Surgical Care Practitioners

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

• Surgical Care Practitioners are registered non-medical healthcare professionals who have extended the scope of their practice by completing an accredited training program. They work as members of the surgical team and perform surgical interventions and post-operative care under the supervision of a senior surgeon.
• Overall, the individuals will form part of a new formed SCP team and will work as a member of the cardiac surgical team providing the highest level of patient care alongside the consultant cardiac surgeons at Kings College Hospital.
• The post holders must possess advanced knowledge of a range of surgical procedures and demonstrate evidence of current practice and theory in the field.
• The post holders will develop a strong working relationship with each consultant and be able to fully anticipate and assist according to their individual working style, ensuring their requirements to work at the highest standard are met.
• The post holders will always be under the supervision of the consultant surgeon who has overall responsibility for the surgical care received by the patient.
• The post holders will provide advanced surgical and anatomical knowledge, skills, for the department.
• The role combines clinical expertise, educational, research and audit skills with and professional responsibilities. The post holders are predominantly concerned with ensuring the delivery of the highest standard of patient care, assisting the surgeon in maintaining a clear and safe surgical field. The post holders will demonstrate an advanced level of evidence-based theory and practice, with a proven record of clinical decision-making and autonomy. The post holders will be able to work to deadlines. The post holders will be accessible and visible to staff, patients and visitors.
• The post holders will be involved in training and teaching skills to team members including junior surgical trainees.
• The post holders will take responsibility for the standard of the environment within his/her identified area of responsibility, ensuring patients needs are met and staff maintain cleanliness as defined by national standards. The post holders will ensure that good infection control practice and high standards of nursing care are given.
• The post holders will at all times act as an advocate for patients.
• The role demands a flexible approach to working with a variety of shifts required, which may in the future include on-call and weekend shifts.

Seniority:

The post holders are directly responsible to: the lead SCP and consultant cardiothoracic surgeons

• The post holder holds seniority for:
  • Trainee SCPs assigned under their direct supervision
  • Students when assigned under their direct supervision

Specific tasks of the Surgical Care Practitioners

• Actively participate in surgical procedures at the direction of the consultant cardiac surgeon.
• Act as first assistant as required, as directed by the supervising surgeon
• Acquire, develop and maintain advanced knowledge and expertise within a specialist area.
• Ensure clear, detailed and regular communication within the department and to other departments as required.
• Be wholly accountable for ones own practice.
• Understand and recognise legal implications and competence levels regarding the SCP lead and as first assistant to the Surgeon
• Anticipate the consultant surgeons requirements before and during the procedure.
• Monitoring of relevant data during procedures such as the database for cardiac surgery
• Ensure the labelling of specimens is correct and documented as per policy.
• Maintain accurate surgical patient records.
• Assist other team members to participate in the safe transferring and positioning of the patient.
• Assist during emergency situations within appropriate level of training
• Ensure faulty equipment is isolated from use, using the appropriate label, and report to a responsible person
• Take universal and (self-) hygiene precautions to minimize the risk of infections to the patient, the surgical team, and other staff in any clinical procedures and areas
• Actively participate in the pre-operative team brief and ensure that this is documented accordingly.
• Ensure team and consultant compliance with the WHO check list and time out before surgery.
• Ensure the safe and confidential transit of patient notes from the operating theatre to other departments.
• Maintain & monitor legibility and accuracy of nursing records and be aware of the legal implications of these documents.
• Document any incidents within quality and safety systems. Actively participate in the investigation and management of reported incidents.
• Support relevant pre, peri and post procedural data capture for cardiothoracic surgery
• Support efforts to ensure the complete and accurate data capture for the relevant NICOR registries on our local PATS databases (Adult Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgery)
• Under the supervision of the lead SCP, support the work of the Cardiac Audit Leads in ensuring appropriate data validation and audits are carried out regularly, by taking part in data validation meetings and discussions
• Ensure complaints are managed effectively and in a timely manner.
• Maintain a continuing personal development (CPD) portfolio.
• Liaise with other hospitals and observe potential new procedures and practices.
• Ensure a clean, tidy and risk free workplace.
• The post holders are expected to work flexibly with future varying shift patterns (nights/days/weekends/on calls) and is expected to work full-time
• This job description is a general guide to the scope of the post but is not exhaustive and may change in line with the needs of the department or at the request of the consultant cardiothoracic surgeon.

Experience

Essential

• oCurrent registration with Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Profession Council.
• oA minimum of 4 years Surgical Care Practitioner experience
• oQualified Surgical Care Practitioner
• oSpecialist knowledge underpinned by degree and postgraduate level training

Desirable

• oExperience managing and training clinical teams
• oExperience organising an educational development programme for SCP's o

Knowledge

Essential

• oEvidence of current theory and practice relating to cardiac surgery
• oUnderstanding and managing Clinical risk/governance issues
• oDemonstrates role model qualities
• oExperience and understanding of clinical audit/research.

Desirable

• oResearch literate
• oData protection knowledge

Skills

Essential

• oFirst assisting skills
• oAuditing skills
• oGood communication and delegation skills
• oIT literacy
• oSupervisory skills
• oRadial harvest

Desirable

• oEVH trained
• oLeading small projects
• oConflict resolution
• oAbility to integrate national guidelines/policies into local policies and practice.
• oDisciplinary skills

Qualifications

Essential

• oSurgical Care Practitioner

Desirable

• oManagement course/qualification
• oMSc and/or other qualifications RSCeng SCP exam

Personal Attributes

Essential

• oGood time management skills
• oAble to work under pressure
• oExcellent communication skills including verbal, non-verbal and written.
• oAbility to communicate with all members of the multidisciplinary team, relatives and patients.
• oEvidence of excellent documentation and record keeping skills.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).