Job summary
What a great time to consider joining us in the anaesthetic department of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust!
This is a time of considerable change as we look to grow and are seeking innovative, enthusiastic staff to become part of a highly functioning team. Our Anaesthetic associates are a key component of our clinical team.
The role of Anaesthetic associate (AA's) is an innovative new health care professional who, whilst not a doctor, works to the medical model with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care under defined levels of supervision.
The post is part of a multidisciplinary team delivering care to patients across the organisation. The post holder will be accountable for ensuring that patient care is always of the highest standard, and that standards of care and treatment meet the department's requirements.
Main duties of the job
- To work competently, under appropriate supervision (as defined within the National Curriculum and agreed locally), in the role of trainee Anaesthesia Associate (AA), within the national curriculum and agreed locally, and referring patients to designated healthcare professionals as appropriate.
- To work as a member of the anaesthetic team, helping co-ordinate activity to ensure work is carried out as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- To perform/participate in the preoperative interviewing and physiological and psychological assessment under the supervision of a consultant anaesthetist and to implement the agreed care plan.
- To administer and/or participate in the planned administration of general and regional anaesthesia for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
- To monitor the wellbeing of and administer sedation to patients undergoing surgical and medically related procedures who have received regional or local anaesthesia.
- To use a broad variety of techniques, anaesthetic agents, drugs and equipment to provide anaesthesia care.
- To recognise and take appropriate actions with reference to complications occurring during anaesthesia management.
- To identify and take appropriate action in the immediate postoperative period in relation to common postoperative problems.
- To serve as a resource person in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, respiratory care and for other acute needs.
- To participate in the education of patients and their carers.
About us
We have 14 theatres at BTH and if you are successful you will become part of this exciting/ expanding team. The theatres are friendly and are a great teaching environment where you can flourish. This role will allow us at BTH to extend the role of the Anaesthetic Associates and provide the Trust with essential services that currently cannot be provided with the current staffing levels.
One main advantage we have at this Trust is we have 3 established anaesthetic associates in post and they will provide a wealth of experience and knowledge alongside the consultant anaesthetists. This hospital is a Teaching Hospital and there will be a range of clinical and educational support available to you if you are successful in this trainee post.
The support will continue once qualified.
The final date of the course commencement has not been finalised but it will be between January-March 2023. We expect the date to be finalised soon.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job description for more details.
The post holder will be expected to work with the Department Medical Team to take forward best practice and be an ambassador for AAs. The AAs will work alongside doctors/ operating department practitioners (ODPs), nurses and other health care professionals at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. They will be required to assess and examine patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment. They will need to liaise with other professional and specialties as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients so excellent communication skills, both oral and written are vital. The AAs will be supervised by a designated consultant with individual mentorship to overview career development.
Recruiting and training additional AAs to our service will allow us to expand our and achieve developments to include:
- Trauma cover 7 days a week apart
- AA led elective all day lists
- AA led Hickman line lists
- AA led vascular access list every Thursday morning
- Other elective sessions: including exposure to upper limb blocks for future AA led regional block lists for TCI upper limb trauma
- If this sounds like an exciting opportunity and you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Allan Monks (HOD) anaesthetics- Consultant Anaesthetist on 01253 300000 ask for bleep1530
- Carol Higgins- Directorate Manager for Theatres and Critical Care on 01253 958001
- Audrey Hellen- Senior Anaesthetic Associate on 01253 300000 ask for bleep 1727
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job description for more details.
The post holder will be expected to work with the Department Medical Team to take forward best practice and be an ambassador for AAs. The AAs will work alongside doctors/ operating department practitioners (ODPs), nurses and other health care professionals at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. They will be required to assess and examine patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment. They will need to liaise with other professional and specialties as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients so excellent communication skills, both oral and written are vital. The AAs will be supervised by a designated consultant with individual mentorship to overview career development.
Recruiting and training additional AAs to our service will allow us to expand our and achieve developments to include:
- Trauma cover 7 days a week apart
- AA led elective all day lists
- AA led Hickman line lists
- AA led vascular access list every Thursday morning
- Other elective sessions: including exposure to upper limb blocks for future AA led regional block lists for TCI upper limb trauma
- If this sounds like an exciting opportunity and you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Allan Monks (HOD) anaesthetics- Consultant Anaesthetist on 01253 300000 ask for bleep1530
- Carol Higgins- Directorate Manager for Theatres and Critical Care on 01253 958001
- Audrey Hellen- Senior Anaesthetic Associate on 01253 300000 ask for bleep 1727
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered health care practitioners (e.g. nurses, operating department practitioners) require one or both of the following: At least three years' full-time, post-qualification work experience in a relevant area, and evidence of recent (within three years) and successful academic activity - this must be at undergraduate (degree, level 6) or above. Academic activity must contain rigorous basic science components, such as chemistry and biology. E.g. Physiology, pharmacology or similar.
- Qualified Health care practitioners who do not have 3 years post qualifying experience and have a first degree meeting the criteria for new entrants will also be considered
- New entrants to health care (graduates or graduate equivalent) require: A biomedical science or biological science background E.g. Physiology, pharmacology or similar. An upper second-class Honours degree or better, or other evidence of recent and successful academic activity
- Experience of working in a health care setting. (paid or unpaid) eg as a carer, relevant work experience, volunteering.
- A demonstratable commitment to a career in health care
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Evidence of continued academic study at postgraduate level
Desirable
- Prior experience in education/training
- Management in training/education
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of Anaesthesia and role of the Anaesthetic associate (AA)
- Communicates effectively with a wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background and preferred ways of understanding
- Understands basic principles of research, literature searching, appraisal and reviewing evidence and demonstrates a critical and enquiring approach. Demonstrate an interest in on-going learning and personal development
- Understanding of the RCoA AA guidelines.
Desirable
- Evidence of involvement in health care provision
- Research and publications
Skills
Essential
- Communication skills
- Team working skills
- Organisational skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered health care practitioners (e.g. nurses, operating department practitioners) require one or both of the following: At least three years' full-time, post-qualification work experience in a relevant area, and evidence of recent (within three years) and successful academic activity - this must be at undergraduate (degree, level 6) or above. Academic activity must contain rigorous basic science components, such as chemistry and biology. E.g. Physiology, pharmacology or similar.
- Qualified Health care practitioners who do not have 3 years post qualifying experience and have a first degree meeting the criteria for new entrants will also be considered
- New entrants to health care (graduates or graduate equivalent) require: A biomedical science or biological science background E.g. Physiology, pharmacology or similar. An upper second-class Honours degree or better, or other evidence of recent and successful academic activity
- Experience of working in a health care setting. (paid or unpaid) eg as a carer, relevant work experience, volunteering.
- A demonstratable commitment to a career in health care
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Evidence of continued academic study at postgraduate level
Desirable
- Prior experience in education/training
- Management in training/education
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of Anaesthesia and role of the Anaesthetic associate (AA)
- Communicates effectively with a wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background and preferred ways of understanding
- Understands basic principles of research, literature searching, appraisal and reviewing evidence and demonstrates a critical and enquiring approach. Demonstrate an interest in on-going learning and personal development
- Understanding of the RCoA AA guidelines.
Desirable
- Evidence of involvement in health care provision
- Research and publications
Skills
Essential
- Communication skills
- Team working skills
- Organisational skills
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).
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).
