend workshops and seminars related to IPC, OHS, and waste to improve own knowledge
• Promote and comply with laws and regulations governing professional practice.
• Keep abreast of current research in the applicable discipline

SKILLS PROFILE

EDUCATION

Essential

• Registration with the South African Nursing Council as a registered Nurse or equivalent NQF level 7 qualification
• Compliance with the SANC Scope of Practise for a Registered Nurse and all other applicable Health Care Legislation
• Certificate or Diploma in Infection Control.
• Vocational Training related to Occupational Health and Safety.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum of 3 – 5 years of experience in field of study.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence others.

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Intermediate to advanced computer proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of OHS Act, COID Act, Environmental and Health Legislation
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Comprehensive Understanding of Infection Prevention and Control & Risk Management Processes
• Knowledge of global sustainability initiatives and best practices will be advantageous.

SKILLS

Customer Focus and Service Delivery

• The capacity to identify and respond to the needs of *internal and external customers.
• *Internal and external customers include patients, doctors, colleagues, suppliers, visitors, vendors and any other person that requires a relationship

Continuous Improvement

• The capacity to improve systems and processes to facilitate continuous improvement.

Personal Work Ethic

• Capacity to instil an ethic of quality and consistency in self and others.

Building Relationships

• Capacity to establish constructive and effective relationships.

Communication

• The capacity to clearly present information, either written or verbal.

Teamwork

• Capacity to cooperate with others to work towards a common goal.

Technical Knowledge

• The capacity to perform a technical function to required standards.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• In the event of any physical or psychological limitation that may impair the employee’s ability to perform the required job function, the employee must consult the employer for reasonable accommodation.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Professional flexibility in working hours while supporting daily business hours.
• Will interact with internal and external customers through several different means.

NETCARE VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

Netcare Values
At Netcare, our core value is care. We care about the dignity of our patients and all members of the Netcare family. We care about the participation of our people and our partners in everything we do. We care about truth in all our actions. We are passionate about quality care and professional excellence.

• At Netcare, our core value is care.
• We care about the dignity of our patients and all members of the Netcare family.
• We care about the participation of our people and our healthcare partners in everything that we do.
• We care about the truth in all our actions.
• We listen with empathy and respond with acts of compassion in all interactions with our patients and their families.

The Netcare Way

Netcare is committed to providing quality care. Our basic service standard holds us accountable for the below seven behaviours which you will be accountable to uphold:

• Respect - I always greet everyone to show my respect.
• Identity - I always wear my name badge to show my identity.
• Dignity - I always treat others with consideration and humility to uphold dignity
• Care - I always act in the best interest of Netcare and others to show I care
• Compassion - I always listen with empathy and respond with kind action to show my compassion
• Appreciation - I always say thank you to show my appreciation.
• Diversity- I always embrace diversity to strengthen inclusivity and belonging.

Join the team committed to providing the best and safest health and care.