Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a experienced, qualified and enthusiastic Plaster Technician to join our Orthopaedic Outpatient Team in a permanent Band 5 role as an Orthopaedic Practitioner.
This post is challenging but rewarding; as part of the team you will be expected to cover both the Elective and Fracture clinics based at the Orthopaedic Centre as well as providing treatment for inpatients and attending theater when required.
We pride ourselves on a providing safe and high standard of care and patient experience. We are innovative and have a varied patient cohort, including paediatrics and diabetic foot patients.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to:
- Work as a trained and experienced technician within a team of technicians providing casting and more specialised casting and splint making for patients in support of the Orthopaedic department, other clinicians and departments within the Trust.
- Responsible for assessment of care needs and will be expected to carry all relevant forms of care without direct supervision.
- Act as a good role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with professional courtesy.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See job Description
- Work as a trained and experienced technician within a team of technicians providing casting and more specialised casting and splint making for patients in support of the Orthopaedic department, other clinicians and departments within the Trust.
- Responsible for assessment of care needs and will be expected to carry all relevant forms of care without direct supervision.
- Act as a good role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with professional courtesy.
- In consultation with the treating Clinician select, apply, remove and maintain casts or splints made of plaster, fibre glass, scotch cast, soft cast and wood cast and ensure a correctly fitting, functional cast to enable normal limb mobilisation on removal of the cast or splint in the Orthopaedic Centre or on the Wards and Directorates within the Trust.
- To have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology relating to casting
- To complete complex casting requirements including cast bracing and theatre work e.g. Hip spicas, Sarmiento and Frog Casts
- To measure , apply and maintain knee, elbow, shoulder abduction braces, specialised walking boots and orthotic shoes
- To be able to assess and correctly apply humeral braces as required.
-
- Provide and receive complex information regarding casting and splinting issues.
- Provide specialist technical support for patients during their treatment including telephone support and advice for those experiencing problems
- To measure, fit and provide suitable walking and immobilisation aids, including crutches, providing verbal and written instructions
- To document all treatments performed in the patient notes.
- To perform assessment of the patients skin prior to application and following removal of a cast/device and to escalate to the senior nurse, clinician or Tissue viability nurse if a pressure ulcer/ infected wound is present.
- To provide both basic and complex wound care, applying the appropriate dressings, removing sutures and clips.
Application of PICO pumps for wound healing, removal of K wires and maintaining the care of external fixators.
- To be able to use PACS and interpret the X-rays in order to apply the correct cast/splints.
Education, training and development.
- Participate in clinical training including teaching and supervision of new staff, unqualified staff and student nurses in the Orthopaedic Centre
- To ensure that all patients requiring casts or further work to existing casts are treated promptly and to attend to Ward patients as and when required and to ensure that patients are not delayed if waiting for discharge.
- Lead in the application of paediatric casting.
- To be responsible for the maintenance and servicing of equipment for the application and removal of casts splints and report any defects.
- To deal with enquires requests and complaints in a polite and respectful manner, taking appropriate action to resolve any such issues.
- To assists the nursing staff with the checking of patients notes regarding their treatment while in a cast or splint
- To be responsible for ensuring the clinical area are kept clean
- Undertake a minimum of once yearly Appraisal with the ward manager for development planning
- To participate in research and audit, in support of clinical practises developments.
- To hold the BOA RCN SON AOT Casting Certificates and attend two yearly update course
- To utilise any opportunities to achieve further training within their role, maintain up to date practices, ensuring own level of competency
Management Responsibilities
- To be the first point of contact in the Plaster room for advice on complex issues
- To report incidents using the Trust electronic incident reporting system.
- To take an active role in promoting the department within the Trust nd improve and develop relationships with other departments and staff
- Report to and request advice from the nurse in charge of the ward in regard to patient care when appropriate
- Using a variety of sources keep the department well stocked so as to enable a good level of service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See job Description
- Work as a trained and experienced technician within a team of technicians providing casting and more specialised casting and splint making for patients in support of the Orthopaedic department, other clinicians and departments within the Trust.
