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

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Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Lead Nurse | Djibouti