Job summary
Wirral University Teaching Hospital is proud and excited to be the Cheshire and South Mersey Elective hub for elective recovery. Our development on our Clatterbridge Hospital site over the next 10 months will see commissioning of 4 operating theatres, a 35 bedded phased recovery unit and associated inpatient beds. Clatterbridge Hospital currently has 6 operating theatres and a minor procedure room within the Perioperative Medicine Directorate. Operating theatres are managed with the Directorate of Perioperative Medicine. The directorate has over 440 staff and supports services including:
- Pre-operative Assessment
- Surgical Elective Admissions Lounge (SEAL) at the Arrowe Park Hospital site
- Acute & Chronic Pain services
- Operating Theatres
- 3 Phase recovery
- Clatterbridge Hospital (CGH) Day Ward
- Department of Anaesthesia
- Sterile Services Department
- Surgical Inpatient Ward (M2) CGH Site.
Development of the South Mersey Elective Hub is underway and we are looking at the first wave of activity commencing soon.
This is an exciting development on the site and to support delivery, we are looking for motivated, innovative, and patient focused staff to join our amazing team. We have a dynamic plan to support regional activity in specialisms such as Orthopaedics, Breast, General Surgery, Plastics, and Urology with future developments including a robot to support urology cancer delivery on site.
We will consider a trainee surgical first assistant if trainee criteria and experience are met
Interviews will be held on the 8th March 2024
Main duties of the job
The role of the surgical first assistant is to provide skilled surgical assistance throughout the perioperative journey of our patients . Working as part of the perioperative multi disciplinary team the surgical first assistant under the direction of senior medical teams and perioperative leaders will provide optimal surgical assistance across a number of specialisms to the highest standards of care.
We are looking for a qualified Surgical first assistant to support delivery of patient care, and welcome applications from existing perioperative practitioners (Nurse and ODP ) who are looking to develop into surgical first assistants. This role will cover surgical assisting in :
Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Urology, Breast & Plastic Surgery
There will be cross site expectation - APH & CGH
About us
All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.
We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.
We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.
The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We can support practitioners to gain the skills they need to develop both their leadership and clinical journeys. We are able to offer you education and training (role specific) in
- Advanced Life Support
- Paediatric Life Support
- Post registration Degree pathways in:
- Healthcare leadership and management
- Perioperative care of the patient
- Care Certification
- Quality Assessment Framework in clinical support activities
- Modern Apprentices - both registered and unregistered
- Masters Level education (course dependent)
- Mentorship
- Preceptorship
The successful candidate will be supported into their new role with a preceptorship pack for new starters, a period of supervised practice for registered practitioners and a local training programme for all staff who start within perioperative medicine. The directorate is supported by a dedicated perioperative education team who will provide induction, guidance, and support during your career at WUTH.
For further information about the Surgical First Assistant role available with WUTH, please see Job overview & attached Job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We can support practitioners to gain the skills they need to develop both their leadership and clinical journeys. We are able to offer you education and training (role specific) in
- Advanced Life Support
- Paediatric Life Support
- Post registration Degree pathways in:
- Healthcare leadership and management
- Perioperative care of the patient
- Care Certification
- Quality Assessment Framework in clinical support activities
- Modern Apprentices - both registered and unregistered
- Masters Level education (course dependent)
- Mentorship
- Preceptorship
The successful candidate will be supported into their new role with a preceptorship pack for new starters, a period of supervised practice for registered practitioners and a local training programme for all staff who start within perioperative medicine. The directorate is supported by a dedicated perioperative education team who will provide induction, guidance, and support during your career at WUTH.
For further information about the Surgical First Assistant role available with WUTH, please see Job overview & attached Job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Registered General Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner
- Surgical First Assistant Course (Part 1, 2 & Enhanced Surgical Skills Course)
- Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Mentorship - Leadership Course
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Substantial years post registration experience in Surgical environment
- Advanced clinical knowledge in field of General Surgery
- Knowledge of legal and ethical issues surrounding extended roles
- Knowledge of change management
- Excellent clinical skills
- Presentation skills
- Ability to research outcomes to Clinical and Surgical problems
- Ability to assist in facilitating a learning environment conductive to the acquisition of further knowledge and skills
- Ability to share knowledge and expertise with other areas
Desirable
- Clinical supervision and clinical education experience
- Knowledge of strategic issues which influence area of practice at a local/national level
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Leadership and management skills
- Ability to contribute to the development of teaching strategies appropriate to the learning needs of junior medical staff/colleagues
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to prioritise effectively
- Ability to work as autonomously using own initiative, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to identify own learning needs and professional development in liaison with SCP/Directorate Manager
- Excellent problem solving/conflict resolution skills
- Flexible approach to working pattern
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Registered General Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner
- Surgical First Assistant Course (Part 1, 2 & Enhanced Surgical Skills Course)
- Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Mentorship - Leadership Course
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Substantial years post registration experience in Surgical environment
- Advanced clinical knowledge in field of General Surgery
- Knowledge of legal and ethical issues surrounding extended roles
- Knowledge of change management
- Excellent clinical skills
- Presentation skills
- Ability to research outcomes to Clinical and Surgical problems
- Ability to assist in facilitating a learning environment conductive to the acquisition of further knowledge and skills
- Ability to share knowledge and expertise with other areas
Desirable
- Clinical supervision and clinical education experience
- Knowledge of strategic issues which influence area of practice at a local/national level
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Leadership and management skills
- Ability to contribute to the development of teaching strategies appropriate to the learning needs of junior medical staff/colleagues
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to prioritise effectively
- Ability to work as autonomously using own initiative, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to identify own learning needs and professional development in liaison with SCP/Directorate Manager
- Excellent problem solving/conflict resolution skills
- Flexible approach to working pattern
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
