Senior Perioperative Theatre Practitioner

The Primary focus of the post is to ensure that all patients receive high quality, confidential and compassionate patient centred care, delivering private healthcare that reflects the needs of patients first. This will be driven by having a hardworking ethic, high standards of delivering quality care and a passion for the role.

Department: Theatres

Accountable/Responsible to: Theatre Manager

Location: The Regent Hospital - Liverpool

Job Summary

The role of the Senior Perioperative Theatre Practitioner within the operating theatre is to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to every patient throughout the perioperative journey and is cared for through the provision of clear focused leadership and clinical expertise.

• The post holder will provide effective clinical and managerial leadership for their designated area of responsibility , ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are undertaken and adhered to.
• The post holder will have extensive clinical knowledge of theatre practice and be actively involved in the teaching and assessing of junior staff in line with current national and local standards and best practice.
• The post holder will support the patient and the surgical multidisciplinary teams providing the care through an efficient, productive perioperative journey maximising resources and clinical skills.
• The post holder will be responsible for their own professional conduct in line with NMC/HCPC code of conduct and will undertake their role in accordance with all procedures, protocols , policies and guidelines to support the theatre department.
• The post holder will provide first line management support to members of the theatre team and will be on occasions expected to deputise for other senior members of the theatre team.
• The post holder will act as an advocate for all patients and work autonomously or as part of a team.
• The post holder will act as an exemplary role model maintaining a positive culture and psychologically safe environment.
• The post holder will be proactive towards change and change management.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accurately assess, plan, implement , monitor and evaluate the holistic peri operative care needs of patients using an extensive knowledge base and range of skills within the theatre department.

2. Liaise and integrate with the multidisciplinary team, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care and promote a team approach to working.

3. Develop good working relationships and promote effective communication between all clinical staff within the multi disciplinary team.

4. Ensure proficiency with all medical equipment before use in accordance with the hospital medical device policies.

5. Ensure that all prescribed drugs and treatments are given correctly and in accordance with hospital policy, including the correct care and custody of controlled drugs.

6. Preparation of operating theatres to include cleaning and damp dusting of theatre and all equipment required, pre and post procedures.

7. Cleaning and maintenance of all other clinical and non clinical areas adhering to infection control standards and policies at all times.

8. Preparation of surgical/anaesthetic/recovery equipment ahead of surgery and appropriate testing and positioning of equipment.

9. Rotation of stock and stock replenishment of all hospital stock,consumables and sundries.

10. Safely handle and prepare specimens and ensure correct labelling and packaging for transportation to the laboratory.

11. Safely dispose of clinical waste and sharps in accordance with waste management policies.

12. Participate in all surgical safety checklists and surgical safety briefs ensuring full engagement at all times.

13. Ensure comprehensive and accurate documentation at all times, including inputting of patient data on to the electronic medical record system and IT systems in line with hospital policies.

14. Assist in the manual handling of patients, patient positioning and transferring of patients between beds,trolleys and operating tables.

15. To communicate effectively with the theatre team escalating any concerns as appropriate, and reporting any untoward incidents via the incident management reporting system.

16. Be aware of a safe environment, reporting any hazards which may endanger both patients, staff and visitors and where suitable take appropriate action.

Role specific:

Scrub

The role of the Scrub Practitioner is to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to every patient throughout the intra-operative phase .The scrub practitioner’s main responsibility is to assist the surgeon during a surgical intervention. This includes ensuring the sterility and availability of all surgical instruments and equipment, as well as accounting for all items used during a procedure to minimise risk and always ensure patient safety.

• Responsible for ensuring the availability and sterility of all equipment required to perform surgery.
• Responsible for preparation of the operating theatre, surgical equipment and surgical instruments.
• Assists with ensuring sterility of the surgical environment.
• Assists the operating surgeon by passing surgical instruments in a timely and safe manner.
• Responsible for conducting a formal count of instruments and supplies to minimise risk to patient safety.
• Act in the capacity of surgical first assistant (Qualification required), in line with national guidance and local standard operating procedure. This is a separate role and cannot be dual performed alongside scrub roles.

Anaesthetics

The role of the Anaesthetic Practitioner is to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to every patient throughout the perioperative phase, providing skilled assistance to the anaesthetist whilst maintaining safe and effective airway management of patients undergoing anaesthetic.

