Experiences of an aged care Infection Prevention and Control Community of Practice (IPC CoP)

Robyn Smith¹, Joanne Tropea^1,2, Sanne Peters², Lyn-li Lim², Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh³, Kirsty Buising^1,2, Kwang Lim^1,2, Noleen Bennett^1,2

¹University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC 3050, robyn.smith@unimelb.edu.au, ²Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, ³La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083

Abstract:

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Lead role is a Commonwealth government initiative, introduced into residential aged care (RAC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

IPC Leads are registered or enrolled nurses with additional IPC foundation training.  Training was Commonwealth supported, with funded backfill and study leave.  Each RAC home must employ at least one IPC Lead, with training now being an organisational responsibility.  There is no standard position description for IPC Leads, and these varied roles encompass a breadth of activities intended to foster IPC best practices.

IPC Leads work in challenging RAC environments, often with limited ongoing support or training.  Our project aims to facilitate evidence informed IPC practice improvement and is piloting an IPC Leads Community of Practice (CoP) as a strategy for peer support, collaborative learning, problem solving and resource sharing.  We used a co-design approach, informed by research evidence, social learning and implementation science theories.

This presentation offers a brief project and CoP overview and reflects on the first six months of operation, involving IPC Leads from 20 Victorian RACHs.  It will be of interest to those interested in aged care workforce, staff learning, peer support, and evidence-informed practice improvement.