Infection Prevention & Control Manager

City of Toronto•Seven Oaks, SC

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The City’s Seniors Services and Long-Term Care Division supports Toronto seniors and residents in long-term care homes to have the healthiest, most fulfilling lives possible through exceptional care and services. Vulnerable individuals who reside in the community are supported through adult day programs, supportive housing services, tenancy support and homemakers and nurses services. CareTO is our brand for the culture change we are investing in for the City’s 10 directly operated long-term care homes. The division values Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence which shape our organizational culture, our priorities, and the experiences of all those who live, work, volunteer, and visit. To provide advice, lead, coordinate and support a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) program for the respective Long-Term Care Home, to ensure compliance and implementation of clinical and non-clinical care standards and best practices in accordance with relevant acts and legislations. To collaborate with others in identifying and mitigating risk factors to promote the goal of improving resident outcomes and preventing disease outbreaks.

Requirements

A degree in health-related discipline preferred (e.g. nursing, laboratory, epidemiology, and other allied health) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Current registration and in good standing with a regulatory healthcare body in Ontario.
Considerable experience in infection prevention & control in Long-Term Care, Acute or Complex Continuing Care sector along with experience in leading IPAC-related incident investigations.
Experience and knowledge of long-term care home operations.
Experience in supervising within a unionized environment.

Nice To Haves

Current certification in infection control from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology from the Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP) or Certification in Infection Control (CIC) considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Implements detailed plans and recommends policies/procedures regarding program specific requirements.
Conducts research into assigned area, in consultation with the divisional Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Committee, ensuring that such research takes into account developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
Researches best practices for infection prevention and control.
Provides input into and administers assigned infection control budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
Leads, plans, implements and tracks the delivery and completion of IPAC (including outbreak management), training and education to staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors, and residents and maintains relevant records.
Provides input for employee performance reviews/appraisals.
Leads the implementation of the IPAC program and practices in the respective Long-Term Care Home in accordance with relevant acts and legislations that meet infection prevention and control requirements as outlined by Ministry of Long-Term Care, Ministry of Labour, Accreditation Canada, etc.
Audits IPAC practices in the Home, as required including, but not limited to, hand hygiene, selection and donning and doffing of personal protective equipment to prevent disease outbreaks.
Conducts monthly infectious disease surveillance and reviews results regularly to ensure staff are conducting infectious disease surveillance appropriately and suitable action is taken.
Monitors and evaluates staff performance and recommends disciplinary action to management when necessary.
Leads and implements IPAC practices to manage outbreaks and minimize risk(s) to residents and staff.
Leads, coordinates and convenes the respective Homes' interdisciplinary IPAC Team on a regular basis, and more frequently during an infectious disease outbreak in the Home.
Engages with Toronto Public Health on the outbreak response when relevant including when an outbreak has been declared.
Consults and collaborates with the interdisciplinary IPAC Team, other health care professionals and affected departments in the Home to implement, monitor and evaluate the IPAC program.
Assists with securing IPAC-related resources needed to support the respective Home outbreak management response.
Participates in the review, selection and purchasing of personal protective equipment.
Ensures that IPAC related information is documented, tracked and analyzed.
Submits IPAC report to Home Site Quality Improvement and divisional IPAC Committee as scheduled.
Reviews daily and monthly screening results collected by the Home to determine whether any action is required.
Implements required improvements to the IPAC program as required by audits.
Leads quality improvement processes related to infection prevention and control, and collects, monitors and reports relevant risk management data.
Ensures the hand hygiene program is operating in accordance with provincial standards.
Coordinates and implements respirator fit (N95) testing and maintains related records.
Administers the Home's vaccination program including ordering, storage and reporting of vaccines.
Coordinates annual vaccination of staff, residents and the volunteers at immunization clinics.
Reports residents' and staffs' vaccination/immunization status to management and maintains records of vaccination for both.
Provides supports to Volunteer Coordinator to promote volunteer vaccination and to maintain records of volunteer vaccination.
Administers the Homes' pandemic plan, ensuring alignment with the divisional pandemic plan.
Involves key stakeholders in the review and update of the plan, ensuring related education/training occurs, and that personal protective equipment/supplies are maintained.
Liaises with local public health units, Infection Control Networks, and hospital partners, in consultation with Homes' leadership team and the Ministry of Long-Term Care in regard to IPAC.
Establishes and maintains communication with staff from other programs, divisions and community agencies to improve programs and processes related to infection prevention and control.
Administers IPAC related clinical software systems, troubleshooting technical issues and acts as a resource to staff.
Evaluates IPAC related technology.
Represents the Home on relevant local professional networks with other infection prevention and control practitioners to keep abreast of best practices and current trends in infection control.
Participates as a member or alternate for the Joint Health and Safety Committee, Site Quality Improvement Committee, and the divisional IPAC committee.