JOB DESCRIPTION
Lead Infection Control Nurse
(Hospital Hygiene & Infection Prevention)
Department
Nursing – Al Shifa Hospital
Reporting Line
Reports directly to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
Functional Relationships
Internal
Medical and surgical services, outpatient clinics, emergency department, operating theatres, central sterilisation services (CSSD), pharmacy, clinical microbiology / microbiology laboratory, laboratory services, imaging, quality and patient safety, facilities and environmental services, occupational health, human resources, logistics and support services.
External
Public health authorities, accreditation and regulatory bodies, specialist infection prevention providers, partner institutions, patients and families.
Direct Reports
- Functional unit‑based IPC link nurses / hygiene champions
Role Purpose
The Lead Infection Control Nurse provides hospital‑wide strategic leadership, governance, and operational oversight of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme.
The post holder is responsible for preventing and controlling healthcare‑associated infections (HAIs), protecting patients, staff, and visitors, and ensuring compliance with national regulations and international best practice. The role provides expert clinical advice to the Chief Nursing Officer and Executive LeadershipTeam and plays a key role in quality, risk management, commissioning, and accreditation readiness.
Strategic and Transversal Mission
- Lead and implement the hospital IPC strategy and annual work plan
- Embed a strong culture of infection prevention, patient safety, and accountability
- Ensure effective surveillance, governance reporting, and continuous improvement
- Provide executive‑level assurance on infection risks and controls
Key Responsibilities
1. Leadership, Strategy & Governance
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the hospital Infection Prevention and Control Programme.
- Advise the CEO, Chief Nurse and executive leadership on infection risks, trends, and mitigation strategies.
- Collaborate with Microbiologist assuring risk management, trend evaluation and responsive organisational learning
- Chair or co‑chair the Infection Control Committee and ensure effective governance and reporting.
- Lead IPC preparedness and response for outbreaks, epidemics, and public health emergencies.
2. Surveillance & Infection Risk Management
- Establish and oversee surveillance systems for healthcare‑associated infections and alert organisms.
- Analyse epidemiological data to identify trends, risks, and priorities for action.
- Lead outbreak investigations, root cause analyses, and formal reporting.
- Ensure compliance with mandatory reporting and notification requirements.
3. Policies, Standards & Compliance
- Develop, review, and approve IPC policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines.
- Ensure consistent implementation of standard and transmission‑based precautions across all services.
- Provide IPC expertise for new services, construction, renovation, and commissioning activities.
- Ensure alignment with accreditation and regulatory standards.
4. Audit, Quality Improvement & Assurance
- Define and oversee the annual IPC audit programme (hand hygiene, environment, waste, PPE, isolation).
- Review audit findings, lead improvement initiatives, and monitor sustained compliance.
- Report IPC performance, risks, and outcomes to executive and governance committees.
5. Education, Training & Workforce Capability
- Lead the hospital‑wide IPC education and competency framework.
- Ensure completion of mandatory IPC training and role‑specific updates.
- Provide expert coaching and professional support to clinical leaders and IPC staff.
6. Interdepartmental & External Collaboration
- Work in close partnership with medical leadership, nursing teams, facilities, environmental services, pharmacy, CSSD, and occupational health.
- Act as IPC liaison with public health authorities and external partners.
- Support clinical teams in complex infection prevention and isolation decisions.
7. Collaboration with Microbiology (Consultant Microbiologist)
- Establish and maintain a structured working relationship with the Consultant Microbiologist and microbiology laboratory team.
- Hold regular IPC–Microbiology review meetings (minimum monthly, and more frequently during outbreaks) to:
- review HAI surveillance and alert organism reports
- review antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and MDRO trends
- agree prevention priorities and mitigation actions
- confirm escalation thresholds and communication plans
- Collaborate on the detection, investigation, and management of infection clusters and outbreaks, including interpretation of microbiology results.
- Jointly develop and review MDRO pathways, screening guidance, and isolation recommendations.
- Co‑deliver targeted staff education informed by microbiology and resistance trends.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Hand hygiene compliance ≥ 95%
- Completion of annual IPC audit programme (100%)
- Mandatory IPC training completion ≥ 95%
- Audit reports and action plans issued within 30 days
- Reduction or sustained control of healthcare‑associated infection rates
- Effective management of outbreaks with documented lessons learned
- IPC–Microbiology review meetings completed as scheduled (≥ 10 per year) with documented actions
Working Hours
40 hours per week
On‑Call / Emergency Response
Participation in IPC on‑call arrangements during outbreaks or critical incidents, as required
Mobility
Frequent movement across all hospital clinical and non‑clinical areas
Skills
Required Qualifications
- Registered Nurse with valid professional registration
- Post‑registration qualification or certification in Infection Prevention & Control
Professional Experience
- Minimum 7–10 years of clinical nursing experience
- Credible experience in infection control leadership within a hospital setting
- Experience with quality improvement, risk management, or accreditation programmes
French speaker
Arabic/ English desirable
Core Competencies
Clinical & Technical
- Expert knowledge of infection prevention, microbiology, and epidemiology
- Ability to interpret surveillance, MDRO, and AMR data and translate into practice
Leadership & Professional
- Strong executive communication and influencing skills
- Ability to lead change and challenge unsafe practice constructively
- High professional credibility and integrity
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong operational focus
- Calm, decisive, and resilient during outbreaks or high‑risk situations
- Collaborative, culturally sensitive, and patient‑focused