Job summary
To work as part of a consultant led anaesthetic team to provide anaesthesia for elective and emergency patients using general anaesthesia, spinal anaesthesia and/or regional anaesthesia as appropriate, individualised to the patients circumstances and preferences. To join the existing team of 10 AA's and 3 trainees within the Trust that help deliver the Anaesthetic Service within a multiple of specialities.
The anaesthesia associate will:
- Assess the patient's fitness for surgery on the day of surgery and obtain informed consent for anaesthesia
- Discuss the anaesthetic plan with the Supervising Consultant
- Induce anaesthesia (independently if signed off as competent)
- Provide intraoperative care keeping the patient stable during the physiological insult of surgery
- Wake the patient up (independently if signed off as competent)
- Transfer the patient to PACU to hand over care to the PACU nurses and communicate the postoperative care plan.
Successful candidates could be appointed at Band 7 or Band 8a dependant on experience.
Main duties of the job
The role of Anaesthesia Associate is evolving. The Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists have guidelines for what a newly qualified Anaesthesia Associate may do. However individual Trusts may train AA's in additional roles and competences. In our department the expectation is that Anaesthesia Associates will be trained and signed off to:
- Perform Spinal Anaesthesia without direct supervision (after discussion with the supervising consultant)
- Induce anaesthesia in ASA1&2 patients without direct supervision (after discussion with the supervising consultant)
- Supervise emergence and extubation without direct supervision (after discussion with the supervising consultant)
- Perform regional anaesthesia techniques (eg axillary block, femoral nerve block, popliteal block) in awake and anaesthetised patients
- Insert arterial and central venous catheters under ultrasound guidance
- Insert nerve catheters in patients needing advanced analgesia for painful chest wall injuries
- Provide safe sedation for potentially unpleasant procedures where GA is not appropriate or desirable
About us
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Sheffield, as well as specialist care for patients from further afield, including cancer, spinal cord injuries, renal and cardiothoracic services. In addition to community health services, the Trust comprises five of Yorkshire's best known teaching hospitals.
- The Royal Hallamshire Hospital
- The Northern General Hospital
- Charles Clifford Dental Hospital
- Weston Park Cancer Hospital
- Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital
Located on rolling hills and dissected by river valleys, Sheffield is one of the greenest and most wooded cities in Europe. More than a third of the city lies inside the beautiful Peak District National Park, and it is virtually surrounded by open countryside. Its central location and excellent transport links also means it is less than two hours from most major metropolitan areas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our anaesthesia associate team have been trained to possess advanced skills in performing regional anaesthesia. This is performed under ultrasound guidance. These skills are often employed to:
- Work in the hand centre on a 2:1 basis enabling patients to undergo awake daycase surgery with rapid throughput and pain free postoperative discharge.
- Work on foot and ankle lists enabling patients to undergo awake surgery with rapid throughput and pain free postoperative discharge
- Support the 2 daily consultant led trauma lists by providing anaesthesia and advanced analgesia for a range of trauma patients
- Supporting the Acute Pain Team by providing advanced analgesia for patients on request
- Supporting the Major Trauma Team by providing advanced analgesia for chest injuries on request
- Teach and train junior anaesthetists in the acquisition of these skills
Manage and prioritise own caseload / workload independently ensuring service provision is maintained. Liaising with the service organizers, site lead and clinical leads within the anaesthetic department to plan and implement the Anaesthesia Associate role.
Support provision of the enhanced four joint arthroplasty list, (including the pre-operative assessment)
As an autonomous advanced practitioner perform pre-operative assessments on, Day of Surgery Admissions. Importantl, facilitating plastic trauma lists in Sheffield Hand Centre, and acutely admitted trauma patients requiring urgent surgery.
Making independent clinical decisions regarding anaesthetic pre and peri-operative care plans.
Take responsibility for the placement of trainee AA within the theatre / clinic environment, and use judgment in assessing competence levels for suitability of each placement.
Advise / Liaise with senior members of the surgical / anaesthetic and nursing teams regarding service delivery and cover.
Highlight problems with own / colleagues / trainee AA practice in a sensitive manner, ensuring confidentially at all times. Provide support and reassurance when necessary referring on when appropriate to senior managers / colleagues.
Maintain confidentially of all matters that relate to staff members employment and adhere to the current trusts policies and procedures including the date protection act.
