Theatre Practitioner Anaesthetics & Recovery 12 month Fixed Term

Job summary

Kidderminster Day Surgery Theatres are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 5 Anaesthetic/Recovery Practitioner (RN/ODP) to join our friendly and supportive team for a fixed term of 12 months.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your practice within a busy elective and ambulatory trauma day surgery environment, delivering outstanding peri-operative care to patients undergoing a wide range of surgeries including the delivery of a dedicated paediatric service.

Our modern Day Surgery Theatres are committed to delivering safe, high-quality patient care while fostering a positive learning culture empowering everyone to reach their full potential.

As an Anaesthetic/Recovery Practitioner, you will:

• Deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care throughout the patient journey.
• Work as a skilled member of the A&R team for a wide range of surgical procedures for adults and paediatric patients.
• Prepare and maintain the environment and equipment for the anaesthetic room/recovery unit.
• Support the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective and efficient list management.
• Maintain the highest standards of infection prevention and patient safety.
• Advocate for patients by upholding their dignity and ensuring respectful, person-centred care at all times.
• Contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development.
• Support the learning and development of students, apprentices and new members of staff.

Main duties of the job

• Anaesthetics and Recovery Specific Duties

• To assist with the anaesthetic and recovery patient journey ensuring safe, efficient, and compassionate care.

• Ensure patient care is delivered safely and in line with best practice.

• To support anaesthetists and the multi-disciplinary team to maintain high standards of patient care and escalate any concerns.

• Oversee the preparation, use, and maintenance of anaesthetic equipment and consumables to ensure safety and compliance.

• Manage post-operative complications, including airway management, pain control, and vital sign monitoring.

• Ensure the recovery area is prepared and fully equipped to handle emergency situations, including resuscitation and post-operative emergencies.

• Monitor and review recovery plans and discharge criteria, ensuring safe, effective patient handover to ward teams post-recovery.

• Maintain accurate anaesthetic and recovery records in line with legal and Trust policies.

• The role may require working across all Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust sites.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job responsibilities

WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION-Theatre Practitioner.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Patients, anaesthetists, Surgeons and surgical teams, theatre personnel

• External: Visitors to theatres, relatives, ward personnel, housekeeping, porters and estates teams

• Liaises with: Multidisciplinary team (MDT)

Risk Assessment:

This post involves manual handling activities and a risk of exposure to bodily fluids and chemicals. It also includes responsibilities related to anaesthetic equipment and drugs, as well as recovery monitoring. The role requires some computer screen work and may involve working under pressure in emergency situations.

Job Purpose:

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care through the effective management of staff, resources, and theatre operations.

• Act as the patients advocate, prioritising their needs and well-being throughout the peri-operative journey.

• Facilitate effective communication with the multi-disciplinary team to deliver high quality patient care across the theatre pathway.

• Accept responsibility for infection prevention and control practices within the team and the theatre environment.

• To provide supervision and support to staff and students.

• Deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care that is tailored to each patients individual needs.

• The role may require working across all Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust sites.

• Key Duties:

Anaesthetics and Recovery Specific Duties

• To assist with the anaesthetic and recovery patient journey ensuring safe, efficient, and compassionate care.

• Ensure patient care is delivered safely and in line with best practice.

• To support anaesthetists and the multi-disciplinary team to maintain high standards of patient care and escalate any concerns.

• Oversee the preparation, use, and maintenance of anaesthetic equipment and consumables to ensure safety and compliance.

• Manage post-operative complications, including airway management, pain control, and vital sign monitoring.

• Ensure the recovery area is prepared and fully equipped to handle emergency situations, including resuscitation and post-operative emergencies.

• Monitor and review recovery plans and discharge criteria, ensuring safe, effective patient handover to the ward teams post-recovery.

• Maintain accurate anaesthetic and recovery records in line with legal and Trust policies.

Management

• To deputise in the absence of team leaders in managing staff within the team, ensuring high standards of performance and teamwork.

