Job Description
Charter Medical Private Hospital (CMPH) is a 77-bed surgical hospital located on the outskirts of Mullingar with four operating theatres and an endoscopy unit. We provide a wide range of surgical care across multiple specialties and offer 24/7 Stepdown, Minor Injuries, and Rapid Access services in collaboration with the HSE.
We are currently recruiting for a CNM3 Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) to join our team.
Role Summary
The Clinical Nurse Manager 3 (CNM3) – Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) provides strategic, operational, and professional leadership for all aspects of Infection Prevention and Control across Charter Medical Private Hospital.
The post-holder is responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a comprehensive IPC programme aligned with HIQA, HSE, CHKS, and national best practice guidance. The CNM3 IPC acts as the designated specialist IPC lead and expert resource for the organisation, supporting patient safety, quality improvement, outbreak prevention, surveillance, education, governance, and regulatory compliance.
The role is aligned with the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts (NCNM, 4th Edition, 2008) and incorporates the five core concepts of:
- Clinical Focus
- Patient / Client Advocacy
- Education & Training
- Audit & Research
- Consultancy
Key Responsibilities
1. Clinical Leadership and Governance
- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing review of the hospital's IPC programme in line with HIQA National Standards, HSE guidelines, and CHKS/JAG accreditation requirements.
- Act as the designated IPC lead, providing expert advice and consultation to clinical teams, management, and external stakeholders including HIQA and the HSE.
- Provide professional leadership and act as a role model for best practice in IPC.
- Chair or co-chair the Hospital Infection Control Committee, ensuring terms of reference, meeting frequency, and reporting lines are maintained.
- Provide regular, evidence-based reports on IPC performance to the Quality and Safety Committee, Clinical Governance Committee, and Executive Management Team.
- Ensure the hospital's IPC risk register is current, that controls are proportionate, and that emerging risks are escalated in a timely manner.
- Establish effective communication and referral pathways for IPC concerns.
- Advise on the care and management of patients with communicable diseases.
- Support and supervise the implementation of isolation and transmission-based precautions.
- Advise on patient transfers to isolation facilities in consultation with medical and nursing teams.
- Lead root cause analysis and structured reviews of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) incidents, including surgical site infections (SSI), C. difficile, MRSA, and blood stream infections.
2. Policy, Procedure, and Standards
- Develop, review, and ratify all IPC-related policies, procedures, and guidelines in accordance with current best evidence, HIQA, and HSE standards, ensuring scheduled review cycles are maintained.
- Ensure compliance with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HIQA, 2009, updated guidance as applicable).
- Support staff in the implementation of IPC Policies, Procedures, Protocols, Guidelines and SOPs (PPPGs).
- Identify areas of IPC risk and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Maintain oversight of antimicrobial stewardship in collaboration with the medical team and pharmacy, supporting the hospital's antimicrobial stewardship programme.
- Ensure all decontamination, sterilisation, and reprocessing practices (including endoscopy — JAG standards where applicable) comply with national standards and manufacturer guidance.
3. Surveillance and Audit
- Design and manage a systematic programme of IPC surveillance, including point prevalence surveys, surgical site infection surveillance, and mandatory national reporting (HPSC, HPHI where required).
- Lead and co-ordinate IPC audit activity, including hand hygiene compliance auditing, environmental hygiene audits, and targeted clinical audits.
- Conduct regular audits and inspections of IPC practices and hospital hygiene.
- Collect, analyse, and report IPC-related data in a timely manner.
- Analyse surveillance and audit data, identify trends, and translate findings into improvement actions with measurable outcomes.
- Provide targeted education and improvement recommendations based on surveillance findings.
- Ensure timely submission of data to HPSC national surveillance programmes as required.
4. Outbreak Management
- Lead the hospital response to all suspected and confirmed HCAI outbreaks, including convening the outbreak control team and maintaining contemporaneous documentation.
- Assist with timely investigation of potential or confirmed outbreaks and IPC breaches.
- Liaise with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), Public Health, and other external agencies as appropriate during outbreak investigations.
- Ensure post-outbreak reviews are completed, and learning is disseminated across the organisation.
5. Education, Training, and Professional Development
- Design and deliver a hospital-wide IPC education and training programme across all staff groups, including induction, mandatory annual update, and bespoke targeted training.
- Provide formal and informal IPC education in clinical and classroom settings.
- Develop IPC educational resources, including information leaflets and guidance materials.
