Theatre Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Ensuring all areas within the suite are clean, tidy and that adequate stock levels are maintained
• Cleaning, preparation and positioning of theatre equipment, furniture and operating lights according to theatre schedules and local policy
• Checking, connecting, preparing and providing equipment and supplies to registered theatre personnel during patients peri-operative stay
• Supporting registered theatre personnel by opening packs in a sterile fashion and manoeuvring equipment as required

• Assisting with the moving and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patients in preparation for surgery and/or treatment, ensuring that any intravenous infusions, drains or catheters are appropriately positioned.

• Supporting and re-assuring patients during local anaesthetic procedures
• Completing all relevant documentation including patient notes/EPR, TIMS, Theatre registers and care plans

• Remove clinical waste, linen and sharps within theatres and prepare for collection, being aware of local health and safety policies and procedures.

• Clean theatres, recovery and corridors as required daily, observing the Trust Infection Control Policy and take special precautions where required. Ensure changing rooms are kept tidy.

• Participate in additional weekly cleaning programme to ensure the required standards of cleanliness following infection control guidelines are maintained in the department.

• Clean and check theatre patient trolleys daily and between cases.

• Complete daily checks of transport and patient trolley Oxygen cylinders and replace as required.

• Maintain a stock of medical gas cylinders, returning empty cylinders to the store as agreed locally.

• If required maintain stocks Theatre Scrubs as required and ensure stocks are counted daily to facilitate reordering.

• Report immediately to a senior member of staff any incidents, accidents or complaints involving patients, staff or visitors, and take any necessary action as instructed.

• To perform other duties as directed by Senior Nurses and Theatre Manager.

• To assist with the transfer of patients from the acute care area to the anaesthetic room/theatres/recovery room, including x-ray department on all hospital sites according to local policy.

• Clean and maintain specialised equipment, reporting any faults to the appropriate personnel.

• Assist the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of high-quality care to patients throughout their peri-operative experience, ensuring at all times that utmost regard is given to patient dignity, safety, values, individuality, religion and confidentiality. To be aware of and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998.

• Where required participate in the on-call rota for emergency surgery contributing to 24-hour cover for the departments.

• If required be responsible for the care and transportation of specimens to the Pathology Department.
• If required Transport blood and blood products to and from the blood bank following local policies and procedures.
• If required transport cadavers from theatre to the mortuary in a sensitive and appropriate manner

Maintaining Safety

• To undertake annual training including update in Basic Life Support, Manual Handling and Fire prevention
• To be aware of and adhere to Health and Safety and Infection Control policies and risk assessments carried out within the department, including those specific to the specific clinical area.
• To report all accidents, incidents and areas of concern to senior staff ensuring relevant documentation is completed
• To have knowledge of the procedure for calling for emergency assistance following cardiac arrest or patient emergency.
• To ensure all faulty equipment is taken out of service, cleaned appropriately, labelled correctly and sent for repair.

• Ensure all equipment is cleaned correctly (according to hospital policy) and stored appropriately. To assist in maintaining a safe working environment for patients, visitors and colleagues

Communication

• To establish and maintain good relationships with patients, relatives and colleagues through effective verbal and nonverbal communication.

• Contribute towards the creation of a welcoming and safe atmosphere for patients and visitors to the department.

• To assist in promoting and maintaining good communication between all members of the theatre team

• To be familiar with the concept of team working, be involved in team discussions, meetings and project developments

• To answer telephone calls, accurately relaying messages to other members of the multi-disciplinary team promptly and accurately

• To be aware of the roles within the team the structure of the unit and its relationship within the organisation

Education

• Complete your departmental competencies and hour logs in a timely manner in line with departmental guidelines

• To help orientate and act as co-mentor for new health care assistants and other staff
• To utilise educational resources available in Theatres, in the Trust and from other sources to identify and develop areas of knowledge and skills for own personal and professional development.
• All Theatre Support Workers will be expected to achieve the Care Certificate within the first 12 weeks of employment if they have not already done so through previous employment. The Care Certificate consists of 15 standards that set out explicit learning outcomes, competences and standards of behaviour that are expected of a Nursing Assistant. The Oxford University Hospitals Support Worker Academy team deliver an enhanced and extended induction programme, this to facilitate the training and education required to maintain quality assurance, support and guidance to ensure timely completion and compliance.

Personal

• To demonstrate a personal and professional knowledge-based evidence of learning

• To be able to acknowledge limitations to competence and do not act outside these.

• Meet the relevant competencies as required by the post

• To review progress with the Team Leader and /or Education Team at regular intervals and through appraisal process.

Person Specification

Shortlist Offline

Essential

• Operating theatre experience / Hospital experience
• Patient and staff focused
• Advanced communication skills

Desirable

• care certificate or equivalent
• Understanding of theatre policy and procedure
• IT / EPR Knowledge
• evidence of team working

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Horton Theatres

Horton General Hospital

Banbury

OX16 9AL

Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)