Infection Control Practitioner

**About the City of Hamilton**

**Contribute to the City of Hamilton, one of Canada’s largest cities - home to a diverse and strong economy, an active and inclusive community, a robust cultural and dining scene, hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails and natural beauty just minutes from the downtown core, and so much more. Join our diverse team of talented and ambitious staff who embody our values of sensational service, courageous change, steadfast integrity, collective ownership and being engaged empowered employees. Help us achieve our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully. #BeTheReason**

**JOB POSTING**

JOB ID #: 21454

Infection Control Practitioner
Healthy & Safe Communities
Lodges
Wentworth Lodge, 41 South Street West, Dundas, Ontario

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1 Full-Time Regular

UNION/NON-UNION: ONA Local 50 Lodges

HOURS Of WORK: 37.50 per week
- GRADE: ICP
- SALARY/HOUR: $38.060 - $54.520 per hour- Note: See appropriate Collective Agreement or the Non Union Salary Range for details.

Job Description ID #: 4014

**SUMMARY OF DUTIES**

Reporting to the Director, Nursing. The Infection Control Practitioner will be assigned to Wentworth or Macassa Lodge and is responsible for implementing and maintaining an effective and progressive infection prevention and control program for their assigned Lodge. This position will work closely with the second Infection Control Practitioner located at the other Lodge and interdisciplinary teams to ensure consistency across policies, protocols, processes, communications, etc.

**GENERAL DUTIES**

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
As approved and/or directed by the Director of Nursing, implements and conducts resident surveillance activities according to established criteria and evidence based research;

Gathers, calculates, documents and interprets nosocomial infection rate information to analyze and detect the presence of infection and trends for the purpose of reducing the incidence of infection and outbreaks;

Convenes outbreak management team meetings;

Implements interventions to control the outbreak;

Convenes the interdisciplinary infection prevention and control team;

Audits infection prevention and control practices in the Home across all shifts;

Participates with the interdisciplinary infection prevention and control team to ensure that the program is evaluated and updated annually and that a written record is kept relating to each evaluation;

Provides education, orientation and in-service training to staff; caregivers, visitors and residents;

Reports communicable diseases and outbreaks to Public Health Services and to the Ministry of Long-Term Care Regional Office;

Reviews, revises and implements policies and procedures related to the infection control program through direction and with final approval from the Director of Nursing;

Reviews new admissions to screen for high risk admissions and follows-up with required departments to ensure appropriate interventions;

Ensures a hand hygiene program is in place in accordance with any standard or protocol issued by the Ministry of Long-Term Care;

Performs designated administrative duties;

Networks with peers;

Keeps current with infection control literature standards and guidelines;

Prepares and implements annual resident programs such as the influenza campaign;

Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the immediate supervisor, which are directly related to the normal job functions.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Must have BScN with demonstrated relevant work experience.
- Ontario Certificate of Competence with considerable experience in either long-term care, acute care,and/or public health.
- Completion or near completion of the recognized basic training course in Infection Control (sponsored by IPAC Canada or APIC-USA) and be certified in or preparing for certification by the Certification Board of Infection Control. Current or near completion of certification in infection control from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. O. Reg. 246/22, s. 102 (5).
- As per the Fixing Long-Term Care Act/Regulation: The IPAC Lead shall have, at a minimum, education and experience in IPAC practices, including: a) Infectious diseases; b) Cleaning and disinfection; c) Data collection and trend analysis; d) Reporting protocols; e) Outbreak management; f) Asepsis; g) Microbiology; h) Adult education; i) Epidemiology; and j) Program management.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills are essential.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, combined with knowledge of resident care practices.
- Demonstrated investigative ability and innovative approach to health promotion planning on a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to work collaboratively with care team members.
- Experience and knowledge in clinical research and infection control issues as they relate to residents and health care workers.
- Experience and knowledge in outbreak ma