Job overview
The Lead Theatre Practitioner - Orthopaedics forms part of the new Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre team at Maidstone Hospital. Over 200 new posts will support the new Centre, which is part of a national scheme to deliver more than 50 new surgical hubs across England. The new Centre will open in spring 2024 and treat patients from across the region, increasing the Trust’s capacity for planned surgical procedures.
The Centre will contain the latest novel open plan laminar flow theatres; open-plan surgical areas where up to three patients are treated in a dedicated space with a specialised air canopy over each station to prevent the spread of infection. The new facility will also include a 14-bed inpatient ward and a 10-bed day case ward, with recovery, x-ray and therapy space, all within a dedicated elective building.
The Centre will expand orthopaedic surgical capacity across Kent and Medway, playing an important part in elective recovery and the reduction of patient waiting times across the region.
Main duties of the job
You will be leading the team, working closely with management and other healthcare professionals, as well as supervising, supporting and developing junior staff, encouraging the delivery of high-quality care and experiences to patients.
The Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre will work alongside our existing services to provide care. Our amazing Maidstone Orthopaedic Centre (MOU) and Maidstone Short Stay Unit (MSSU) will all continue.
We're looking for an experienced Theatre Practitioner to be part of the senior team leading Registered Theatre Practitioners and Support Workers and you will also work closely with surgical teams to deliver high quality patient care. You should demonstrate the ability to work unsupervised, work well under pressure and be experienced in change management. You will be expected to work within the person specification of a band 7 healthcare professional.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for a more detailed overview of the duties of the role.
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible
Working for our organisation
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This post forms part of the new Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre team at Maidstone Hospital. Over 200 new posts will support the new Centre, which is part of a national scheme to deliver more than 50 new surgical hubs across England. The new Centre will open in spring 2024 and treat patients from across the region, increasing the Trust’s capacity for planned surgical procedures.
The Centre will contain the latest novel open plan laminar flow theatres; open-plan surgical areas where up to three patients are treated in a dedicated space with a specialised air canopy over each station to prevent the spread of infection. The new facility will also include a 14-bed inpatient ward and a 10-bed day case ward, with recovery, x-ray and therapy space, all within a dedicated elective building.
The Centre will expand orthopaedic surgical capacity across Kent and Medway, playing an important part in elective recovery and the reduction of patient waiting times across the region.
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. RN Part 1 or 2/RSCN part 8 or 15 C&G 752/ODP NVQ level 3 Diploma/Degree
2. Relevant specialist Course (183/176/100)
3. Or ODP Level III Diploma/Degree, evidence of CPD
4. Preparation for mentors (998) or C&G Educated to degree level.
5. Demonstrate experience in teaching in the clinical setting and/or University/College
6. 752/ODP NVQ level 3 Diploma/Degree Relevant specialist Course
Desirable criteria
7. First assistance course
8. Leadership Course
9. Front line management course
10. Working towards Masters
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. Post registration experience, including at band 6 Grade or equivalent
12. Change Management
13. Demonstrate evidence based practice
14. Facilitation of learning environment.
15. Risk Management
16. Audit & research
17. Clinical Governance
18. Current NHS Issues
19. Orthopaedic Theatre Experience
Desirable criteria
20. Recruitment & selection under undertaking IPR
21. Evidence of involvement in change resulting from research
22. Budgetary Control
23. Evidence of advanced practice in theatre practice
Skills
Essential criteria
24. Effective communication skills
25. Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills
26. Ability to organise people and staff to ensure the service within area of responsibility is delivered to required standards and targets
27. Able to motivate and gain commitment from others
28. Able to analyse future requirements and plan and implement a strategic course of action
29. Ability to provide written material eg reports
30. Ability to effectively manage resources; people, finance and facilities to maintain and improve services
Desirable criteria
31. Clinical expertise and clinical teaching skills
32. Organisational and administrative skills
33. IT skills and ability to access and utilise web-based resources
34. Demonstrate innovative, flexible approaches to problem solving
35. Be open to new ideas