• Ensure that all safety measures are in place, reporting accidents, incidents, and near misses to the theatre coordinator and/or senior team leader and reported on the electronic reporting system.

• Contribute to risk management by identifying and mitigating risks within the department.

• To ensure resources are used efficiently and participate in stock rotation.

• Stay informed on Trust policies and procedures, andparticipate in their development when necessary.

• Foster a supportive, team-focused culture that encourages learning, development, and a no-blame approach.

• Ensure equipment is used safely and is maintained to a high standard.

• Ensure the health and safety of all staff, patients and visitors.

• Manage controlled drugs in line with legal procedures, including ordering, checking, and administering according to policy.

Education and Training:

• Work closely with the recruitment and development team to ensure your professional development is maintained.

• Act as a student assessor, supporting students throughout their clinical placements and evaluating their progress.

• Supervise, mentor, and support new staff, ensuring they are introduced to relevant clinical practices and procedures.

• Ensure you are currentwith the latest practices, guidelines, and equipment.

• Participate in the delivery of in-house training including medical device management and link roles.

• Provide feedback from training courses to share emerging practices and knowledge with colleagues.

• Encourage a culture of continuous professional development by supporting staff participation in competency assessments and reflective practice.

• To be responsible for attending training sessions for the safe use of medical devices and to ensure that all equipment is safely maintained in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

Professional:

• Keep up to date with current clinical practices, Trust policies and developments in equipment and technology.

• Maintain a high standard of professionalism at all times, serving as a role model to staff and adhering to best practice.

• Take responsibility for own professional development.

• Promote clear and effective communication within the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless collaboration and patient care.

• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control practices at all times.

General Duties:

• Participate in the on-call rota or out-of-hours duties as required for emergency surgery and respond effectively to critical incidents.

• Collaborate with other departments, including ward teams and clinical staff, to ensure effective communication and patient care transitions.

• Adhere to the Trusts IT policies regarding email and internet usage, maintaining confidentiality and data protection standards.

• Ensure all Trust standards are maintained, with active participation in audits and quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient outcomes.

• Every employee has a duty to take care of their own health and safety and that of others and to cooperate with the Trust to ensure statutory and Trust regulations are complied with.

Vision and Values

As a representative of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, you are expected to uphold our core values:

• Being open and honest

• Ensuring people feel cared for

• Showing respect to everyone

These values guide daily conduct and ensure inclusive, compassionate service delivery, fostering a culture of transparency, empathy, and respect for all

Person specification

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Enhanced disclosure clearance
• Excellent attendance and time keeping
• Willing to work across hospital sites within scope of practice as and when required
• Able to work and cope with rotating shift patterns - early, late, night shifts over seven days of the week and on-call as necessary
• To deputise for the team leader as necessary

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of current peri-operative practice
• Reporting incidents using datix or similar reporting system
• Knowledge of anatomy/physiology knowledge relevant to role
• Good verbal, literacy and communication skills
• Ability to maintain accurate and legible patient records
• Computer literate (use of IT software packages e.g. Word, Email)
• Clinical Governance
• Understanding of manual handling practices and policies
• Awareness of Health and Safety

Desirable

• Budget awareness

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse Level 1 (currently registered with NMC) or Registered Operating Department Practitioner (currently registered with HCPC)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Assessor Qualification
• Anaesthetic Qualification
• Relevant post-basic qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Previous experience of working in the theatre environment in a training or support worker role or other relatable clinical environment (i.e. endoscopy, HD)

Desirable

• Competent to scrub / assist anaesthetist / recover wide range of elective and emergency patients
• Experience of clinical supervision

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to identify personal development needs
• Ability to adapt to new situations
• Ability to self direct and also work with a team
• Effective communication skills written and verbal
• Self-awareness in assessing own knowledge, competence and boundaries

Desirable

• Leadership skills
• Self-confidence with an approachable persona