The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Montana State Hospital. The Montana State Hospital (MSH) in Warm Springs provides inpatient psychiatric treatment for adults with serious mental illness. MSH is the only public psychiatric hospital in Montana that serves people admitted from communities across the state. The Infections Control Specialist reports to nursing and is trained in infection prevention and control principles and is responsible for the surveillance, analysis, interpretation and reporting of hospital acquired infections; educating employees about infection prevention and control; and the development of hospital policies and procedures to insure rigorous infection prevention and control standards that meet OSHA, Centres of Medicaid/Medicare Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and other nationally recognized recommendations and requirements. * * Why Join DPHHS * * Our mission at DPHHS is to serve Montanans in their communities to improve and protect the health, safety, and well-being, and to empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents. Why Join MSH * We are making a difference one life at a time. TheState of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience. Qualificationsfor this Career Opportunity* * * * Strong working knowledge of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection and sterilization practices, adult education principals, infectious disease, disease transmission, surveillance techniques, performance measurement and improvement principles, licensing standards and regulations. * Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to coach and motivate others to improve their knowledge and skills. * Ability to identify problems and research to develop and implement solutions. * Familiarity with CMS Conditions of Participation regarding infection prevention, hospital acquired infections and automatic stewardship. * Meet minimum qualifications: o Bachelors degree required in relevant field. o Masters degree in Public Health/preferred./ o 3 years relevant experience in an acute psychiatric hospital or similar environment required. o Must have or obtain Associate- Infection Prevention Control (a-IPC) certification within 1 year of hire. o Must have or obtain Certification in Infection Control (CIC) within 3 years of hire. o Other combinations of directly related education and experience nay be considered on a case-by-case basis. * * How to Apply To be considered for a DPHHS position, submit the following required documents with your application on the State of Montana Careers website. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploaded correctly to your application for this position. * Resume * References Successful applicants will be subject to background checks relevant to the position and must pass reference checks before an offer will be extended. DPHHS is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a copy of the full job description or if you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, contact DPHHS Human Resources listed below. Additional Information This position is open until filled with frequent screening of applicants. Title: Infection Control Specialist Location: Warm Springs Requisition ID: 24142910