Clinical Nurse Manager, Surgical Site Infection Surveillance And Projects

Details of Service

The newly established HSE South West Region will manage and deliver all public

health and social care services for Cork, Kerry serving a population of over 740,614 people, with a supra-regional catchment of 1.2 million. The redesign of services will allow new pathways to be developed between acute hospitals, community services, primary care, health & wellbeing and voluntary sectors to develop more integrated, patient-centred care. The HSE South West principle academic partner is University College Cork (UCC), which offers a wide range of educational programmes. Research is conducted widely within our regional hospitals. HSE South West includes seven acute hospitals as follows:

• Cork University Hospital, (Model 4, Level 1 Trauma Centre and Tertiary Referral Centre)
• Cork University Maternity Hospital (Specialist Hospital)
• University Hospital Kerry (Model 3 Hospital)
• Mercy University Hospital (Model 3 Hospital)
• Mallow General Hospital (Model 2 Hospital)
• South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (Specialist Hospital)
• Bantry General Hospital (Model 2 Hospital).

The HSE South West Region was formally established on 3rd March 2025, replacing the previous South-South West Hospital Group and Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare structures. This Region is responsible for the delivery of acute and community healthcare across Cork and Kerry. The region's priorities include;

· Improving access to services

· Maintaining quality and safety

· Reducing waiting times for acute and community services

· Supporting public health and well-being.

The HSE South West is committed to building a health service which our community can be proud. To deliver on this commitment the HSE South West lives the HSE Values of Care, Compassion, Trust and Learning through our Integr8 commitments.

The role of the regional CNM3 is a pivotal role in supporting the HSE South West acute hospitals in implementing the recommendations and objectives of the National Surgical Site Surveillance Programme (AMRIC). Key actions identified in the Ireland’s Third One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (iNAP3) 2026-2030 and the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) Action Plan 2026-2030 is to develop and expand the SSI Surveillance Programme. In 2023, the European Point Prevalence Survey of Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) in Irish hospitals identified that the rate of Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) was 7.4% and that the third most prevalent HAI was SSI, at 13.6% (Health Protection Surveillance Centre, 2024).

The role will entail the management of other projects as assigned by the RDONM or DON. One of these projects is to assist with site implementation of the TrendCare system across acute hospitals in the HSE South West Region. TrendCare is being introduced on a phased basis across Model 4,3 and 2 hospitals to support the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix. TrendCare is a workforce planning management system, which identifies the nursing hours required per patient day by acuity, skill mix, nurse-to-patient ratios and patient allocation.

Purpose of the Post

The CNM3 will play a key role in providing clinical and professional leadership and promoting the values of the organisation, Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (AMRIC) and HIQA standards. The CNM3 will work with the DON, Safe and Effective Care, to continue the management of the SSIS programme and other projects in the HSE South West. In fulfilling the role, the CNM3 will work closely with multidisciplinary teams in the hospitals of the HSE South West and will be responsible for supporting on-going and future projects assigned.

The appointed person will:

· Continue the roll out the Surgical Site Surveillance Programme across the HSE South West using the applied methodology. The SSIS programme contributes to safe patient care through the prevention, surveillance, investigation, liaison, education, research and SSIS programme management.

· Lead the education and audit of the SSIS programme in the HSE South West.

· Continue the development and implementation of related Policy, Procedures and Guidelines (PPGs).

· Work closely with the multi-disciplinary team/s, evaluating the outcomes of SSIS and engaging in quality improvement initiatives.

· Implement the HSE AMRIC Action Plan 2026-2030, pertaining to SSIS.

· Support the roll out of future projects as deemed appropriate such as the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix including TrendCare

· Contribute to the overall development and progression of projects in terms of the project plan, timeframes, objectives, outcomes and key milestones.

Informal Enquiries

We welcome enquiries about the role.

Contact Sinead Horgan– Director of Nursing,Safe and Effective Care. sinead.horgan@hse.ie 086 7872138- for further information about the role

Contact Tamara Broderick- Recruitment Function, tamara.broderick@hse.ie – for enquiries relating to the recruitment process