- Support staff competence through targeted education based on audit and surveillance findings.
- Promote a culture of infection prevention through visible leadership, clinical coaching, and sustained professional engagement.
- Participate in hospital-wide initiatives such as IPC Awareness Week.
- Support nursing, medical, and allied health students in achieving clinical learning outcomes related to IPC.
- Utilise IT systems to support education, data management, and reporting.
- Maintain personal continuing professional development (CPD) in line with NMBI requirements and the evolving IPC evidence base.
- Maintain and expand knowledge of local, national, and international IPC standards.
6. Workforce and Resource Management
- Manage any direct reports within the IPC function, including performance management in line with CMPH HR policies.
- Participate in workforce planning and succession planning for the IPC team.
- Contribute to the ongoing development and expansion of the IPC service.
- Collaborate with MDT members to monitor hospital hygiene standards.
- Liaise with Occupational Health and Health & Safety on IPC-related staff issues.
- Provide IPC guidance related to building projects and renovations.
- Contribute to the procurement and evaluation process for IPC-related products, consumables, and equipment, including formal product trial processes where applicable.
- Manage the IPC department budget as delegated, ensuring value for money and compliance with financial governance requirements.
7. Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance
- Lead IPC-related preparation for and participation in HIQA inspections, CHKS accreditation surveys, and any other regulatory assessments.
- Ensure all IPC standards within the CHKS accreditation framework (where applicable) are met and evidenced through contemporaneous documentation.
- Maintain up-to-date awareness of changes to national and European legislation, guidance, and standards relevant to IPC.
8. Patient Advocacy and Consultancy
- Advocate for patients, families, and staff in relation to IPC practices.
- Work collaboratively with clinical teams to ensure a safe, high-quality IPC service is maintained.
- Act as a specialist IPC consultant to clinical and non-clinical staff.
- Develop professional links with IPC teams in other hospitals and community settings.
- Act as an ambassador for IPC excellence and CMPH.
Essential Criteria Knowledge/ Experience
Registration
· Current, active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) on the General and/or Children's and General register without restriction.
· Maintenance of registration in good standing throughout employment.
Professional Qualifications
· Hold a recognised post-graduate qualification in Infection Prevention and Control (Level 9 or equivalent on the National Framework of Qualifications), OR hold a recognised IPC specialist qualification (e.g., CIC, CIPS) with substantial demonstrable IPC experience.
· Hold or be working towards a management qualification at Level 8 or above OR have equivalent management experience at CNM 2 or above in an IPC or related clinical governance role.
Experience
· Minimum of five years' post-registration nursing experience, of which a significant proportion has been in an IPC specialist or CNM 2 role.
· Demonstrated experience in managing and leading IPC programmes in an acute healthcare setting.
· Experience of HCAI surveillance methodology, audit, and quality improvement.
· Experience of working with regulatory and accreditation bodies (HIQA, CHKS, or equivalent).
· Proven track record in policy development and implementation.
· Experience of delivering education and training to multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable Criteria
· Experience in a private acute or independent hospital sector context.
· Familiarity with CHKS accreditation standards and JAG endoscopy standards.
· Experience in antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
· Knowledge of healthcare risk management frameworks.
· Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., IPS — Infection Prevention Society).
· Experience with new build/building extensions/building renovations.
Skills/ Competencies
Clinical and Professional
Practice Applies specialist IPC knowledge to inform clinical decision-making; demonstrates evidence-based practice; maintains professional registration and CPD.
Leadership and Management
Provides visible, credible clinical leadership; manages competing priorities; holds self and others accountable for outcomes; leads change effectively.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Communicates complex clinical information clearly to diverse audiences; builds effective multidisciplinary relationships; influences without direct authority.
Planning and Organising
Designs and manages IPC surveillance and audit programmes; plans education calendars; manages resources effectively; delivers to deadlines.
Critical Analysis and Decision-Making
Analyses surveillance data and trends; makes defensible risk-based decisions; escalates appropriately; demonstrates sound clinical judgement.
Quality, Safety, and Risk
Champions a safety culture; applies risk management frameworks; drives continuous quality improvement; ensures regulatory compliance.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Sign-on bonus
- Full time hours, permanent contract
- Continuous professional development and training opportunities
- Supportive, collaborative working environment
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Opportunities for career progression
- Free on-site parking
At Charter Medical Private Hospital, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and ensure equal opportunity in hiring and advancement. Apply for the above role by sending your CV to [email protected] including the job title in the subject.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
