Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The Director of Infection Prevention Services will provide Trust-wide strategic leadership, professional accountability and assurance for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Acting as Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control, the postholder will exercise delegated authority on behalf of the Chief Nursing & Improvement Officer as DIPC and will ensure that the Trust meets its statutory, regulatory and professional responsibilities for infection prevention and control.

The postholder will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of Trust-wide IPC strategies, standards and policies, supporting the harmonisation of practice across hospital sites and reducing unwarranted variation. They will provide senior leadership for programmes including healthcare-associated infection reduction, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, surveillance, audit and continuous improvement.

They will provide formal assurance to the Chief Nursing & Improvement Officer, Executive Team and Board committees regarding IPC performance, risk, compliance and outcomes, and will ensure that significant infection prevention risks are identified, escalated and effectively managed. The role includes senior oversight of outbreaks, serious incidents and high-risk IPC events, together with professional leadership into emergency preparedness, pandemic response and organisational resilience arrangements.

The Director will provide senior professional leadership to the Trust’s IPC workforce, including direct line management of the Heads of IPC. They will oversee professional standards, competency frameworks, education, workforce planning, clinical supervision, research and innovation, ensuring that services have the capacity and capability required to meet organisational priorities.

The postholder will hold strategic oversight of IPC resources, budgets, digital surveillance and reporting systems, and will contribute to decisions regarding service development, workforce, estates and infrastructure. They will provide assurance in areas including cleaning and decontamination, water safety, ventilation, equipment and surfaces, and procurement where infection risk is present.

This is a highly collaborative role. The postholder will work closely with clinical and operational leaders across the Trust, the Chief Nursing & Improvement Officer, the Director of Communities & Inclusion, Heads of IPC, microbiology, antimicrobial stewardship, estates, facilities, quality and improvement colleagues. Externally, they will represent the Trust and develop effective relationships with organisations including CQC, NHS England, UKHSA, ICBs, local authorities, higher education institutions and other system and regional partners.

The role is professionally accountable to the Chief Nursing & Improvement Officer as DIPC and managerially accountable to the Director of Communities & Inclusion. Cross-site working across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust will be required, alongside participation in organisational emergency, incident response and business continuity arrangements as appropriate.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Registered healthcare professional (NMC / HCPC or equivalent)
• Master’s degree or equivalent senior-level leadership training or experience
• Evidence of sustained continuous professional development at senior level
• Specialist IPC Master’s level qualification or equivalent senior-level IPC expertise

Desirable Criteria

• Training or qualification in epidemiology, public health, quality improvement or data analytics

Knowledge and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Significant senior IPC leadership experience within a complex, high-risk healthcare environment
• In-depth knowledge of IPC statutory frameworks, including the Health & Social Care Act, IPC Code of Practice and UKHSA guidance
• Experience providing formal assurance to Executive Directors, Boards or Board-level committees
• Experience coordinating IPC activity across multiple services or sites
• Strong understanding of outbreak management, surveillance systems, incident investigation and organisational learning
• Strong understanding of TV governance, pressure ulcer reduction, wound care and surface/equipment risk management
• Proven ability to lead large-scale harm reduction and prevention programmes
• Experience leading complex change, transformation or quality improvement programmes

Desirable Criteria

• Experience contributing to or leading organisational responses to CQC inspections or regulatory interventions
• Experience contributing to organisational emergency preparedness or resilience planning
• Understanding of health inequalities, population risk and their impact on infection outcomes
• Experience working with or alongside UKHSA, Public Health teams, ICBs or regional systems

Skills and Behaviours

Essential Criteria

• Highly developed ability to analyse, interpret and synthesise complex epidemiological, surveillance and safety data
• Ability to provide credible, evidence-based assurance and advice to senior leaders and committees
• Strategic leadership skills, with the ability to design and sustain prevention-focused IPC systems
• Highly developed political awareness and ability to navigate organisational complexity
• Confident influencer, able to challenge constructively and work effectively at executive and system level
• Skilled in managing high-risk issues, escalation and organisational risk appetite
• Resilient, adaptable and effective in highly pressured and ambiguous environments
• Inclusive, supportive leadership style that enables professional autonomy and site-based authority
• Ability to balance supportive professional leadership with robust assurance and challenge
• Ability to build and sustain effective cross-system partnerships aligned to ICS priorities

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

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