Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infectious Disease
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Infectious Disease
(Grade Code: 2632)
Campaign Reference
NRS02278
Closing Date
Thursday 7 May 2015 @ 12 noon
Proposed Interview
Date (s)
Taking up
Appointment
Organisational Area
Week commencing 8 June 2015
Location of Post
Department of Public Health HSE South, Floor 2, Block 8, St. Finbarr’s
Hospital, Cork
CHO Area 4
Details of Service
Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases
The Unit monitors incidences of infectious disease in the HSE-South
area and advises the local health service sector, GPs and the public on
control of Infectious Disease.
Health Service Executive South
The Unit has a national role in collecting, compiling, collating and supplying
data to the HPSC and also publishing reports on outbreaks and incidents of
infectious disease. The Unit also plays an important role in the local
Emergency Management Planning process.
The area covered by this service is HSE – South
Reporting
Relationship
Reports to the Director of Public Health
Purpose of the Post
Surveillance and control of infectious diseases
Principal Duties and
Responsibilities
Professional
The post holder will:

Provide a service which optimises quality and continuity.

Work in collaboration with other colleagues as a member of the
Infectious Disease team to provide advice on infectious disease
control and surveillance.

Take part in the development, review and implementation of policies
and procedures.

Assist in the investigation and control of outbreaks including
contacting and follow up of contacts.

Act as a liaison with relevant laboratories to follow up on test results

Consult with members of infection control teams as required

Collect and collate information on international and national best
practices for investigation of newly notifiable diseases.
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
Support the Specialists in Public Health Medicine in the enhanced
surveillance of infectious diseases.

Deal with researching specific requests for information on infectious
diseases within the department and external to the organisation.

Assist in the preparation of reports and newsletters as appropriate

Assist in monitoring hygiene standards, and report findings with the
Department of Public Health.

Assist with emergency planning in the event of epidemics or
pandemics.

Maintain databases including CIDR (computerised infectious disease
register).
Clinical Focus
The post holder:

In conjunction with the Infectious Disease Team, will participate in the
vaccination clinics as required.

In collaboration with the team, will participate in the assessment
planning and evaluation of care to patients/clients.

In consultation where necessary with the interdisciplinary team, may
make alterations in prescribed clinical options based on agreed
protocols.

Will be responsible for continuously maintaining and updating
knowledge of best practice in the area of vaccine storage and
administration including infection control.

Will maintain a stock of medication and vaccines for the prevention
and control of infectious disease.

Will participate in the setting of professional standards.

Will be a resource of clinical expertise for interdisciplinary team.

Accepts responsibility as part of the team in the decision making
process in complex cases in the area of Infection Control.
Client / Contacts / Advocate Responsibilities
The post-holder will:

Provide cases and their contacts with appropriate information /advice.

Be cognisant of the need to preserve patient confidentiality.

Identify particular problems / needs and take appropriate action to
resolve or improve these difficulties through liaison with the
multidisciplinary team in co-ordinating ongoing care of individual
patients.

Articulate and represent patient / client interest in collaboration with
the multidisciplinary team.
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Education and Training
The post- holder will:

Provide an ongoing educational resource to meet the identified needs
of staff

Liaise with training and academic departments to deliver educational
programmes within the department and provide educational
information at departmental level.

Partake in relevant community, hospital and HSE – South wide
meetings and `journal club’.

Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning
opportunities in the area.

Demonstrates awareness of the current developments in Infectious
Disease.

Be responsible for his or her own continuing education through formal
education opportunities, reading relevant literature, attending
appropriate seminars, meetings and exhibitions thus ensuring
continued clinical credibility amongst nursing, medical and
paramedical colleagues.

Promote the role of the specialist infectious disease services among
appropriate health care professionals.

Act as a role model and resource person to all staff within the clinical
environment.
Audit and Research
The post holder will:

Demonstrate a commitment to identify, develop and contribute to
research.

Participate in and promote nursing research and clinical audit to
improve standards.

Conduct audits of current nursing practice and evaluations of
improvements in the quality of patient/client care.

Disseminate audit findings to all key stakeholders

Promote change based on findings as appropriate

Participate in the implementation and evaluation of interdisciplinary
audit systems and tools to audit current practice in the interest of
improving Health Protection.

