The role of the DIPC and the ICT

Charlie Charlton

Infection Control Nurse

What is a DIPC

The DIPC is the

Director of

Infection

Prevention and

Control

In Mersey Care NHS Trust the DIPC is The Executive Director of Nursing and Care

Karen Wilson

What does the DIPC do

The main duties of a DIPC are to:

Have corporate responsibility for infection, prevention and control throughout the Trust as delegated by the Chief Executive, and to report directly to the Chief Executive and assure the Trust Board on the organisations performance in relation to HCAIs providing, regular reports, including an Annual Report

Responsibilities

The DIPC is responsible for the development of strategies on infection, prevention and control and oversees implementation. They will act on legislation and national guidance and ensure that effective policies are in place and audited. This provides assurance to the Trust Board that its policies are fit for purpose.

Reports to Trust Board

The DIPC attends Board meetings to report on infection, prevention and control issues and ensures infection, prevention and control consideration in other operational and development decisions of the Board.

Leadership

The DIPC provides leadership to the infection, prevention and control programme in order to ensure a high profile for infection control across the organisation.

Decontamination Lead

The DIPC ensures that decontamination guidance is in place and adhered to thorough the implementation of policies and that public and patient involvement is in infection, prevention and control is facilitated.

Inclusion

The DIPC is responsible for ensuring that infection, prevention and control is included in all job descriptions and job plans and is a mandatory component of CPD and is included in the appraisal of clinical staff.

Education, Training and Research

The DIPC is influential in the development and provision of education and training in relation to infection, prevention and control and oversees the audit of its uptake by staff. The DIPC also encourages and oversees participation in relevant research opportunities.

Governance

The DIPC is a member of the Clinical Governance Committee and ensures effective surveillance systems are in place with timely feedback to clinical services.

Structure of the ICT

ICLNS x 100

ICNM ICD

DIPC

ICNs x4

What does the ICT do?

The ICT provides a high quality Infection Control Service across the trust.

Members of the Team regularly update their expert knowledge of Infection Control by attendance on courses, seminars, conferences that will benefit the Trust.

Lab Reports and Alert Organisms

The ICT regularly receive reports including alert organisms from hospital laboratories and respond as appropriate. Support is provided for clinical staff.

24hr on call

An Infection Control Nurse is available on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to give expert advice to all levels of the trust, on Infection Control matters.

Out of hours advice is provided via Ashworth Switchboard

User-Carer Awareness

The ICT make users and carers aware of the Infection Control Team structure, and how to contact and participate in good Infection Control practices.

Recognising best practice and feeding back on areas for

improvement

The ICT present certificates of achievement awards to the clinical areas that score 100% on audit. And also provide Certificates of Professional Development/ Commendations/Merit Awards to ICLNs who meet/surpass Infection Control requirements. The team also provide feedback following audit for clinical areas to meet best practice.

Infection Control Committee

The ICT attend the Infection Control Committee four times per year to inform the Trust Board of progress, ensure that national guidance is acted upon in a timely manner, and review the Committee Terms of Reference annually.

Website

The ICT have developed specialist pages within the Mersey Care Trust website.

These pages contain resources and reference materials related to Infection Control and are regularly updated and maintained by an ICN.

Audit

The ICT carry out audit review to provide a cost effective trust wide service that ensures the safety of staff, patients and carers that measures compliance against agreed standards based on national guidance and best practice.

Products and Purchasing

The ICT advise the trust on purchasing equipment and services.

This includes things such as medical devices, decontamination, furniture and cleaning materials they provide assistance regarding contracting for healthcare waste and recommendation of Supply Chain products.

Link Nurses

The ICT recruit Infection Control Link Nurses for every clinical area throughout the trust. Link Nurses are trained four times a year and sessions are provided which address trust and national requirements and improve the clinical areas through cascade training.They provide Hand Hygiene kits for all Infection Control Link Nurses to train clinical staff to meet the requirements of the NHS Litigation Authority Standards.

Training

The ICT provide training sessions as a part of the Trust Induction and Mandatory programmes to meet NHS Litigation Authority standards and the Health Act 2006.

Additional Infection Control training is provided for other trust staff such as Domestic Services, Drivers, Porters and Sub Contractors etc. The ICT also assists with development of and supports distance learning training with links to Infection Control.These course give accreditation to Infection Control Link Nurses and other healthcare workers.

Working with the directorates

The ICT contribute to capital planning and improve communications with all directorates and departments throughout the trust to ensure Infection Prevention and Control issues are addressed in areas such as planning refurbishments and new builds, Risk, Governance and Health and Safety.

Inter Agency Working

The ICT works alongside Primary Care Trusts and the HPA and regularly attends meetings.

The team also liaise with infection control teams from neighbouring acute trusts regarding clients who are transferring between the trusts and to keep each other informed of outbreaks of infection

Surveillance

The ICT monitors Clostridium difficile and MRSA figures, and carries out surveillance to monitor the use of antibiotics across the trust. It also surveys infections such as HBV and HCV to monitor trends, incidence and prevalence and reports to the Trust Board and to the HPA. This is normally presented in the form of Key Trust Indicators.

Vaccination

The ICT Promote the uptake of Influenza vaccination in patients who fall into the target groups, by providing promotional materials and support to Infection Control Link Nurses.

Service Plan and Policy

The ICT provide a Service Plan and an Annual Report to the Trust Board to report on compliance against national guidelines and legislation. The ICT also provide an Infection Prevention and Control Policy which is regularly reviewed as legislation changes. This is ratified through the Trust Board.

Safety Alerts

The ICT receive and respond to (Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority) MHRA notifications, producing and disseminating Quality Practice Alerts throughout the trust as appropriate.

Confidentiality and Security

The Infection Control Team adhere to Caldicott guidelines and Tilt recommendations to ensure that confidentiality and security procedures are always adhered to.