Band 6 Operating Theatre Practitioner

The post holder will be responsible for the routine daily planning and organisation of the allocated theatre, for clinical procedures and practice and participate in the department’s administration as required. The post holder will be responsible for the assessment of care needs, the development of programmes of care and their implementation and evaluation. The post holder will be a qualified nurse/ODP and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council/AODP with an up-to-date PIN number. The post holder is also expected to carry out all relevant forms of care without direct supervision, and will be required to demonstrate procedures to, and supervise qualified and unqualified staff. The post holder will contribute to the overall good of the organisation by being a positive role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with courtesy. The post holder will undertake rotation across the specialities to cover the service where acquired skills allow.

Main duties of the job:

• Exercise professional accountability as guided by the NMC Code of Conduct (nurses)/ Association of Operating Practitioners Scope of Practice/Code of Conduct.
• Act as an effective role model.
• Ensure that nursing procedures and policies are followed.
• Take charge of the theatre room in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.
• Assist in maintaining the correct environment for teaching junior nurses, trainee ODP’s and learner nurses and be aware of post registration course requirements.
• Monitor and maintain the quality of nursing activities and achieve the prescribed standards of nursing/ODP care set for the department.
• Providing assistance to the surgeon/anaesthetist/nursing/ODP colleagues as required.
• Acting as member of the surgical scrub team either as a scrub or circulating practitioner (Theatre nurse/ODP).
• Carry out nursing care to the highest possible standard according to Trust Policies and Practice and Clinical Guidelines.

This requires a thorough understanding of policies and guidance related to, for example, infection control, hygiene and individualised patient needs.

Working for our organisation:

The Whittington Hospital has been rated twentieth in the second annual Healthcare 100 awards, which recognises top employers in healthcare. We pride ourselves in forward thinking and encouraging our staff to develop by extending the role of the theatre practitioner. If you are an experienced Theatre Nurse, we are offering a Band 6 Senior Theatre Practitioner position within our busy suites. We have 6 Main Theatres and 4 Day Treatment Centre Theatres specialising in Orthopaedics and Trauma, Bariatric, General, Colorectal, Breast surgery, Urology, Vascular, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. You will need to deliver a holistic care approach that is current, evidence based and effective. You must have a broad knowledge and skill base including communication and team working skills, in order that you contribute to the smooth running of the theatre department. We are committed to ongoing professional development and opportunities for you to undertake a wide range of in-house and university-based training programme.

To be a fit for this role, you must hold the appropriate qualifications as current registered practitioner RGN/ODP and has demonstrated evidence of continuing professional development. You must hold an Advance Theatre Practitioner and a Mentorship course.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

A detailed Job Description and Person Specification are attached to guide applicants and recruitment team with the longlisting and shortlisting of candidates.

Person specification:

• Education / Qualification: RGN/RN or Diploma / Degree in Operating Department Practitioner. Proof of Registration with NMC (nurses)/ Health & Care Professions Council (ODP’s). Essential to have undertaken a mentorship course. Relevant experience working within theatres as a scrub practitioner. ENB 998 or recognised equivalent.
• Skills and Abilities: Able to work without clinical supervision. Ability to line manage staff in the absence of line manager. Essential leadership role skills. Able to work as a team member. Able to manage learners. Good verbal and written communication skills. Prioritisation skills. Competence on a range of skills and any additional training undertaken. Good knowledge of all specialties.
• Knowledge and Experience: NMC Code of Professional Conduct/ HCPC. Knowledge of a range of surgical procedures. Current nursing/operating department research and developments. Evidence based practice in theatres. Knowledge of audit process.
• Personal Qualities: Good communication skills with patients and colleagues of all disciplines. Flexible and willing to rotate to all areas. Flexible to meet the changing needs of the service. Able to work under pressure. Able to deal with stress. Enthusiastic and motivated.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS:

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Your application form:

Provide only business email address for your referees – we are unable to request references from yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail accounts. Make sure you to include all evidence of where you meet the essential requirement on the jobs description as this forms the base of our shortlisting criteria.

Our processes:

Closing dates are given as a guide; we are within our right to close adverts early so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid delay. If you do not hear from us up to 3 weeks after the closing date of the job unfortunately this means you have not been successfully shortlisted for interview. If you require feedback on your application please contact the appointing manager detailed in the body of the advert. Please check your emails regularly as all correspondence from us will be via trac.systems – occasionally these emails will go into your Junk folder.

Employment at Whittington Health is offered subject to successful completion of a 6 month probationary period for all staff with the exception of GMC Registered Doctors.

Other important information:

You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom or meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship, and these will be considered alongside all other applications. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role meet the eligibility requirements under the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points-based system to avoid disappointment. Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.

In submitting an application form, you authorise Whittington Health NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a "selfie" using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating.

Please note that during the recruitment process your Identity Documentation (i.e. passport, driving licence, visa, etc.) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, Infrared and Machine Readable Zone security features of the documents provided. The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system. We would welcome applications from individuals who are from underrepresented groups in the organisation.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.