Oversees the operational and clinical delivery of the infection control service across the hospital and is authorised to challenge inappropriate clinical hygiene practices. Develops and implements strategies, policies, and plans for the hospital's infection prevention and control service. Promotes strategies and raises awareness of hospital infection control and decontamination issues. Develops and maintains the Prevention and Control of Infection Program and all policies and procedures for infection control. Complies with all federal state and regulatory requirements, including Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Manages the Infection Control Department through subordinate Infection Preventionists and works closely with the Infectious Disease Physician/s. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect functional areas of responsibility, including budget development. Delivers expert clinical advice and leadership for the infection control service to support relevant departments to ensure patients are protected from the risk of acquiring Health Care Associated Infections (HCAI) and maintains an environment in which excellence in clinical care can flourish. Capable of resolving issues arising from clinical and operations and managing coordination with other departments (i.e. medical, nursing, allied health, and other support units).

• Acts as the organisation’s expert and clinical lead for infection prevention and control, providing expert advice to clinicians, managers and other staff to manage infectious outbreaks and other untoward incidents.
• Develops and implements the hospital Prevention and Control of Infection Program. 
• Develops and revises required Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) standards, processes, policies, and procedures.
• Oversees the Infection Control Link Program.
• Co-chairs and facilitates the Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) Committee.
• Evaluates equipment and products, which may impact infection control practice and patient care as a member of the Product Review and Standardization Committee.
• Oversees clinical risk assessments and infection control risk assessments.
• Leads on the monitoring of the incidence of healthcare-related infection, management of outbreaks, investigation of hazardous practices, complaints and serious untoward incidents relating to infection control.
• Carries out regular root cause analysis of agreed infection and develops action plans and recommendations.
• Oversees Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) education programs.
• Provides mentorship, preceptorship, teaching, facilitation and professional supervisory skills for physicians, nurses, allied health staff, and other hospital employees.
• Develops Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) against which prevention and controls of infection practice can be measured in line with evidence-based data and standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA).
• Analyses data and implementation actions are required using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology.
• Oversees Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) surveillance audits.
• Ensures delivery of infection control audits, advising on the use of suitable audit tools and regularly undertaking major audits using appropriate research tools, analysing and evaluating the outcomes and ensuring change in practice as required.
• Validates audits are to be carried out monthly to ensure the quality of audit results. Present improvement actions and further required initiatives in the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee.
• Actions all reports of needle stick injuries, infectious diseases, and potential exposure to blood and body fluids and supports administration with employee database and trends.
• Develops and implements facility-wide infection prevention and control practices to protect patients, visitors, and staff.
• Ensures all notifiable and communicable diseases are reported and notified as mandated by the regulatory bodies.
• Acts as the main consultant and resource person regarding prevention and control of infection issues for all staff. 
• Implements at least one (1) cost-effective Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) project per year.
• Provides advice on space, technology, equipment, staffing, and other resources needed by the department.
• Identifies occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the infectious disease process.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing (minimum of three (3) years full-time course duration) or
• Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2) years course duration) and Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia
• For UAE nationals graduates of UAE or non-UAE universities are exempted from the experience and clinical training requirements for the applied title. (UAE National must submit a copy of their birth certificate and the mother’s family book)
• Non-UAE national graduates from UAE universities are required to successfully complete six (6) months of clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility (except for Registered and assistant Nurse titles)
• Must hold a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable)
• Must hold a minimum of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or others according to the scope of practice or
• Certification in Infection Prevention and Control provided by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology
• Masters of Science in Infection Control
• Teaching qualification preferred

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Prevention and Control of Infection (PCI) in a hospital setting.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a managerial position.
• Knowledge of relevant Infection Prevention and Control laws and regulations.
• Skills in computer applications such as Microsoft Office programs.
• Skills in critical thinking and analysis.
• Ability to compile/write reports, correspondences, and progress reports concerning audit results.
• Ability to speak and write in English fluently.
• Ability to differentiate between colonization and infection.
• Ability to differentiate between prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials.