Health Care Assistant - Theatres in London

The Health Care Assistant in Operating Theatres will work clinically as a key part of the specialty team. They will work under the direct supervision of the Registered practitioners and will have responsibility for ensuring the provision of equipment and stock for the day to running of the theatre lists. The post holder will also perform the circulating role. You will be responsible for the provision of high quality care and a safe environment for patients under the supervision of a registered practitioner as well as support the Team Leader in ensuring the provision of physical resources in the delivery of clinical care.

Main Duties of the Job

• Ensure that all departmental policies, procedures and guidelines are adhered to.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanour.
• Uphold the Trust’s values and behaviours and behave in a manner befitting the leadership role, maintaining public and colleague confidence.
• Maintain professional and courteous working relationships with staff and respect the equality and diversity of each and every person he/she comes into contact with.
• Uphold the privacy and dignity of the patient and respect the equality of patients at all times.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (including high‑cost area supplement)
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
• 24/7 independent counselling support
• Career‑long learning and development opportunities
• Excellent transport connections
• Access to NHS and Blue Light discount schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure that equipment is available and in good working order being mindful of specialty specific requirements, highlighting any deficits in a timely manner to the Team Leader.
• Take responsibility for the delegated tasks including maintaining stock levels of specialist items associated with their specialty.
• Ensure the safer surgery checklist principles are adhered to, and be mindful of their role within it. Escalate immediately to the Team Leader any concerns they may have regarding any aspect of patient safety.
• Develop and maintain electronic records for the provision of stock and the use of implants to ensure adequate traceability.
• Contribute to the delivery of high quality evidence‑based care.
• Work to deliver a customer‑focused culture acting as a role model.
• Participate as a member of the theatre team as circulator in surgical procedures and carrying out safety checks with regards to swabs, instruments and needles working as the second checker.
• Prepare, and make ready for use all equipment and instrument trays required for surgical procedures.
• Working as delegated by the registered practitioner ensure the correct care, labelling and dispatch of laboratory specimens according to Trust and local policies.
• Ensure written records are accurate and legible, enter data into theatre IT system, taking action in situations where the quality of the data may be affected.
• Maintain personal contact with patients, relatives and visitors – being sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy and ensuring an appropriate professional environment at all times.
• Foster effective and efficient working relationships across the multidisciplinary team.
• Take the lead in ensuring that specialist equipment is available for use within the speciality, working with the procurement and supplies team to ensure their timely delivery to the department.
• Ensure that equipment requirements are planned and that equipment is used flexibly to ensure effective service provision across all specialities, highlighting any deficiencies immediately to the Team Leader.
• Take responsibility for the delegated tasks including maintaining stock levels of specialist items associated with their speciality.
• Ensure the correct cleaning of clinical equipment.
• Work with the Team Leaders to ensure new staff receive an adequate orientation to the department.
• Work to develop and maintain new skills including the application of monitoring, warming blankets and anti‑embolism devices.
• Support in the transfer of patients from trolley / wheelchair to table and back.
• Support the anaesthetic and recovery practitioners in the performance of clinical observations.
• Under the delegated authority of a registered professional; collect patients from the ward, deliver them to recovery and/or the ward post procedure.
• Work as second checker during surgical counts.
• Contribute to all Departmental meetings.
• Attend speciality meetings if appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

• Essential Criteria: Knowledge of how an operating department works and the roles and responsibilities of all team members.
• Desirable Criteria: Previous experience in healthcare or operating theatre support is preferred.

Skills

• Essential Criteria: Computer skills. Able to work and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team setting. Evidence of good communication skills including verbal, non‑verbal and written.

Education / Qualifications

• Essential Criteria: GCSE in Maths and English or demonstrable ability. NVQ Level 2. Care Certificate.
• Desirable Criteria: Working towards NVQ Level 3.

Due to the nature of this position, employment is subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK, completion of a satisfactory DBS disclosure and two references. We do not offer visa sponsorship for roles unless clearly stated in our adverts, so please consider this before applying.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our organisational culture. As part of our pledge to take positive action in recruitment we encourage applications from under‑represented candidates including BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) and Disabled candidates as we work towards a representative workforce that is able to provide the quality, the dignity and respect and to deliver above and beyond.

Moorfields is a flexible‑working friend organisation, and we are committed to helping our employees achieve a work‑life balance that is beneficial for health and wellbeing, motivation levels and job satisfaction. Every employee of the Trust has the right to request to work flexibly. Please speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.