Job summary
Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role thatoffers career progression?
Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust is looking for highlymotivated and suitably dedicated individuals to join our dynamic OperatingTheatre Team as a Theatre Support worker.We have opportunities to be based at The Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch,Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Kidderminster treatment centre. You may be asked to work across the trust atother sites if required. Whether you have experience or are looking tostart a career in the operating theatre, Worcestershire Acute could be the organisationfor you. Training will be provided andyou will learn extensive skills within an acute theatre environment.
You will see a wide range of surgical specialitiesincluding; Gynae and General Surgery including Oncology Surgery, Upper andlower GI, Maxilla-Facial and Oral Surgery, Urology, Trauma and Orthopaedics,Vascular, Day Surgery, ENT and Paediatric specialities.
We are lookingfor staff with energy, enthusiasm, commitment and drive, with a flexibleattitude to work and the ability to cope under pressure. Whatever your careeraspirations, we are committed to supporting and developing you.
Main duties of the job
1. This role provides vital support and assistance to the professionally qualified staff and will work under their direction and supervision to help in maintaining an environment conducive to the delivery and maintenance of a high standard of patient care
2. To assist the qualified staff in providing high quality nursing care, treatments and procedures directly to patients
3. To participate as a team member in a range of clinical and non-clinical tasks and responsibilities undertaken by theatre support workers
4. To guide and support less experienced theatre support workers, students and newly qualified theatre staff within the scope of their role of theatre support worker
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
5. Best services for local people
6. Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
7. Best use of resources
8. Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To ensure that all documentation is completed relevant to your role (eg: theatre records, specimen records, cleaning logs)
To support the work of the professional members of the team to prepare patients and the operating environment for, and assist with, clinical/therapeutic activities or treatments, investigations and proceduresTo report back to and share information with the relevant professionals regarding the condition, behaviour and responses of the patient
To facilitate effective communication with patients, relatives and carers, colleagues and other visitors to the department
To support patients/relatives in times of loss or distress referring to the appropriate professional as necessary
Assist in the transfer of patients to and from operating theatres
Assist in planning and delivering programmes of care to meet the needs of the perioperative patient
To assist with the personal care and comfort of the patients and to maintain the patients safety, dignity and privacy at all times
To assist in routine ordering of consumable equipment and support efficient stock rotation and avoidance of wasted resources
To manage and dispose of all waste in accordance with trust waste management policy
Assist in the care of theatre equipment, table fittings etc. reporting any faults to the team leader
To assist with the application of tourniquets and diathermy ground plates and other equipment accessories
To support the nursing and therapy team to monitor standards and achieve high quality performance
To respond appropriately to clinical emergencies to ensure the patient receives appropriate care
To receive and direct department visitors in a hospitable manner and in accordance with the departmental policy and manage the reception desk duties as required
To answer telephone calls, bleeps etc and to take messages informing appropriate persons of the call or bleep received
To act always in a manner which promotes positive working relationships and maintains the professional image of the trust
To assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean clinical environment to reduce the risk of infection
To report any incidents, accidents or complaints to your manager and the Datix system
To actively participate in unit meetings and training sessions
To comply with all trust policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment for patients and staff
Establish and maintain communication with people on routine and operational matters
General duties:
To adhere to the Trusts IT policies regarding email and internet usage
To ensure that all trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all whom come into contact with services provided by this trust
Every employee has a duty to take care of the health and safety of him / herself and of other persons who may be affected by his / her acts or omissions at work and to cooperate with the trust to ensure that statutory and trust regulations are complied with
To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed objectives
To participate in appropriate training and development activities and maintain a personal training record
To participate in team, professional and personal development activities and promote commitment to continuous service development and improvement
To participate in the review of mistakes, complaints and incidents / near misses as well as celebrating successes that have resulted in performance and clinical improvement
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
9. Basic standard of education including Maths and English Grade C GCSE or equivalent or willingness to complete Functional Skills Level 2 on appointment
10. Willingness to complete The Care certificate for healthcare workers
Desirable
11. Completed National Care Certificate for Healthcare workers.
Experience
Essential
12. Experience of working in a patient care setting or customer facing environment
13. Experience of working as part of a team
Desirable
14. Experience of shift working
15. Experience of working within the peri-operative setting
Knowledge and skills, Personal Qualities, Other Job Requirements
Essential
16. Good verbal, literacy and communication skills
17. Ability to maintain accurate and legible records
18. Computer literate (use of IT software packages Word, Email)
19. Good Interpersonal skills
20. Ability to work with a team
21. Self-confidence with an approachable persona
22. Self-awareness in assessing own knowledge, competence and boundaries
23. Excellent attendance and time keeping
24. Willing to work across hospital sites within scope of practice as and when required
25. Able to work and cope with rotating shift patterns - early, late, night shifts over seven days of the week and on-call as necessary
Desirable
26. Understanding of manual handling practices and policies
27. Awareness of Health and Safety
28. Ability to identify own personal development needs
29. Ability to adapt to new situations
Experience
Essential
30. Experience of working in a patient care setting or customer facing environment
31. Experience of working as part of a team
Desirable
32. Experience of shift working
33. Experience of working within the peri-operative setting