Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Infection Control, Specified Purpose Contract, Cork University Hospital

Details of Service/Background to the post

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has approximately 800 beds and this will increase further to 1000 beds on completion of the transfer of additional services to the CUH campus. CUH currently employs approximately 3269 (WTE) staff of multiple professions and is the primary teaching hospital for the Faculty of Health and Science in University College Cork (UCC). UCC is the Academic partner of the South/South West Hospital Group. CUH has very strong relationships with each of the six schools within the Science Faculty of UCC and this is a key area for future development to maximise the opportunities for both the service and academia.

CUH is a recommended Major Trauma Centre for the Republic of Ireland due to the wide range of specialties delivered by the hospital including Neurosciences Cardiac Services Orthopaedics General Surgery Renal Internal Medicine Vascular Ophthalmology Urology Plastic Surgery Maxillary-Facial Paediatrics Intensive Care Oncology Haematology Obstetrics Gynaecology Neonatology and Emergency Medicine.

CUH is the tertiary referral centre for the HSE Southern area and the supra regional area of Limerick Clare Tipperary Waterford and Kilkenny. CUH therefore acts as a regional centre for secondary and tertiary care for the catchment population of approx. 550000 served by the HSE Southern area and a supra-regional centre for a total a population of 1.1 million.

In 2021 (which was a Covid year) CUH had 69087 ED presentations; 215529 physical out-patient attendances; 50173 virtual out-patient attendances; 29966 inpatient discharges and 27960 day cases.

Six Health Regions have been established within the HSE on the basis of the geographical boundaries agreed by the Government in July 2019 and they will be operational from 2024.

Each Health Region will be tasked with population specific planning resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

Integrated locally planned and delivered

Easier to access and navigate

Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation with more service provision developed at a local level.

The HSE South West health region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry. HSE South West includes all hospital and community healthcare services in the region.

This includes:

South / South West Hospital Group S/SWHG

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare CKCH

Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation

Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County

The Department of Population and Public Health is also now aligned with this health region

Services in the South West health region:

HSE Services working within this region include:

Acute Hospitals

Primary care services

Community services

Social care services

Health and social care professionals

Voluntary sector services

South / South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare will become part of HSE South West health region from 3rd March 2025 and the transition to the new structures will be taking place throughout 2025.

Purpose of the Post

To provide and maintain a comprehensive efficient and effective infection prevention and control service within Cork University Hospital including off-site services under the governance of CUH.

The post holder will ensure patient safety and quality through the prevention surveillance investigation and control of infection; incorporating policy development audit research and staff education.

The post of CNM 2 has a pivotal role in service planning co-ordinating and managing activity and resources within the clinical area. The main responsibilities are: quality assurance resource management staffing and staff development practice development facilitating communication and professional / clinical leadership.

Infection Prevention and Control

Infection prevention and control is fundamental to the effective provision and management of a safe environment for patients healthcare workers and visitors. Infection prevention and control is everyones responsibility.

The Infection Prevention and Control Team:

The Infection Prevention and Control team (IPCT) is a multidisciplinary team who promote best infection prevention and control practice.

The IPCT includes:

• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Consultant Microbiologists
• Registrars / SpRs in Microbiology
• Surveillance Scientist
• Antimicrobial Pharmacist

These staff have a specialist knowledge experience and training in Infection Prevention and Control in the hospital setting.

The work of the IPCT includes:

Clinical advice service

Infection prevention and control advice service including compiling records of patients colonised or infected with transmissible micro-organisms such as MRSA Clostridium difficile Influenza

Liaison between the laboratory and ward staff in relation to positive microbiology results

Identification tracking and management of outbreak situations as they occur

Education of all grades of staff

Audit

Production and update of infection prevention and control guidelines in relation to emerging national and international guidelines

Surveillance

Input into other services e.g. technical services project works commissioning hygiene services and waste management

Outbreak management

Informal Enquiries

We welcome enquiries about the role.

Contact Helen Cahalane Director of Nursing /0- for further information about the role

Contact Ann-Marie OKeeffe- People Resourcing for enquiries relating to the recruitment process

Required Experience:

Manager