Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist

Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Specialist NHS AfC: Band 7 Main area Infection Prevention and Control Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 220-WHT-

Employer Whittington Health NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Whittington Health Town London Salary £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAs Salary period Yearly Closing 07/10/:59 Interview date 21/10/2026

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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.

Working for our organisation 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities 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 . click apply for full job details