Job summary
Support the care of patients undergoing operations under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or operating department practitioner and contribute to their ongoing care, working in varied clinical surgical teams.
This post is Band 3 on completion of the Care Certificate within 6 weeks and completion of relevant theatre support worker competencies within 6 months during which time the staff member will be paid at band 2.
Main duties of the job
Maintain patient confidentiality and dignity at all times.
Collection and check in of patients from ward to designated theatre including carrying out all relevant checks prior to leaving the ward, communicating in an appropriate manner and maintaining patient confidentiality.
Provide support and reassurance to patients throughout all stages of the perioperative journey
Preparation of the theatre department according to local policy.
Cleaning of theatres, anaesthetic rooms, floors, walls sluice areas and any other area that requires cleaning daily or as required.
Organise and prepare necessary equipment and supplements for operating lists in advance, this includes communication between departments, theatres to ensure smooth running of the operating list.
Ensure all areas within the operating department are clean and tidy, with adequate stock levels maintained and rotated
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Assist with transfer and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patient safely between all acute areas of the department and hospital.
Assisting theatre personnel in gowning and gloving following local policy.
Support registered theatre personnel by opening packs in a sterile fashion and using clinical knowledge and experience to anticipate the potential equipment needs as a surgical case progresses.
Perform swab, instrument and sharps counts with scrub practitioner as per national/local policy, ensuring continuous support during surgery, appropriately handing over to other personnel when required.
Measuring and recording fluid balance during surgery, including urinary output, irrigation fluids, setting up, monitoring usage and documenting. Weighing of swabs and calculating estimated blood loss together with suction/cell salvage/liquor amounts specific to the procedure and communicating concern appropriately.
Assist in receiving, handling, and dispatching clinical specimens, ensuring the correct transport medium and container are used. Confirm specimens are labelled correctly, carefully and safely under direction of scrub practitioner
Job description
Job responsibilities
Assist with transfer and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patient safely between all acute areas of the department and hospital.
Assisting theatre personnel in gowning and gloving following local policy.
Support registered theatre personnel by opening packs in a sterile fashion and using clinical knowledge and experience to anticipate the potential equipment needs as a surgical case progresses.
Perform swab, instrument and sharps counts with scrub practitioner as per national/local policy, ensuring continuous support during surgery, appropriately handing over to other personnel when required.
Measuring and recording fluid balance during surgery, including urinary output, irrigation fluids, setting up, monitoring usage and documenting. Weighing of swabs and calculating estimated blood loss together with suction/cell salvage/liquor amounts specific to the procedure and communicating concern appropriately.
Assist in receiving, handling, and dispatching clinical specimens, ensuring the correct transport medium and container are used. Confirm specimens are labelled correctly, carefully and safely under direction of scrub practitioner
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Level 1 qualification or equivalent in both Maths and English*. (*This should not prevent you from applying for this post, if you do not hold Level 1 and Maths and English or equivalent you may be required to undertake a 90 minute assessment and if successful you will be invited to interview).
Desirable
- Vocational qualification at Level 2 in Health, Health and Social Care or sector related subject area.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working / communicating with the general public.
- Able to understand the importance of how to apply Person Centred Values in the care environment: privacy, dignity, respect, active participation, equality, diversity, confidentiality.
- Demonstrates an awareness of the importance of keeping the clinical environment safe and clean.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare team environment
- Understanding of risk management and health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.
- Knowledge of the Data Protection Act
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Communication with a range of different people including service users, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Working in an effective team
- Demonstrates awareness of the 6C's, Trust values and Patients First Service Standards.
- Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- A genuine interest in kind and compassionate caring.
- Able to cope with exposure to unpleasant smells and bodily fluids.
- Able to deal with challenging situations.
- Able to relate to all people, valuing their individual traits that contribute to team working and the outcomes of care delivery.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Level 1 qualification or equivalent in both Maths and English*. (*This should not prevent you from applying for this post, if you do not hold Level 1 and Maths and English or equivalent you may be required to undertake a 90 minute assessment and if successful you will be invited to interview).
Desirable
- Vocational qualification at Level 2 in Health, Health and Social Care or sector related subject area.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working / communicating with the general public.
- Able to understand the importance of how to apply Person Centred Values in the care environment: privacy, dignity, respect, active participation, equality, diversity, confidentiality.
- Demonstrates an awareness of the importance of keeping the clinical environment safe and clean.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare team environment
- Understanding of risk management and health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.
- Knowledge of the Data Protection Act
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Communication with a range of different people including service users, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Working in an effective team
- Demonstrates awareness of the 6C's, Trust values and Patients First Service Standards.
- Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- A genuine interest in kind and compassionate caring.
- Able to cope with exposure to unpleasant smells and bodily fluids.
- Able to deal with challenging situations.
- Able to relate to all people, valuing their individual traits that contribute to team working and the outcomes of care delivery.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
