LTC IPAC Associate

The Long-Term Care (LTC) Infection, Prevention and Control (IPAC) Associate has responsibility for IPAC across the LTC home. The LTC IPAC Associate is a member of the healthcare team, and reports to the Manager of IPAC, working within the multi-disciplinary team to deliver the best possible care for our residents while ensuring the health and safety of both residents and staff within the home.

Key Accountabilities & Success Criteria:

• Responsible for coordinating the LTC infection prevention program.
• Accountable for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the LTC infection prevention program as directed by the Manager of Infection Prevention and Control.
• Ensures that the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) best practice guidelines as well as the IPAC guidelines of applicable professional organizations and regulatory and governmental agencies are incorporated while making recommendations to leadership for improvements.
• Will use continuous quality improvement techniques and project management approaches to continuously improve resident care procedures and control mechanisms related to quality, compliance and infection prevention.
• Reviews relevant public health issues to integrate into practice, serves as an advisor and resource person regarding infection prevention issues, collaborates with other healthcare professionals within and outside of the facility, and is responsible for implementing infection prevention education programs.
• Incorporates the principles of fiscal responsibility into practice and promotes the standards of advanced professional practice.
• Systematically collects and analyzes healthcare-associated infection data to identify trends and risk factors.
• Investigates incidents of infections and reports such incidents to the appropriate individual/department, discusses and monitors infection prevention practices with staff members and conducts outbreak investigations and audits.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide recommendations to the interdisciplinary teams and leaders regarding the prevention and control of infections.
• Conduct surveillance and exposure investigations in order to implement measures to prevent/control transmission of infectious agents.
• Risk manages and communicates with leaders and staff members regarding the management of infectious patients/residents and other infection prevention approaches.
• Coordinate the annual infection control risk assessment in conjunction with the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPAC).
• Develop and implementing the annual infection prevention plan in conjunction with the infection prevention and control committee.
• Evaluate the annual plan for goal achievement in conjunction with the Infection prevention and control committee.
• Ensure the completion of IPAC audits regarding the implementation of and compliance with selected policies.
• Consult on infection risk assessment prevention and control strategies.
• Work with education leads in providing training and orientation for all staff members and independent practitioners regarding the prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections and IPAC core competencies.
• Coordinate with the Human Resources regarding relevant staff member health issues.
• Assess and analyze internal and external data in order to successfully implement best practices.
• Coordinate with clinical teams and environmental services regarding the development of standards, audits, and research.
• Conduct surveillance of Hospital Acquired Infections data and monitoring trends for the organization.
• Prepare reports and statistical data for the infection control committee, medical staff committees, program managers, quality and risk and the facility’s administration and other committees as needed.
• Identify opportunities for infection prevention improvements based upon evidence-based practices, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, and data analysis of high risk, high volume infection prevention prone activities.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, department managers, supervisors, employee health and other professional/nonprofessional staff to provide resource information, resolve infection control issues and identify new opportunities to improve service and reduce cost.
• Liaise with Public Health Unit regarding infectious and communicable disease reporting and disseminating Public Health direction to stakeholder groups
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives that support client safety
• Contributes to a transparent culture of client and staff safety by adhering to and abiding by patient and staff safety policies and procedures set by SJLCB
• Promotes an environment that encourages and supports change using change leadership theory
• This position may be required to perform additional related job functions beyond this description. Weekends and after hours may be required in accordance with the operational needs of SJLCB and there may be a requirement to work outside the normal hours of work periodically.

• Diploma/Degree in health-related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrates strong IPAC knowledge and experience in related areas of infectious diseases, microbiology, epidemiology, statistics, asepsis; disinfection/sterilization; outbreak management
• Highly collaborative professional individual who demonstrates the ability to build strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of evidence-based and nursing practice and theory and demonstrates putting these into practice.
• Ability to thinking critically in complex and stressful situations, and strong conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team approach for decision-making.
• Ability to use adult learning techniques in the delivery of formal learning/training sessions and presentations using adult learning techniques to regional groupings of stakeholders.
• Strong ability to apply project management and quality improvement methods and tools to IPAC and quality improvement projects.
• Proficiency with various computer systems and software programs including: database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, (MS Office).
• Ability to independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and be adaptable and flexible in order to meet the demands of their ever-changing environment.
• Strong ability in conducting complex investigations and root cause analysis required
• Expertise supporting organizational change through strategic thinking and organizational behaviour/change management principles
• Excellent communication, report-writing and presentation skills; critical thinking , problem-solving and negotiation skills
• Superior professional judgment, diplomacy and relationship building skills.

• Enrolment in Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• Optional part-time benefit plan enrolment
• Free Parking
  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all programs, facilities, and people. St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is committed to creating a barrier-free, accessible organization, utilizing a collaborative approach in supporting persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment, selection, hiring, and the ongoing employment life cycle. Upon individual request, the Life Centre will endeavor to remove any barrier to the employment lifecycle to accommodate those employees with disabilities. Should any employee require accommodation through the employment lifecycle, please contact Human Resources.

St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all programs, facilities, and people. St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is committed to creating a barrier-free, accessible organization, utilizing a collaborative approach in supporting persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment, selection, hiring, and the ongoing employment life cycle. Upon individual request, the Health Centre will endeavor to remove any barrier to the employment lifecycle to accommodate those employees with disabilities. Should any employee require accommodation through the employment lifecycle, please contact Human Resources.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all programs, facilities, and people. St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free, accessible organization, and will work to accommodate any needs under the Accessibility for Ontario for Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application process, please contact Human Resources at employment@sjhcg.ca for assistance. If the applicant requires a specific accommodation because of a disability during an interview, the applicant will need to advise the hiring manager when scheduling the interview and the appropriate accommodations can be made.