Theatre Support Practitioner Development Post

+ Deliver a high standard of clinical care in accordance with trainings and instructions received within the theatre environment by maintaining and developing clinical competence through Continual Professional Development by taking part in review, audits, mandatory and service specific training, peer supervision, reflective practice and clinical supervision.
+ To provide support and assistance in patient care, under the supervision and support of the registered practitioners within the operating theatres department.
+ Carry out assigned duties in the maintenance of a safe, clean and orderly environment within the department.
+ Respect the diversity of individual service users and colleagues ensuring that the maintenance of their dignity and respect for them is an integral part of all activities undertaken.
+ To play a role in the continuous development of the Trust by participating in a range of Trust quality/process improvement projects., The successful applicant will contribute to the maintenance of a safe and clean environment under supervision from qualified staff, providing support and assistance in preparing operating theatres and partaking in the circulating practitioner role for the duration of cardiac, thoracic and transplant cases. A high level of skill; concentration; anticipation; attention to detail regarding surgical counts and documentation; and awareness of and consideration for the sterile field, is required at all times. Ordering, distribution and trouble-shooting of stock, including company liaison; safe transfer of patients, ensuring privacy and dignity; assisting with the cleaning and provision of equipment; removal of theatre rubbish; delivery of items; offering support in the Pt Reception; providing AL cover for housekeeper; and fulfilling extensive duties surrounding the management of our outsourced scope and instrumentation decontamination program., Accountable to: Senior Clinical Leads, Theatre Manager
+ Main tasks and responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities and Care Management
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o To contribute to the delivery of care and treatment of the patient whilst in the operating theatre by upholding patient safety, well-being, privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.
o To work as rostered/allocated full-time hours, over a 6-day working period, that includes Saturdays. Potential for Sunday working in the future, if required.
o Under the supervision of a Registered Theatre Practitioner, provide clinical skills during routine elective as well as emergency setting within the remit of the role.
o To respond and assist the Registered Theatre Practitioner in attending emergency and urgent procedures in ITU and other units that may include Bronchoscopy and Tracheostomy.
o Participate in the safety check of all emergency trolley in different units; making sure it is correctly stocked, and items/sets have not expired.
o Maintain standards of Infection Prevention and Control measures by observing the Trust Infection Prevention and Control Policy.
o Prepare the Operating Theatre for scheduled operations, ensuring all equipment is in full working order and the room arranged in accordance to the procedures for the day.
o Actively participate in the Instrument, Swab and Sharps counts; documenting and signing the count sheet with the Scrub Practitioner in accordance with the Trust Policy and be involved in the investigations of discrepancies.
o Provide a high standard of clinical care to different care settings within the scope of the role.
o Pro-active in taking responsibility in managing own workload with minimal support and direction.
o Maintain and develop clinical competence through Continual Professional Development, service specific training, peer supervision, reflective practice and clinical supervision.
o Respect individual service user and colleague diversity by ensuring their dignity and your appreciation for them is an inherent part of the team and the activities undertaken.
o Responsible for the maintenance of optimum patient-centred care through reflective and evidence-based practice and active participation in Clinical Governance.
o Receive and label specimens received from the scrub practitioner aseptically; prepare the required specimen forms to be completed by the Operating Surgeon.
o Liaise effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues, healthcare staff across the Trust and appropriate contacts in other organization.
o Participate in team meetings, team development, and service improvement as required.
o Manage the Endoscopy Suite; maintaining that correct stock of scopes is available for the day; and report faults to the relevant department.
o Support and assist in the supervision, assessment and mentoring of Junior Theatre Support Practitioners and other unregistered staff; assist in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment.
o Report Incidents and risk according to Trust policies and procedures and be involved in the investigation as required.
o Collect blood and blood products from Haematology; responsible for checking, signing and safe storage in the blood fridge.
o Maintain accurate recording of patient care electronically and maintain confidentiality and security of patient information according to the Data Protection Act.
o Act as an excellent role model by practicing in a safe and effective manner at all times. This will include recognising and either directly challenging or seeking support to challenge any poor practice observed.
o Transport specimens to the Pathology Laboratory safely including frozen sections during procedures.
o Responsible for the receipt, storage and distribution of sterile packs delivered by the sterile contractor, monitoring their use while on Trust premises and preparing the used instruments for collection by the Sterile Services Contractor. Recording and reporting anomalies in the manner prescribed in the Decontamination Services Agreement.
o Dispose of clinical waste safely and appropriately in line with Trust policy.
o Deal safely and effectively, in accordance with Trust policy, with exposure to hazards and highly unpleasant working conditions and contact with body fluids using Incident Reporting system to report any incidents or near misses.
o Follow the Local and Organizational Trust Policies and procedures and comply with the use of the WHO documentation.
o Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills in relation to the procedures being undertaken.
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o Communication
o Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills which promotes respect, kindness, compassion, empathy and mindfulness to all patients, carers, colleagues and visitors in the workplace and wider organisation.
o Communicate effectively and appropriately with the wide range of individuals including patients, staff members, visitors and other external staff to the Trust whilst being mindful of any barriers in communication.
o Communicate effectively complex and sensitive information to other healthcare professionals in an appropriate manner.
o Ensure clear, concise, accurate, legible and contemporaneous records related to patients and care given is maintained at all times and is in line with the Trust and Local Policy which also include the use of electronic recording systems.
o Respond appropriately to patient queries from visitors, ensuring confidentiality maintained at all times, referring complex/sensitive requests to registered practitioners as required.
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o Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)
o Communicate with patients and their carers using tact, diplomacy, empathy and reassurance during potentially difficult or stressful situation where there maybe barriers to understanding, ie. confusion, physical impairment, cognitive failure or language barrier.
o Use a range of communication strategies to improve communication with patients in order to reduce conflict and complaints.
o Demonstrate an excellent manner when answering the telephone and taking messages when required. Make sure that confidential information about the patient is relayed to the relevant staff.
o Be presentable at all times adhering to the Trust dress code policy.
o Provide a safe and secure environment for patients, taking into consideration vulnerable patients.
o Act as a patient advocate whilst in the peri-operative setting.
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o Policy & Service development
o Participate in the implementation of Trust and Local policy in the department.
o Support Team Leaders with Audits and surveys as identified.
o Participate in Service improvement projects as well as equipment testings etc.
o Assist in the monitoring of clinical standards in line with the Trust policy and procedures.
o Maintain, update and develop personal and professional knowledge and skills, enabling standards of patient care to be constantly monitored and improved.
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o Resource management
o Lead in managing Theatre stocks and supplies levels, liaising with relevant departments as well as communicating with suppliers.
o Lead in the cost-effective management of stocks, being ordered, by comparing products that are available in the market.
o Share ideas and up to date practice with colleagues to improve care and suggest ideas for innovation.
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o People management
o Support and supervise Junior members of the team ensuring all work is of high quality and evidence based.
o Support junior members of the team who are undertaking education and training programmes ie. student nurses/ODP's.
o Supervise and teach new theatre staff as well as staff from other units about the management of endoscopes, pre and post procedure.
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o Information management
+ To ensure that accurate/comprehensive clinical data is collected and entered into the theatre management system to allow accurate reports to be maintained.
+ To have an active intranet/email account and act as role model for others.
+ Participate in the collection of audit and research data as required.
+ Use the Trust internet to enhance care and for professional development.
+ Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place and under development.
+ Following Trust/local guidelines to access results from electronic
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o Research and development
o Support research being conducted in the department by participating in the implementation process.
Further sections
+ To ensure all team members have a real voice in the development of the Theatre service to patients/customers.
+ Support Team Leaders with the Trust appraisals and personal development review process for junior members of staff.
+ To provide a safe and attractive working environment for team members within available resources.
+ To attend and play a part in corporate groups as a representative of the directorate and team to represent the Trust at regional and national conferences and on working groups as appropriate.
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o To abide by the Trust's Core behaviours for staff and all other Trust policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.
Other duties
This job description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.
For further details / informal visits contact:
Name
Joseph Viana

