About IPS
Corporate and Professional
Infection Prevention and Control remains a very high priority for healthcare providers and commissioners within the wider patient safety agenda. The specialty however faces new and growing challenges. Recent years have seen a reduction in the number of qualified specialist nurses, with some retiring and others moving into other quality and safety roles. Meanwhile, the growing threat posed by bacteria resistant to antibiotics is now high on the national risk consciousness. Infection prevention and control is the responsibility of every health and care worker, but its strategic direction and the delivery of safe care minimising the risks of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) requires input from specialists with experience, knowledge and skills to support Organisations to meet their corporate responsibilities within the context of Patient Safety.
Infection Prevention Solutions was formed in 2002 to provide infection prevention and control expertise to client organisations. This has included smaller organisations, in both health and social care, who require regular and ongoing support to fulfil the regulatory requirements of CQC and commissioners. In addition, IPS specialists have supported larger organisations including groups of providers in turn around projects to reduce incidence of Health Care Associated infections and/or to develop an IPC service within an organisation to hand over to substantive staff.
Clients have included:
- Acute NHS Trusts
- Independent sector hospitals and hospices
- NHS and independent sector diagnostic and treatment (clinics) services providers
- Mental Health NHS and independent sector providers
- NHS Community Trusts and social enterprises
- Care Home organisations, including those providing residential and nursing care provision across all care sectors inc. spinal injury, learning disabilities and personal care agencies
- Primary care services inc. GPs; urgent care and walk-in centres
- General Dental Services both NHS and independent sector providers
- NHS Ambulance Trusts and independent sector ambulance and transport providers
- Commissioners of health and social care including Local Authorities
- Health Protection within HPA/PHE and latterly UKHSA
- Prison health services and healthcare facilities within immigration centres
Professional Services
A full range of services to support the prevention of all avoidable HCAIs are available including:
- Provision of IPC specialist staff to provide on-going leadership to in-house staff (or to work as part of in-house IPC teams) to develop and maintain robust standards within client organisations on an on-going basis both full and part-time
- Environmental and Clinical Practice Audits – both web-based and delivered by IPS staff
- Staff training which can be provided either in full or with a Train the Trainer model
- Enhanced training packages for staff with lead responsibility for IP&C. These course are accredited by the Royal College of Nursing
- IPC Manuals of policies, protocols and guidelines inc. Standard Operating Procedures for all sectors of health and care
- Provision of IP&C specialist advice to new build and refurbishment projects AND to the development of new health and care services
- Strategic level assessment and analysis of IPC provision within a provider organisation with recommendations for development. This can include gap analysis of compliance with regulatory requirements (Code of practice for the prevention and control of infections) and the development of Annual Programmes / Board Assurance Frameworks.
- Strategic level assessment and analysis of IPC within commissioning organisations. This can include:
- Review of systems and processes for investigations of HCAI (whole economy) with recommendations for further development and support for delivery of plans
- Recommendations for IP&C Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and information reporting requirements in contracts
- Review of available data and intelligence from providers to seek assurance of IP&C for patients
Infection Prevention Solutions Professional Team is led by Dee May, an internationally recognised Infection Prevention Nurse who has represented the speciality at national level. The team comprises specialist nurses with full support teams across the UK. This team draws on a wide range of experience which enables the delivery of innovative solutions to Clients problems and concerns. Such solutions have been shown to be both effective and affordable. The team are all Professionally Indemnified by the company and have requisite enhanced DBS and OH clearance.
Audit
We have a range of infection control plans. Once you commit to a contract with Infection Prevention Solutions, we will tailor the products and services we offer to your specific sector and place of work.
Manuals
IPC Manual of policies required by CQC.
Training
Extensive range of training courses which can be provided either virtually via Zoom/MS Teams or on site as well as providing Train the Trainer model.
Consultancy and Advice
Provision of IP&C specialist advice to new build and refurbishment projects AND to the development of new health and care services.
Extended Training
Enhanced training packages for staff with lead responsibility for IP&C. These course are accredited by the Royal College of Nursing.
Strategic Assessment
Strategic level assessment and analysis of IPC provision within a provider organisation with recommendations for development. This can include gap analysis of compliance with regulatory requirements. (Code of practice for the prevention and control of infections) as well as the development of an Annual Programme/Board Assurance Framework.