Job Specification and Terms and Conditions Job Title and Grade Temp Consultant Microbiologist Competition 3308.10 Reference Closing Date 5.00pm Thursday 25/03/2010 Proposed Interview Date (s) Taking up Appointment Location of Post Organisational Area Details of Service Early April This is an immediate requirement vacancy Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick HSE Mid-West Region The appointee will, with their Consultant colleague, be responsible for the provision of a high quality, comprehensive, efficient and costeffective clinical, food & water microbiological and virological service for the Mid-Western HSE Area. The new appointee, with their Consultant colleague, will provide a 24/7 clinical liaison service to hospital consultants and general practitioners on appropriate investigations and interpretation of results relating to the treatment, management and prevention of infections and epidemiological matters. The appointee will, with their Consultant colleague, serve as a specialist adviser or provide Infection Control input (as appropriate) on all matters relating to healthcare-associated infection control. Such matters include surveillance and control of infection, sterilisation and disinfection methods, types of ventilation, isolation facilities, kitchens, laundry, housekeeping, waster disposal, antibiotic usage and infection control aspects of medical & nursing procedures. The appointee will advise and contribute to the planning and implementation of activities required to achieve the new HIQA Infection Prevention and Control standards when they are issued. The new appointee, will take part in the training of healthcarerelated students (medical, nursing, etc.), medical and nursing staff and other healthcare workers of all grades. The appointee will be expected to attend both MWRH Ennis and MWRH Nenagh to provide an on-site clinical service. Temp Con Microbiologist 1/8 March 2010
Reporting Relationship The Consultant s reporting relationship and accountability for the discharge of his/her contract is: To the General Manager through his/her Clinical Director. The Hospital Network Manager may require the Consultant to report to him/her from time to time. Purpose of the Post Principal Duties and Responsibilities Contribute to the provision of Infection Control and Clinical Microbiology Services for the acute hospitals of the Mid-Western HSE Area. Standard Duties and responsibilities a) To participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant s area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan 1 and in line with policies as specified by the Employer. b) To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services. c) To work within the framework of the hospital / agency s service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply. d) To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure. e) To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director / Employer periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan shall be reviewed periodically at the request of the Consultant or Clinical Director / Employer. The Consultant may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Service Plan. f) To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures. g) To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant s area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request. h) To ensure in consultation with the Clinical Director that appropriate medical cover is available at all times having due regard to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to doctors in training. i) To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by non-consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant s care. j) To participate as a right and obligation in selection processes for non-consultant Hospital Doctors and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as Temp Con Microbiologist 2/8 March 2010
Specific Duties: required. The Employer shall ensure that a Consultant representative of the relevant specialty / sub-specialty is involved in the selection process. k) To participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures. l) To participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery. Laboratory (a) Day-to-day supervision of diagnostic methods, examination of specimens, authorization and interpretation of results and communication with relevant clinicians were appropriate. (b) Supervision of quality assurance within the Department including participation in all relevant external quality assurance programmes. (c) Provision of an on-call service in microbiology. (d) Participation in maintaining clinical laboratory accreditation with CPA (UK) or an equivalent agency. (e) Participation in business planning, including the introduction and assessment of new methods, evaluation and organisation of staff and equipment. (f) Support departmental and hospital audits. Clinical (a) Liaison with hospital clinicians, other hospital staff and general practitioners concerning the diagnosis, management and prevention of infection for patients and other epidemiological concerns. (b) (c) (d) Participation in ward rounds and clinical conferences. Advise on antibiotic and other relevant hospital policies. Provision of 24-hour access to specialist microbiology advice. Infection Control a) Participation in the provision of the infection prevention and control programme within the hospital. b) Assist with the preparation of and advice on the implementation of infection prevention and control and antibiotic guidelines and policies for the hospital. c) Participate in the hospital risk management programme. d) Advise on and assist with the implementation of compliance with national infection control standards. e) Liaise where appropriate with the Directors of Public Health and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in the Temp Con Microbiologist 3/8 March 2010
investigation and prevention of communicable diseases in the community. f) Participate with the development and implementation of an antibiotic stewardship programme in the hospital. g) Participate in the Infection Prevention and Control surveillance and audit programmes. Education a) Participate in the education and training of laboratory staff in microbiology. b) Education of undergraduate, postgraduate and other healthcare staff on topics related to both microbiology and infection prevention and control. c) Participate in the hospital education programmes. d) Participate in on-going CME programmes. Administration a) In collaboration with hospital administration, be responsible for the appointment of technical staff to the Microbiology, Public Health & Serology Laboratories and clinical staff to the Infection Prevention and Control team. b) To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures c) Administrative duties on hospital committees where appropriate. Research a) Perform appropriate research in microbiology and in collaboration with other researchers in the hospital. b) Perform such other duties appropriate to his/her office as may be assigned to him/her by the Hospital General Manager. The above Job Description 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 Each candidate must have the following on the latest date for receiving forms: Professional Qualifications and Experience Full registration in the General Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland or entitlement to be so registered and Temp Con Microbiologist 4/8 March 2010
