Theatre Assistant (Apprentice) in Wigan

Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust is looking for enthusiastic, proactive and motivated individuals to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) apprenticeship. If you enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team and have a keen interest in providing best quality care for patients and their relatives in the perioperative environment, this exciting career pathway may be for you.

This Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) apprenticeship is a work‑based nationally recognised qualification, delivered in partnership with Wigan & Leigh College. Apprentices will be employed by the Trust for the duration of this two‑year apprenticeship programme with work based learning and clinical assessment opportunities provided within the operating theatres and other care environments across the Trust. Theoretical delivery and assessment will take place on site at Wigan & Leigh College.

This is a fixed term post for 2 years during your training/education, which may result in a permanent position upon completion. Maths and English Functional Skills Level 1 / GCSE equivalent are a mandatory requirement. You will need to provide evidence of these qualifications at interview. If you are an internal candidate or employed by another NHS Trust, you must be able to obtain secondment approval from your current line manager.

Although this role is advertised as a temporary position, you may be offered a permanent Band 3 position on completion of the required qualification, subject to funding and business needs. This is a developmental role where the apprentice will work towards the successful completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) qualification.

The apprentice will develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies related to the role of a Theatre Assistant (Theatre Health Care Assistant) predominantly within operating theatres and through completion of the apprenticeship programme, will support the delivery of person‑centred perioperative care. You will learn a diverse set of skills and knowledge to support registered nurses and ODPs in the delivery of safe and effective perioperative care.

The Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) Apprenticeship allows you to combine work and clinical placement learning with formal study to achieve the required 20% off the job apprenticeship training. Upon successful completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (Perioperative Support) apprenticeship, apprentices will be able to apply for a permanent Theatre Assistant position within the Trust.

As a Theatre Assistant, you will be supported to further develop your skills and competencies. You will be employed as a member of the theatre team as an Apprentice Theatre Assistant on a 2‑year fixed term Band 2 contract and will be working predominantly in the perioperative environment.

At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind, we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Arrange for the transport and disposal of clinical, domestic, sensitive and confidential waste in accordance with Trust Policy.
• Assist with the preparation, identification, recording and dispatch of specimens from the theatre unit.
• Assist with the collection of blood and blood products.
• Participate in the management of supplies ensuring the theatre unit has sufficient levels of all essential supplies to meet service demands.
• Receive and dispatch sterile supplies ensuring SSDU to fulfil the needs of the service.
• Ensure that pharmacy stock items are received and stored in accordance with COSHH and Trust guidance; any imbalance in stock is reported and addressed.
• Maintain the cleaning/decontamination and checking of all patient trolleys including the additional oxygen and suction apparatus.
• Manage and maintain the stock of medical gas cylinders.
• Ensure that essential equipment is decontaminated and sterilised in line with Trust policy reporting any defects to the person in charge of the department at the time.
• Maintain the dignity and privacy of the patient and confidentiality in all matters concerning patients and their relatives.
• Act as a circulating member of the theatre team, following policies and procedures, for the counting, recording and checking of swabs, needles and instruments.
• Assist with the safe positioning and transferring of patients during the peri‑operative process.
• Participate in bone donation and retrieval process and ensure compliance with protocols and documentation.
• Ensure safe working practices are maintained and the use of protective clothing is adhered to.

Patient/Service User Related Tasks/Duties

• Assist in maintaining and monitoring cleaning standards within the clinical areas ensuring general fixtures/fittings and specialist equipment are cleaned in accordance with guidelines.
• Comply with the Trust's Infection Control Policy.
• Support the transfer of all necessary documentation related to the patient when escorting the patient to theatre.
• Ensure sensitivity in relation to the emotional, cultural and religious beliefs/needs of individual patients’ relatives and/or carers.
• Provide emotional, psychological and physical support to the patient throughout the patient journey in the operating department.
• Provide support to the patient in the Anaesthetic room and handover to the Anaesthetic Nurse as appropriate.
• Ensure the patient’s privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
• Support theatre practitioners in the preparation and use of complex technical equipment required during operative procedures.
• Assist registered personnel in carrying out ‘last offices’, in compliance with the Trust’s nursing procedure.

Responsibility for Communication / Information Resources

• Contribute to the updating of patient records, ensuring all entries are legible, accurate and completed within defined timescales.
• Display a pleasant and supportive manner when addressing patients, relatives, carers and colleagues alike.
• Maintain basic administration tasks, answering telephone when required and taking messages and passing on relevant information.
• Maintain effective communication skills when liaising with patients, staff and visitors, using tact and empathy to receive and pass on information ensuring confidentiality is maintained.
• Ensure records/information are kept in a safe place to maintain security and confidentiality of all records.
• Participate in and attend all relevant departmental meetings.
• Maintain accurate and timely records.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Adhere to Trust policies and maintenance of the professional Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrate compliance with the Trust's policies and procedures.

Responsibility for Research & Development

• Participate in the collection of data for analysis to support the future development of the perioperative services.
• Participate in the strategic development of the organisational perioperative services.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Contribute to the provision of a positive learning environment, sharing individual knowledge with other staff.
• Act as a role model and participate in the support during training of other Theatre Assistants who are new to post.
• Accept responsibility for self‑updating and awareness of changes in unit-based equipment particularly regarding the maintenance of specialist equipment and its decontamination/sterilisation processes.
• Participate in the appraisal process and have a personal development plan structured to meet the KSF outline for the post.
• Demonstrate commitment to personal development through work‑based programmes to enhance personal knowledge and skill.
• Support those developments, which contribute to the achievement of departmental, team and individual goals.
• Attend annual mandatory training updates in compliance with Trust policy.