Previous experience is desirable but not essential - training is provided. Shifts are 10 hrs in length, and start at either 0700, 0730 or 1000 hrs. They cover a 6-day period, including Saturdays.

Guy's and St Thomas' is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Guy's is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas' has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children's Hospital.
Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.
Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.
In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King's Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King's College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of 'good'. Our adult community services achieved a rating of 'outstanding'.
The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS., On 1st February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals became part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust - a truly once-in a generation development. Together, we are taking our first steps towards our vision of creating a brand-new centre of excellence, which will be the global leader in the research into and treatment of heart and lung disease in patients from pre-birth to old age. We are developing some exciting plans and we want you to join us - so come and help to change the shape of healthcare for our heart and lung patients world-wide. Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals are the largest heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We are a partnership of two specialist hospitals which are known throughout the world for their expertise, standard of care and research success. We are passionate about what we do and the patients we serve. We are an equal opportunities employer and our patients are rich
in diversity. We recruit to ensure we build a similarly diverse mix across our workforce. We are a values led organisation and we are rightly proud of our world class reputation and our people. The CQC visited the trust in October 2018 and our Surgical Directorate was rated as outstanding. Our priority is to deliver excellent patient care and we are proud that the CQC has recognised our services and awarded us this rating., Guy's and St Thomas' celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study's at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.
Flexible working
We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual's personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.
Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.
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