The IPAC Lead’s main objectives are to:
• Manage the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) program through the involvement of multidisciplinary teams.
• Promote interdisciplinary health management of Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Develop and deliver Infection Prevention and Control education to staff, visitors, residents and volunteers.
• Continuously evaluates and improves the IPC policies and practices following the Quality and Risk Management Program and Public Health Unit (PHU) direction.
Responsibilities:
Community Driven:
• The IPAC Lead develops positive relationships with all staff and builds an area of expertise in Infection Prevention and Control in the Home.
• Liaises with Local Public Health Unit, IPAC hubs and other related health care facilities.
• Participate in the leadership team to understand, influence and integrate programs consistent with Primacare Living and its Accountability Framework.
Caring Service:
• Fosters a culture of awareness related to Infection Prevention and Control principles of practice.
• Ensures measures are in place to prevent the transmission of infections within the home.
• Ensure surveillance and screening program is in place for residents and staff. Review surveillance data, monitor for infection trends to promote antibiotic stewardship.
• Monitors to ensure that on every shift, symptoms indicating the presence of infection in residents are monitored in accordance with evidence-based practices and the symptoms are recorded and that immediate action is taken as required.
• Ensures each resident admitted to the home has been screened for tuberculosis and immunization against Influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcus, Tdap and other vaccines as eligible.
• Coordinates annual flu clinics and immunization programs.
• Develops and implements best practices in delivery of Infection Prevention and Control, including policy revision.
• Leads all Outbreak management activities following the Outbreak checklist framework form to ensure all IPAC measures are in place at the time of suspected/confirmed Outbreak.
• Liaises with Public Health department during Outbreaks.
• Monitors, all residents placed on isolation and offers support to the team Leaders as needed.
• Ensure daily outbreak huddles on the affected RHAs occur on all shifts during an outbreak, documented minutes and follow up actions.
• Completes post outbreak analysis and trending.
• Chairs the quarterly Infection Prevention and Control committee.
• Coordinates IPAC annual program evaluation and ensures a written record is kept to include the date of the evaluation, the names of the participants in the evaluation, a summary of the changes made and the date of that those changes were implemented.
Professional People:
• Provide coaching and mentoring to staff in a positive and supportive manner regarding infection prevention and control practices.
• Maintains a professional relationship with all employees at Primacare including working closely with other members of the leadership team.
• Provides recommendation to senior management team on effective management of Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• Develops and monitors, in collaboration with Departmental Managers, all Infection Prevention and Control programs for effectiveness and efficiency. Coordinates Occupational Health and Safety for staff members related to infection transmission (follows up with staff, reports to OH&S Committee and MOL).
• Participates in OH&S Committee meetings and reports on IPAC statistics as required.
• Works in collaboration with Manager of Health and Safety to organize and complete staff mask fit testing.
• Works in collaboration with the Directors of Care to implement effective Infection Prevention and Control education program.
• Creates content to assist with educating residents, team members and visitors. Assist with new staff, students’ orientation on safe IPAC practices.
Innovative Approaches
• Keeps abreast of new and best practices through research and participation in community networking groups. Report on regional data trends and actions taken at regional meetings.
• Explores new and innovative methodologies related to Infection Prevention and Control practices and effectively facilitate change.
• Risk management activities include monitoring all Infection Prevention and Control activities, gathering and analyzing data, and benchmarking against the industry.
• Ensures that the symptoms indicating the presence of infections are analyzed daily to detect the presence of infection and reviewed at least once a month to detect trends for the purpose of reducing the incidence of infections and outbreaks.
• Identifies areas of improvement based on trend analysis and benchmarking data in keeping with the Quality and Risk Management Program.
• Oversees the IPAC auditing program to ensure compliance with proper PPE use, isolation, cleaning and disinfectant procedures and other IPAC measures as required in nursing, dietary, programs, housekeeping, laundry, contracted services such as hairdresser, physiotherapy.
• Analyze research and implement evidence base practice into Policy and Procedures development in both clinical and nonclinical practices.
• Ensure the evaluation of the Infection Prevention and Control Program is completed annually.
• Develops strategic planning activities for Kensington Gardens in relation to Infection Prevention and Control.
Financial Responsibilities:
• Adheres to the budget for supplies needed for Infection Prevention and Control Program.
Required Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to work independently and self-directed. Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills; MS Office Suite, Excel and Point Click Care.
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example.
• Demonstrates understanding of continuous quality improvement principles and tools.
• Effectively uses empathy in interactions with others and demonstrates behaviours consistent with Primacare mission, vision and values.
Required Knowledge and Experience:
• Good understanding of adult learning principles and teaching methods to facilitate learning.
• Minimum 1 year, recent experience in long term care in Infection Prevention and Control. Required Professional Designation/Certificate:
• Post-secondary degree in relevant health science or related discipline.
• Current registration with the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) required or a commitment to complete the certificate within the first 2 years.
• Completion of an Infection Prevention and Control Canada endorsed IPAC course.
Other Requirements:
Adheres to all legislation required as follows (but not limited to):
• The Regulated Health Professions Act
• Healthcare Consent Act
• Public Health guidelines
• The Nursing Home Act
• The Pharmacy Regulations Act
• Occupational Health and Safety Ac
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