Initiate and participate in research projects being undertaken by the
Department of Public Health.
Inter and Intra-Disciplinary responsibilities / Consultancy
The post holder will:

Consult with and be a resource to other nurses and other healthcare
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professionals within the HSE South.

Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role
model for specialist practice.
Other Responsibilities
The post holder will:

Promote a safe environment with due regard to Health & Safety and
Risk Management strategies.

Comply with all safety regulations and audits in line with the Safety,
Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and all current legislation
relating to same.

Maintain appropriate and accurate written records regarding client
contacts.

Serve on committees as required.

Have a working knowledge of HIQA standards as they apply to the
role, for example; Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for
the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections,
Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for
implementing and maintaining these standards

Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water
and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and
efficient health service.
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list
of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required
to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be
assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the
development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or
experience
Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application
forms for the post:

Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses &
Midwives maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na
hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be entitled to be so
registered
and

Have at least 5 years post registration experience in the division of the
register in which the applicant is currently practising
and

Have a minimum of 2 years in the specialist area (Infectious Disease)
and

Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her
professional responsibility within his / her scope of practice
and

Must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development
and

From the 1st September 2010 must have a level 8 (or higher) postregistration National Qualifications Authority of Ireland major academic
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award relevant to the specialist area of Infectious Disease.
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified
as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation
Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under
65 years of age.
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and
capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of
health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render
regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good
character
Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require
statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual
registration in the relevant division of the register maintained by Bord Altranais
agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board Ireland)
Post Specific
Requirements
Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience in the specialist area of
infectious disease as relevant to the role
Other requirements
specific to the post
Skills, competencies
and/or knowledge
n/a
Candidates must demonstrate:

Practitioner competence and professional credibility – demonstrates a
high level of clinical knowledge to effectively carry out the duties and
responsibilities of the role

The ability to lead on clinical practice and service quality

Promotion of evidence-based decision making; evidence-based clinical
knowledge in making decisions regarding patient / client care

The ability to plan and manage resource effectively

Effective analytical, problem solving and decision making skills

Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain
relationships

Effective communication and influencing skills

Initiative and innovation in the delivery of service

Resilience and composure

Openness to change

Integrity and an ethical stance

A commitment to continuing professional development

The ability to relate nursing research to nursing practice

Knowledge of quality assurance practices and their application to nursing
procedures

Awareness of relevant legislation and policy e.g. legislation relevant to the
service area, health and safety, infection control etc.

Awareness of current and emerging nursing strategies and policies in
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relation to the clinical / designated area
Campaign Specific
Selection Process
Ranking/Shortlisting /
Interview

Awareness of the Health Service Transformation Programme

A willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role
A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of
information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or
shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the
eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job
specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your
experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you
not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be
placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending
on the service needs of the organisation.
Code of Practice
The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the
Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service
Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles
of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The
Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for
feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested,
and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment
and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the
Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is
available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of
Practice, Information for Candidates”.
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled
“Code of Practice, Information for Candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures
change the job description may be reviewed.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to
be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
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Clinical Nurse Specialist Infectious Disease
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Tenure
The initial vacancy for this post is permanent and whole time. This post is
pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified
purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled. The tenure of these
posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage.
Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the
Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and
Appointment) Act 2004.
The Salary Scale (as at 01/01/10) for the post is:
Remuneration
Euro 47,089 – 47,886 – 48,559 – 49,659 – 50,874 – 52,067 – 53,260 – 54,604 –
55,852 (pro rata)
The standard working week applying to the post is 39 hours per week
Working Week
HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended
Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause
30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants
and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to
work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager.
Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm
over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in
accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of
Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the post is to be confirmed at Job Offer stage
Superannuation
This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon
appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension
scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment.
Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the
01st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to
superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less
favourable to those which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004
Probation
Every permanent appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer
of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a
probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular
No.10/71.
Protection of
Persons Reporting
Child Abuse Act
1998
This post is one of those designated in accordance with Section 2 of the Protection
of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998. You will remain a designated officer
for the duration of your appointment in this post or for the duration of your
appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the
Ministerial Direction. Such officers will, on receiving a report of child abuse, formally
notify the Senior Social Worker in the community care area in which the child is
living.
Infection Control
Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National
Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections,
Hygiene Standards etc.
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