Patients come first
Infection Prevention Control Leads are responsible for empowering staff and patients through education, policy implementation and acting as a subject matter expert to reduce the number of avoidable infections at site.
Your career routes
You can either join the team as a registrant with infection prevention and control relevant qualifications or aspire to become an infection prevention and control lead by starting as a health care assistant and develop over time using our Circle apprenticeship scheme which can support you in your development, during this time you can develop and insight into the role of an infection control lead by becoming a link practitioner in your department.
View the career path for more information.
Routes for Scotland and Wales
Funding for apprenticeships is a devolved matter in Scotland and Wales. This means access to development opportunities may differ depending on you where you live. Where there are differences, we have mapped these within the career pathway.
Aspiring healthcare professionals can be supported to complete a level 3 (SCQF level 6) course for healthcare assistants, depending on the restrictions of the funding available at the time. Scottish funding is managed through local colleges and universities, and the student services team can support you with guidance with routes to nursing.
People interested in imaging opportunities should explore local bursary opportunities or speak to student services for further guidance. Wales currently offer a bursary scheme and Scotland Awards Agency Scotland support routes to nursing in Scotland.
Start your journey
Hit the ground running with your 90-day induction and get to know your clinical area supported by your Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC).
Keep patient safety at the forefront by completing your mandatory training.
Build your confidence with support from other IPC Leads through the Infection Prevention and Control Leads email group.
Stay up to date with monthly group meetings held by the National IPC Lead as well as monthly IPC Open House teams meeting led by your peers.
Discover the tools available to support your role such as the IPC leads handbook and a wealth of information in the IPC tile on the CHG intranet page as well as the IPC Leads Teams page.
Develop yourself with professional conversations with your manager and participate in the check-in and appraisal process.
Healthcare Assistant
Develop your understanding of infection control in your clinical area by becoming an IPC link practitioner, focusing on the essential skills and competencies supported by your IPC Lead at site.
Begin to develop a deeper understanding of your clinical area and increase your specialist knowledge with the level 3 Healthcare Assistant apprenticeship
Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner
Reflect upon your improvement as a practitioner within nursing or allied health by developing evidence-based practice skills through the level 5 Foundation Degree Nursing Associate or an Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship.
Scotland does not currently recognise or support the nursing associate role within the nursing route.
Wales do not currently train this level of nursing associate.
People interested in nursing opportunities should explore local bursary opportunities or speak to student services for further guidance. Wales currently offer a bursary scheme and Scotland Awards Agency Scotland support routes to nursing in Scotland.
Once registered speak to your line manager and Hospital IPC Lead about becoming a link nurse within your department, if you wish to develop into an IPC lead please speak to the National Infection and Prevention Control Lead.
Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitoner
Enhance your skills and become an Operating Department Practitioner or Registered Nurse by improving your core understanding of theories and critical thinking skills with the level 6 Operating Department Practitioner apprenticeship or Registered Nurse apprenticeship.
Scottish aspiring operating department practitioners can complete and enrol on the level 5 operating department practice course.
Speak to your manager or email student services for information on how to enrol in this course.
If you are already a registered nurse or operating department practitioner and would like to further your career as an infection control lead see the section below on how to gain the specialist qualifications needed to equip you on your journey, your line manager and Director of Clinical Services will be able to support you, in conjunction with the National IPC Lead to embark on this exciting career.
Links to other pathways
Infection Prevention Control Lead
Speak to your line manager to see if you can support your department in the IPC link role. Develop your knowledge and skills supported by the IPC lead and the rest of the link team at your hospital.
Develop your skills and knowledge through university accredited courses to enable you to achieve a Pg Cert in infection prevention and control:
- Dundee – Infection Prevention & Control PGCert
- Essex – PG Cert Infection Control
- Highlands & Islands – Infection Prevention and Control MSc
Circle Health Group will provide funding for a post graduate certificate worth up to 60 credits, in one of the courses above.
Speak to your manager or email student services for information on how to enrol in these courses.