• Provides advanced clinical skills including advanced airway management , IV cannulation, urinary catheterisation and acts in the role of Advanced life support provider.
• Assist in patient positioning/preparation for theatre procedures e.g tourniquet and diathermy application.
• Assist in the safe internal and external transfer of patients requiring High dependency/ITU care at the identified receiving hospital.
• Competent in cell salvage equipment and provide support with blood transfusion as required in line with hospital policies and guidelines.
• Prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs, including anaesthetic machines, Intravenous equipment and devices that safely secure the patients airway during anaesthesia.
• Assist in application and monitoring of vital signs throughout the perioperative phase.
• Assist in all anaesthetics, general, local and regional ensuring monitoring and observation of patients throughout.
• Perform pre op assessments ( where skilled) and discuss care plans with the anaesthetist.

Recovery

The role of the Recovery Practitioner is to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to every patient throughout the postoperative phase whilst maintaining safe and effective airway management of patients who arrive at the recovery room, in conjunction with pain management processes.

• Responsible for providing immediate post operative care for patients.
• Responsible for providing skilled assistance to the anaesthetist to enable safe maintenance of airway. Will be competent in advanced clinical skills including extubation of patients (LMA/IGEL Airways only).
• Knowledge and clinical competence in pain management. Will have practical skills to support preparation and management of patient controlled analgesia infusions ie epidurals /PCA’s and administration of Intravenous drugs.
• Competence in performing procedures required for working independently with the ability to demonstrate dexterity, accuracy and precision when assisting or carrying out invasive or non-invasive procedures e.g. Catheter insertion/arterial line insertion.
• Competence and knowledge of point of care testing (POCT) and will be responsible for service and maintenance of any POCT medical devices.
• Competence in resuscitation and perform the role of advanced life support provider.

Leadership

• Be able to problem solve and delegate.
• Lead the multidisciplinary team to ensure theatres run smoothly and efficiently taking responsibility for the day to day supervision of the clinical environment.
• Assign clinical care requirements within the work environment ensuring adequate supervision and support against session and patient acuity.
• Undertake and delegate where required departmental and hospital required audits.
• Management of staffing, rosters, sickness and absence management,equipment management, mentoring junior staff members.
• Act as a visible,accountable role model setting and maintaining expected standards of personnel behaviour and appearance and ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients and visitors.
• Support the perioperative team to take accountability and responsibility for the care they provide,communicate clearly, work cooperatively with others,
• Share knowledge and best practice,skills and experience with others in a manner which meets the requirements of hospital policies, procedures and guidelines and relevant evidence base.
• Practice in a professional manner demonstrating clinical skills of the highest standard.
• Ensure all multidisciplinary teams adhere to WHO safety checklists at all times and have full adherence to National Safety Standards , addressing and reporting any non compliance.
• Support the recruitment and retention and selection of staff to deliver perioperative care when required.
• Undertake Performance Development Reviews and support staff as required to undertake professional revalidation processes.

Training and Development

• Be proactive in identifying your own educational needs and maintain compliance with all mandatory training requirements.
• Complete relevant theatre competencies and resuscitation courses.
• Participate in annual PDR (personnel development reviews)
• Help maintain a suitable learning environment for staff and act as a mentor/buddy in the supervision and teaching of new theatre staff, students and medical professions
• Participate in post registration learning programmes to facilitate an effective learning environment.
• Lead and support the development of theatre policies and procedures in line with hospital requirements to enhance patient care.

Risk and Governance

• Undertake and action audit processes for monitoring and reviewing operating department quality assurance.
• Undertake risk assessments and risk mitigation whilst maintaining accurate records to ensure that all staff are engaged in a safe working environment.
• Report clinical incidents including near misses within the theatre department to ensure effective learning and patient safety and where delegated , take responsibility and accountability for completion and dissemination of any identified learning or best practice..
• Escalate any safeguarding concerns in line with hospital policies and ensure safeguarding of all patients at all times.
• Ensure full adherence to hospital policies and procedures ensuring knowledge is kept up to date.

The above duties and responsibilities are intended to represent current priorities and are not intended to be a conclusive list. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any changes will be made in discussion with the post holder considering the service needs.

Health and Safety

• All staff must act in line with relevant health and safety hospital policies and in line with the health and safety at work act (1974) to ensure a safe environment for patients,visitors and staff.
• Take all reasonable care of health and safety at work for yourself, team, patients and visitors and undertake delegated tasks in relation to health and safety record keeping, risk assessment and aspects of procedural compliance.

Equality and Diversity

• The hospital values diversity and actively works towards promoting equality both in terms of its healthcare provision and within its current and potential workforce.
• Promote equality and diversity in the department ensuring that all members of staff provide a professional approach.