Theatre Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Liverpool University Hospital Foundation Trust (LUHFT) for either a Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner to join the theatre team, as a scrub practitioner.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to work within our busy theatres complex. We are proud of our ethos of welcoming new practitioners and providing a supportive, team orientated environment. We provide an in depth induction and an excellent preceptorship package for both newly qualified and experienced applicants.

The successful applicant will work as part of a combined theatres team consisting of 44 theatres across 3 sites in Liverpool. Specialties include Breast, Trauma and Orthopaedics, HPB, Vascular, Upper GI, Colorectal, Liver, endocrine and robotic surgery.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work within the theatres team in scrub. There would be opportunity to rotate within the disciplines and this would be supported by the theatre team.

The theatre team also support additional services within the trust such as ITU, Resus, and A and E and all applicants will be supported to train in these areas.

The successful applicant will be expected to participate in the 24 hour, 7 day service offered and be required to partake in a flexible work pattern to meet the needs of the service

About us

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) was formed on 1 November 2024, born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our communities.

We are one of the largest employers in region, with over 18,900 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services that extend to more than two million people in the North West.

We operate from five hospital sites:Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside, and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to several elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitalprovide specialist services incardiothoracic surgery,cardiology and respiratory medicine, both in the hospital and out in the community.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms and mainly focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

Job responsibilities

Deliver skilled practical care to all patients and participate in the monitoring, planning and delivery of individualised patient care.

With guidance from senior staff, assess situations that arise in the peri-operative environment.

Actively support the implementation of Evidence Based Practice and participate in clinical audits as required.

To participate, as required, in out of hours cover, which may include on call cover and rotation onto night duty.

Have an awareness of stock control; support Team Leaders in appropriate stock management.

Input data onto the Ormis system, in order that statistics/patient activity may be accurately compiled.

Ensure all equipment and instruments are maintained in accordance with manufacturers guidelines, document and report any faults immediately to senior staff.

Attend/participate in unit /team meetings.

Support staff under your supervision (theatre support workers, trainee operating department practitioners, student nurses) and act as an effective role model.

Ensure rigorous adherence to infection control practices including hand hygiene and universal/standard precautions.

Ensure all theatre equipment and instruments required for the safe delivery of patient care are available and in working order prior to the commencement of an elective or emergency operating list.

Assist in the preparation and cleaning of the theatre suite, as per standard operating procedures.

Ensure all information pertaining to the patients identification and planned surgery is correct, as per departmental guidance.

Participate as a scrubbed member of the theatre team and carry out safety checks on swabs, instruments and needles in conjunction with a second person and reporting on the same to the surgeon, as per departmental policy.

Act as a circulating member of the operating team.

The post holder may be required to stand for long periods when assisting with surgical procedures and to have physical skill and dexterity when handling equipment.

Assist with the safe disposal of instrumentation and clinical waste e.g. body fluids, tissue at the end of surgery, as per departmental, Trust guidance.

Advise Unit Co-ordinator or person in charge of any proposed changes in the order of the operating list.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered ODP, current HCPC registration (applicable to ODP) OR Registered nurse, current NMC registration (applicable to RN)
• Anaesthetic qualification

Desirable

• Evidence of post registration study
• ALS

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of Essence of Care, Benchmarking process
• Ability to prioritise workload effectively
• Knowledge of current healthcare issues and healthcare governance
• Understanding of the application of evidence based practice
• Ability to delegate work appropriately

Desirable

• Evidence of involvement in Benchmarking process

Knowledge

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Basic IT skills, including e-mail and word processing

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work in changing environments

other

Essential

• Supportive of colleagues and patients