Engages with and assists interview process for Trainee AAs
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our anaesthesia associate team have been trained to possess advanced skills in performing regional anaesthesia. This is performed under ultrasound guidance. These skills are often employed to:
- Work in the hand centre on a 2:1 basis enabling patients to undergo awake daycase surgery with rapid throughput and pain free postoperative discharge.
- Work on foot and ankle lists enabling patients to undergo awake surgery with rapid throughput and pain free postoperative discharge
- Support the 2 daily consultant led trauma lists by providing anaesthesia and advanced analgesia for a range of trauma patients
- Supporting the Acute Pain Team by providing advanced analgesia for patients on request
- Supporting the Major Trauma Team by providing advanced analgesia for chest injuries on request
- Teach and train junior anaesthetists in the acquisition of these skills
Manage and prioritise own caseload / workload independently ensuring service provision is maintained. Liaising with the service organizers, site lead and clinical leads within the anaesthetic department to plan and implement the Anaesthesia Associate role.
Support provision of the enhanced four joint arthroplasty list, (including the pre-operative assessment)
As an autonomous advanced practitioner perform pre-operative assessments on, Day of Surgery Admissions. Importantl, facilitating plastic trauma lists in Sheffield Hand Centre, and acutely admitted trauma patients requiring urgent surgery.
Making independent clinical decisions regarding anaesthetic pre and peri-operative care plans.
Take responsibility for the placement of trainee AA within the theatre / clinic environment, and use judgment in assessing competence levels for suitability of each placement.
Advise / Liaise with senior members of the surgical / anaesthetic and nursing teams regarding service delivery and cover.
Highlight problems with own / colleagues / trainee AA practice in a sensitive manner, ensuring confidentially at all times. Provide support and reassurance when necessary referring on when appropriate to senior managers / colleagues.
Maintain confidentially of all matters that relate to staff members employment and adhere to the current trusts policies and procedures including the date protection act.
Engages with and assists interview process for Trainee AAs
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post qualification experience.
- Evidence of relevant post basic training and continuous professional development/Audit project/research
Desirable
- Specialist training relevant to the conduct of anaesthesia
Further Training
Essential
- A demonstrable commitment to a career in healthcare
- Able to manage own time and priorities workload
- Flexible and adaptable
- Takes ownership for own actions and areas of responsibility.
- Functions successfully under pressure
- Able to work within a team
- Able to deal with frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions/distressing and emotional circumstances.
- Is Respectful to patients, staff colleagues and all internal and external contacts whilst valuing diversity.
- Provides outstanding service, by putting patients first, ensuring patients are cared for with courtesy, compassion, dignity and empathy
- Good communication skills both written and spoken English.
- Computer skills
- Ability to work flexibly to cover the needs of the service
Desirable
- Good understanding of the national strategic context of the NHS .
- Demonstrates a critical and enquiring approach
- Leadership qualities.
- Understands basic principles of research, literature searching, appraisal and reviewing evidence
Qualifications
Essential
- PGDip Phys Assist Anaesthesia
- A qualification registered with the NMC and/or HCPC
- Biomedical or Biological Science degree, preferably second-class Honours degree or higher.
Desirable
- A level chemistry, Physics, Biology or Mathematics.
- Educational & training
- Managerial experience
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post qualification experience.
- Evidence of relevant post basic training and continuous professional development/Audit project/research
Desirable
- Specialist training relevant to the conduct of anaesthesia
Further Training
Essential
- A demonstrable commitment to a career in healthcare
- Able to manage own time and priorities workload
- Flexible and adaptable
- Takes ownership for own actions and areas of responsibility.
- Functions successfully under pressure
- Able to work within a team
- Able to deal with frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions/distressing and emotional circumstances.
- Is Respectful to patients, staff colleagues and all internal and external contacts whilst valuing diversity.
- Provides outstanding service, by putting patients first, ensuring patients are cared for with courtesy, compassion, dignity and empathy
- Good communication skills both written and spoken English.
- Computer skills
- Ability to work flexibly to cover the needs of the service
Desirable
- Good understanding of the national strategic context of the NHS .
- Demonstrates a critical and enquiring approach
- Leadership qualities.
- Understands basic principles of research, literature searching, appraisal and reviewing evidence
Qualifications
Essential
- PGDip Phys Assist Anaesthesia
- A qualification registered with the NMC and/or HCPC
- Biomedical or Biological Science degree, preferably second-class Honours degree or higher.
Desirable
- A level chemistry, Physics, Biology or Mathematics.
- Educational & training
- Managerial experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
