The Role

We are looking for someone strategic with energy and enthusiasm to help our Health Protection team deliver and achieve the best public health outcomes related to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for our residents.

• Do you have the relevant IPC and Health Protection qualification and skills and have led on pandemic and outbreak preparedness and response to various communicable diseases (e.g., COVID-19) outbreaks in community and or healthcare settings?
• Have you taken a leadership responsibility for planning, organising, implementing, and evaluating Health Protection programmes, strategies or policies?

If the answer is ‘yes’, we would love to hear from you.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are recruiting for an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Clinical Lead as a permanent post to lead on the health protection response. The IPC lead will take responsibility for all aspects of IPC contributing to the delivery of Richmond and Wandsworth’s Corporate priorities when operating as ‘business as usual’ or in a pandemic response.

We are looking for someone with energy and enthusiasm to help our team achieve the best health protection outcomes with significant experience in IPC and health protection, preferably with a clinical or allied health professional background leading or managing a team in a health or in a local authority setting.

Please see the job profile for a full list of requirements.

Key elements of your role will include

Lead responsibility for IPC and contribute to the delivery of key aspects of Health Protection ensuring there are clear and robust, health protection and IPC strategies, action plans and protocols embedded across a range of organisations to protect the health of the population and local residents.

• To protect the health and wellbeing of staff and residents in light of any outbreak or pandemic
• Take leadership responsibility for planning, clinical governance, organising, implementing and evaluating IPC programmes, strategies or policy.
• Develop updates and communications for wider stakeholders and council members to ensure key stakeholders remain briefed and informed on key developments.
• Quality assure and audit services, interventions, policies and plans to control risk and improve quality and effectiveness, making recommendations for change/improvement,
• Develop, establish and implement staff and public engagement and participation with regard to improving knowledge and raising awareness.
• Pandemic and outbreak preparedness and response to communicable diseases (including COVID-19) and managing non-infectious Environmental Hazards (CBRNE and HazMats),
• Contingency planning for any future surge in COVID-19 cases and outbreaks.
• Ensure that all stakeholders have access to clear specialist IPC advice.
• Develop and implement IPC standards, protocols and procedures, incorporating national ‘best practice’ guidance.
• Lead, design, facilitate, deliver and quality assure IPC education and training programmes with a wide range of staff, volunteers, independent providers and stakeholders
• Identify, analyse, interpret and present highly complex IPC data to inform decision making, planning, performance management and evaluation.
• Prepare papers, presentations and reports for meetings and boards, raising the profile of IPC and the work of the Health Protection Team.

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, compressed or part-time hours, term time only, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: 8^th August 2022 (tentative)

Shortlisting Date: 9^th August 2022 (tentative)

Interview Date:  18th August 2022 (tentative)

To arrange for an informal discussion about the role, please contact Usman Khan Consultant in Public Health - Health Protection on 07890027135 or email usman.khan@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils