Position Overview

The Clinical DOC (CDOC) and Infection Prevention and Control Leader ensures that there is an organized infection prevention and control program that meets regulatory requirements and is in line with Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) standards.

Essential Duties

The CDOC and Infection Prevention and Control Leader is dedicated to the IPAC Program and provides direct leadership and supervision of PSWs, RPNs and RNs and implements and oversees infection prevention and control practices that promote the safety of residents, staff, and physicians, including:

Human Resources

• Assists in the recruitment and hiring of PSWs, RPNs and RNs
• Manages performance and addresses performance as appropriate
• In collaboration with the DOC assists with the completion of staff probationary and annual performance reviews of all nursing staff
• Assists in conducting workplace investigations
• Responsible for progressive discipline of nursing staff

Surveillance

• Monitors and audits for new infectious symptoms or trends
• Ensures required surveillance and screening programs are in place for residents, staff and physicians
• Reviews infectious disease surveillance results regularly to ensure staff collects the surveillance appropriately
• Ensures appropriate actions are taken to respond to surveillance findings.
• Coordinates swabbing clinics and ensures results are tracked
• Monitors and analyzes data in the IPAC module in PCC
• Reviews surveillance data and monitors for infection trends
• Consults with the physicians/NP's on laboratory results and trending of data to promote antibiotic stewardship
• Follows guidelines for reporting communicable diseases to the appropriate government agencies

Outbreak Prevention & Management

• Collaborates with relevant stakeholders (i.e. Local Public Health and Hospital partners, etc.) to manage outbreaks
• Attends all Public Health and Hospital Partner IPAC committee meetings and calls
• Coordinates and Chairs daily Outbreak Management Team meetings with Local Public Health and other required stakeholders during an outbreak, including minutes, tracking of follow-up actions and implementation and oversight of Outbreak Control Measures
• Develops and updates an accurate daily Outbreak Line List
• Ensures timely communication with Public Health re infectious diseases as per regulatory requirements
• Works with the Director of Care, Executive Director and Corporate Support Office personnel to ensure timely communication to residents, staff, physicians, and families related to potential and confirmed outbreaks
• Initiates the outbreak CIS and keeps it up to date with amendments
• Conducts a post outbreak analysis and report for the IPAC Team

Mentoring

• Provides education and coaching to all staff and physicians on IPAC practices
• Creates content to assist with educating residents and visitors
• Conducts the orientation/mentoring of new IPAC Champions within the Home
• Assists with the coordination, orientation, and placement of students on IPAC practices
• Inform and/or educate residents, families and visitors on infection prevention and control measures to prevent and control transmission of infection in health care settings, including hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and visitor restrictions when appropriate.
• Educates staff on routine practices, including point-of-care risk assessment, hand hygiene, appropriate selection, use and care of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe use of disposal of sharps.
• Completes just in time training during unit rounds to staff and physicians on safe IPAC practices

Quality Improvement

• Promotes staff awareness of the purposes and objectives of the IPAC program components
• Coordinates and provides ongoing education to staff on new emerging infectious diseases and organisms
• Monitors the IPAC module in PointClickCare for accuracy and completeness
• Conducts audits of IPAC process/policy compliance, PPE compliance and donning/doffing, hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection procedures for shared medical equipment and shares data weekly for unit performance boards and monthly for leadership and Health & Safety Committee
• Creates and distributes daily IPAC report to the broader leadership team
• Present data analysis and trending to the Leadership Team, Professional Advisory Committee and Quality Committee

• Reports on regional data trends and actions taken at regional meetings.
• Chairs Quarterly IPAC Team meetings and ensures minutes are posted and action plans are developed related to identified improvement opportunities
• Creates quarterly IPAC quality report and presents at quarterly Quality Committee meetings
• Coordinates annual flu clinics and immunization programs
• Coordinates bi-annual Respiratory Fit Testing training and ensures compliance to training requirements.
• Ensures the evaluation of the Infection Prevention and Control Program is done annually
• Collaborates with environmental, nursing, resident experience, nutritional, dietary and environmental service partners on implementing IPAC best practices.
• Supports the development of audit compliance to cleaning and disinfecting procedures in nursing, dietary, programs, housekeeping, laundry
• Regularly review Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures and revises as needed to reflect current best practices
• Policy development in the area of IPAC
• Completes the annual Public Health flu survey

Safety

• Develops and oversees the infection prevention and control policies and procedures for contracted service providers, such as hairdresser, dental services, ophthalmology, etc.
• Chairs the Joint Health and Safety Committee as a standing member and reviews monthly health and safety inspections for IPAC and safety practices, i.e. needle stick injuries, PPE concerns, cleaning and disinfecting equipment concerns
• Identifies and reports health and safety hazards for residents and team members
• Works in accordance with the organization's Health and Safety policies and procedures and in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Responsible for providing infection control and prevention input in the procurement of supplies/equipment.
• Responsible for ensuring the home has sufficient PPE supplies and equipment and authorizes purchases of these supplies and equipment within the approved budget.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Review daily infection control surveillance for trends and potential spread, Co-Chair the Infection Prevention and Control/Outbreak Management Team, maintaining attendance records and minutes of Outbreak meetings and circulating to members and support team,
• Coordinate influenza and COVID Booster clinics for both staff and residents,
• The Clinical DOC and Infection Prevention and Control Leader provides direct leadership and supervision of RNs, RPNs and PSWs and implements and oversees infection prevention and control practices that promote the safety of residents, staff and physicians,
• Visit and review all departments to ensure adherence to infection prevention and control standards,
• Complete regular PPE and hand hygiene audits as per schedule,
• The Clinical DOC and Infection Prevention and Control Leader provides direct leadership and supervision of RNs, RPNs and PSWs and implements and oversees infection prevention and control practices that promote the safety of residents, staff and physicians,
• Compile and review monthly infection reports and prepare statistical data for review at the Quality Team and Infection Prevention and Control quarterly meetings,
• Present data analysis and trending to the Leadership Team and Professional Advisory Committee and to OH&S, as well as sit on this committee,
• Develop and implement effective surveillance and reporting systems ensuring daily infection surveillance tool is being completed; identify trends and any corrective actions to be taken,
• Make recommendations concerning environmental sanitation in the Home,
• Follow guidelines for reporting communicable diseases to the appropriate government agencies,
• Assist staff in the prevention and spread of infection in the Home by supervising the set up and maintenance of routine practices and other infection prevention and control related practices,
• Promote staff awareness of the purposes and objectives of the IPAC program,
• Demonstrate within the team a relaxed manner and a skill in ‘going with the flow' emphasising people's individual needs and not tasks and routines whilst ensuring work requirements are met,
• Responsible for recruitment and hiring of staff (RNs, RPNs, PSWs),
• Manages performance and addresses performance as appropriate for RNs, RPNs and PSWs,
• In collaboration with the DOC assists with the completion of staff probationary and annual performance reviews of all nursing staff,
• Assists in conducting workplace investigations,
• Responsible for progressive discipline (RNs, RPNs, PSWs),
• Assist with compiling quarterly infection control meeting agenda and inviting public health office to attend meetings,
• Coordinate and provide ongoing education to staff on new emerging infectious diseases and organisms and monitor staff adherence to protocols such as proper hygiene, isolation, screening and immunization,
• Audit hand hygiene, PPE and other IPAC audits in the Home; present data to staff, management and the health and safety team; facilitate corrective action as needed,
• Member of the Health and Safety Committee,
• Ensure communication of the infection control data through postings, etc in the home for residents, visitors and staff awareness,
• Participate in infection control education events,
• Conduct infection control week activity in the home.
• Any and all other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with a current Certificate of Registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario, in good Current Certificate of Competence with the College of Nurses of Ontario as Registered Nurse or a Registered Nurse registered with a regulatory authority in a Canadian jurisdiction, other than Ontario, and holds in that jurisdiction the equivalent of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice in Ontario as of right exemption Bill 60
• Current Non-Acute Care Infection Control Professional (NAC ICP) certification
• Certification from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) or a commitment to complete within 2 years of employment.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in infection control in the Long-Term Care or Acute Care sector preferred
• Member of National Infection Control Association (IPAC Canada)
• Training and experience in Quality Improvement is preferred
• Knowledge of epidemiological principles, statistics and microbiology and the ability to integrate this knowledge into clinical practice would be a significant asset.
• Demonstrates skill in computer databases (use of spreadsheets, Word, PowerPoint, internet and literature searches, e-mail).
• Demonstrates effective leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work in COVID-19 environment
• Need to be flexible with hours if required
• Current CPR and First Aid is required
• Solid understanding of adult learning principles and teaching methods to facilitate learning.
• Ability to organize, plan, and work independently
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to embrace various skills from the team to maximize the potential to enhance the well-being of all individuals
• Must have a clear vulnerable sector screen, no older than 6 months, TB test results less than 6 months old, must be able to provide three supervisory reference
• COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment

Work Environment

We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, in accordance with industry standards and in compliance with legislative requirements, which includes taking steps to prevent/minimize occupational injury and illness.

We are also committed to meeting the accessibility standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, including making accessibility an integral part of recruiting, hiring and supporting employees with disabilities.

Physical Demands

A physical demands analysis is required by an employer to determine whether an employee has the medical ability, critical strength, and mobility to safely work in a specific job. It provides the information to compare the abilities of an employee with what is required to safely perform the tasks of the position. Please refer to the Health and Safety Manual for position specific physical demands analysis.