- Responsible for assessment of care needs and will be expected to carry all relevant forms of care without direct supervision.
- Act as a good role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with professional courtesy.
- In consultation with the treating Clinician select, apply, remove and maintain casts or splints made of plaster, fibre glass, scotch cast, soft cast and wood cast and ensure a correctly fitting, functional cast to enable normal limb mobilisation on removal of the cast or splint in the Orthopaedic Centre or on the Wards and Directorates within the Trust.
- To have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology relating to casting
- To complete complex casting requirements including cast bracing and theatre work e.g. Hip spicas, Sarmiento and Frog Casts
- To measure , apply and maintain knee, elbow, shoulder abduction braces, specialised walking boots and orthotic shoes
- To be able to assess and correctly apply humeral braces as required.
-
- Provide and receive complex information regarding casting and splinting issues.
- Provide specialist technical support for patients during their treatment including telephone support and advice for those experiencing problems
- To measure, fit and provide suitable walking and immobilisation aids, including crutches, providing verbal and written instructions
- To document all treatments performed in the patient notes.
- To perform assessment of the patients skin prior to application and following removal of a cast/device and to escalate to the senior nurse, clinician or Tissue viability nurse if a pressure ulcer/ infected wound is present.
- To provide both basic and complex wound care, applying the appropriate dressings, removing sutures and clips.
Application of PICO pumps for wound healing, removal of K wires and maintaining the care of external fixators.
- To be able to use PACS and interpret the X-rays in order to apply the correct cast/splints.
Education, training and development.
- Participate in clinical training including teaching and supervision of new staff, unqualified staff and student nurses in the Orthopaedic Centre
- To ensure that all patients requiring casts or further work to existing casts are treated promptly and to attend to Ward patients as and when required and to ensure that patients are not delayed if waiting for discharge.
- Lead in the application of paediatric casting.
- To be responsible for the maintenance and servicing of equipment for the application and removal of casts splints and report any defects.
- To deal with enquires requests and complaints in a polite and respectful manner, taking appropriate action to resolve any such issues.
- To assists the nursing staff with the checking of patients notes regarding their treatment while in a cast or splint
- To be responsible for ensuring the clinical area are kept clean
- Undertake a minimum of once yearly Appraisal with the ward manager for development planning
- To participate in research and audit, in support of clinical practises developments.
- To hold the BOA RCN SON AOT Casting Certificates and attend two yearly update course
- To utilise any opportunities to achieve further training within their role, maintain up to date practices, ensuring own level of competency
Management Responsibilities
- To be the first point of contact in the Plaster room for advice on complex issues
- To report incidents using the Trust electronic incident reporting system.
- To take an active role in promoting the department within the Trust nd improve and develop relationships with other departments and staff
- Report to and request advice from the nurse in charge of the ward in regard to patient care when appropriate
- Using a variety of sources keep the department well stocked so as to enable a good level of service delivery.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oCompleted and obtained the nationally recognised qualification in British Orthopaedic Casting Certificate. (BOA) recognised by the RCN.
Desirable
- oMember of the Association of Orthopaedic Technicians. (AOT)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- oKnowledge of research and audit.
Knowledge
Essential
- oAwareness of current developments in Orthopaedics and casting
Desirable
- oExperience in resource management.
Experience
Essential
- oSignificant experience as a qualified orthopaedic practitioner within an outpatient setting
Desirable
- oEvidence of continued clinical development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oCompleted and obtained the nationally recognised qualification in British Orthopaedic Casting Certificate. (BOA) recognised by the RCN.
Desirable
- oMember of the Association of Orthopaedic Technicians. (AOT)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- oKnowledge of research and audit.
Knowledge
Essential
- oAwareness of current developments in Orthopaedics and casting
Desirable
- oExperience in resource management.
Experience
Essential
- oSignificant experience as a qualified orthopaedic practitioner within an outpatient setting
Desirable
- oEvidence of continued clinical development.
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).
