Infection Prevention Specialist

Function

Nursing

Facility

Life Springs Parkland Hospital

Position

Infection Prevention Specialist

Introduction

A vacancy exists for a Infection Prevention Specialist (IPS/C), based at Life Springs Parkland Hospital, reporting to the Hospital/Nursing Standards Manager. The successful candidate will be the custodian, together with the Hospital Manager/Nursing Standards Manager, of the infection prevention processes at hospital level.  This will include the coordination of infection prevention in support of the hospital management team, managing control efforts as well as the monitoring of the effectiveness of the system.

Critical Outputs

• Execute the infection prevention and risk management strategy in an integrated way to improve clinical outcomes and minimize risk, by providing infection prevention expertise to the facility based on sound knowledge.
• Conduct patient surveillance to minimize infection risk.
• Manage internal and external outbreaks.
• Monitor and assess high risk patients and environmental surveillance to minimize infection risks.
• Ensure excellence in infection prevention and control practice and build competence in infection prevention and control management within the facility.
• Ensure the provision of planned and ad hoc training as required to align hospital to business strategy.
• Perform a variety of professional duties involved in the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI’s) e.g. facility audits.
• Plan, develop, direct, implement and evaluate infection prevention and control activities throughout the facility.
• Conduct staff surveillance:
• Comply with legislation.
• Evaluate the exposure to HBA’s.
• Manage and mitigate the HBA exposure risk.
• Conduct and apply the HBA risk assessment.
• Ensure the provision of and, training on appropriate PPE.
• Ensure a pathogenically safe environment.
• Identify the risk profile of each unit and design and coordinate an appropriate in service training strategy with the enabling team for the business unit.
• Induct new employees in infection prevention and occupational health risk.
• 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.

Requirements

• Degree or Diploma in Nursing essential
• Current registration with the South African Nursing Council essential
• Relevant qualifications and experience in Infection Prevention and Control – are essential
• Computer proficiency essential
• Management experience advantageous
• Understanding of the private healthcare industry, its challenges and role players would be an advantage.

Competencies

• Problem-solving, analysis and judgement
• Resilience
• Verbal & written communication
• Influencing
• Action orientation
• Excellence orientation
• Building relationships
• Customer responsiveness
• Organisational awareness
• Monitoring
• Attention to detail
• Rule orientation

Email

Springsparkland.recruitment@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Tuesday, July 15, 2025