(b) The possession of the MRC Path or a qualification equivalent thereto and Inclusion on or eligibility to be included on the division of microbiology of the Register of Medical Specialists maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland 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 character Age Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms in the office occurs. Section 62 Post (If applicable). It is noted that this post of Consultant Microbiologist is considered to carry with it duties involving the teaching of clinical medicine and / or the conduct of medical research under the direction of University College Cork/Limerick. Therefore, this post is considered a Section 62 post under the Health Act 1953 as amended by the Health Act 2004. Eligibility criteria should promote the principles of equality of opportunity, inclusiveness and diversity. Skills, Competencies and/or knowledge Other requirements Excellent managerial skills Antimicrobial stewardship skills The drive, energy and initiative to promote change in a challenging and dynamic environment A history of achieving results with the ability to act decisively and meet milestones Credible managerial qualities, with the ability to: - Communicate, motivate and delegate - Identify and cultivate talent - Inspire action from others - Align people behind the corporate vision - Build effective teams The appointee will have excellent interpersonal skills, and must be able to demonstrate a track record of successfully functioning in a team environment Travelling and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of a consultant's duties shall be met on the basis applicable Temp Con Microbiologist 5/8 March 2010
specific to the post to persons of appropriate senior status in the public sector. Consultants holding joint appointments or appointments involving a commitment at more than one location will be re-imbursed expenses in respect of travel between locations specified in the schedule which are agreed with the employing authority or authorities. Competition Specific Selection process Shortlisting Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for short listing 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. Applicants may be shortlisted for interview based on information supplied in the application form at the closing date or in other specified assessment documentation Criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the post specific requirements, duties, skills, competencies and/ or knowledge section of this job specification and the information supplied in the competency based application form if used. Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 Code of Practice As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment. The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commissioners 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 Codes also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilitates for 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.careersinhealthcare.ie in the document posted with each vacancy entitled Code of Practice, information for candidates or on www.cpsa-online.ie Temp Con Microbiologist 6/8 March 2010
Tenure Remuneration Terms and Conditions of Employment Consultant Microbiologist The appointment is whole-time, temporary and pensionable. 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 annual salary shall be for Type B Contracts a salary scale in four points as follows: Rates effective01/01/2010 Working Week 173,620 175,931 176,000 176,000 The standard working week applying to the post is: 37 hours per week The annual leave associated with the post is: 31 Working Days Annual Leave per annum and as determined by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 Superannuation All pensionable staff become members of the pension scheme. Applicants for posts in the Mental Health service are advised that Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, does not apply to new entrants to the Mental Health Services as defined by the Public Service Superannuation(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 (Section 12 of that Act) New entrants Probation Positions remunerated at or above 173,217 as at 1 st March 2008 Every 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. Positions remunerated at or above 173,217 as at 1 st March 2008 are designated positions under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001. In accordance with Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, a person holding such a post is required to prepare and furnish an annual statement of any interests which could materially influence the performance of the official functions of the post. This annual statement of interest should be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer not later than 31 st January in the following year. In addition to the annual statement, a person holding such a post is required, whenever they are performing a function as an employee of the HSE and have actual knowledge, or a connected person, has a material interest in a matter to which the function relates, provide at the time a statement of the facts of that interest. A person holding such a post should provide such statement to the Chief Executive Officer. The function in question cannot be performed unless there are compelling reasons to do so and, if this is the case, those compelling reasons must be stated in writing and must be provided to the Chief Executive Temp Con Microbiologist 7/8 March 2010
Officer.. Under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the post holder must within nine months of the date of appointment provide the following documents to the Standards in Public Office Commission at 18 Lower Lesson Street, Dublin 2: 1. A Statutory Declaration, which has been made by the post holder not more than one month before or after the date of the appointment, attesting to compliance with the tax obligations set out in section 25(1) of the Standards in Public Office Act and declaring that nothing in section 25(2) prevents the issue to the post holder of a tax clearance certificate 2. and either (a) a Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Collector- General not more than 9 months before or after the date of the appointment or (b) An Application Statement issued by the Collector- General not more than 9 months before or after the date of the appointment. Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 A person holding such a post is required under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 to act in accordance with any guidelines or advice published or given by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Guidelines for public servants on compliance with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 are available on the Standards Commission s website http://www.sipo.gov.ie/ As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment. Temp Con Microbiologist 8/8 March 2010