Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner

Job summary

The trainee Surgical Care Practitioner (tSCP) will be an experienced registered healthcare professional who is expected to work towards advanced level clinical practice in general surgery which includes colorectal, HPB and Upper GI. They will be expected to work across the patient perioperative journey including clinics, ward and operating theatres to include laparoscopic, robotic and open surgery. The tSCP will work under clinical supervision to meet the capabilities or competencies required for the role and academic programme.

The level of supervision will depend upon the tSCP's knowledge, skills and capability, and their autonomy which is expected to increase during their development; the tSCP must work within their own limitations and scope of practice. The tSCP will develop and exercise a degree of autonomy and decision making in a context of complexity, uncertainty and varying levels of risk, holding accountability for their decisions, such cases should be included in their portfolio of evidence and discussed with their supervisor.

The tSCP must successfully demonstrate core capabilities, specialty specific clinical competence and complete a recognised independent prescribing qualification, including annotation onto their professional regulatory register.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Co-ordinate the care of patients throughout their surgical pathway with the multidisciplinary team and clinical services to ensure the effective management of this group of patients, including intraoperatively, which may include the insertion of ports, suturing, acting as robotic bed side assistant.
• Accountable for own actions in accordance with their professional regulatory body requirements.
• Will contribute to corporate objectives, acting within local, Trust and statutory guidelines and policies at all times.
• Lead and deliver clinical care, across a variety of settings, according to national and local guidelines ensuring delivery of evidence-based care and working towards the Trust vision of providing a World Class Service.
• Undertake an initial assessment to determine differential diagnosis, utilising advanced critical thinking and decision-making skills, deciding when necessary to refer to senior clinical colleagues.

This training must be completed within a five-year time frame. Study leave and expenses are provided according to the HEI programme and the relevant organisational policies. The successful candidate will progress to Band 8A on successful completion of MSc Surgical Care Practicer and specialty competencies/capabilities.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Act autonomously to assess, prioritise and provide expert clinical care which contributes to the patients treatment plan to ensure that optimum physical, psychological, and social care needs are met and ensures quality care.
• Request and interpret relevant investigations to facilitate the development of the patients management plan.
• Initiate the management of patients who are critically ill or deteriorating within scope of practice.
• Proactively refer to other clinicians (own or other services) depending upon patients needs to deliver care beyond your limitations and scope of practice.
• Proactively initiate treatment plans for patients requiring intervention and treatment ensuring ethically based considerations.
• Proactively identify, diagnose, and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing long term conditions.
• Undertake relevant clinical procedures to facilitate patient care within the service, supported by the appropriate training and supervision.
• Autonomously assess, diagnose, and have the legal authority to independently prescribe. As an independent prescriber, the tSCP is responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for clinical management decisions.
• The independent prescriber can prescribe pharmacology and non-pharmacology treatment within their scope of practice.
• Provides information and advice to patients on prescribed medication regimens, side-effects, and interactions ensuring compliance with evidence- based practice and national and practice protocols.
• Documents clearly all aspects of assessment, diagnosis, and management plan and present the findings, using the approved documentation framework.
• Facilitates shared decision making by discussing assessment outcomes with patients, carers, and other health care professionals, to enable patients to make informed decisions regarding treatment.
• Highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high-quality service within a complex and challenging environment with often, conflicting priorities.
• Support patients, families, and carers to adopt health healthy lifestyles strategies and apply principles of self- care, alongside clinical management plans.
• Understand and recognise risk and apply safeguarding measures that support the identification of vulnerable adults and children, being aware of statutory child/ vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance to escalate concerns accordingly.
• Contribute to informed patient consent and act as patient advocate.
• Undertake delegated consent as appropriate and after successful completion of the relevant training and competencies.
• Report clinical incidents via Trust Datix reporting system, investigate as appropriate and share learning.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Please be advised the interviews for this post will take place week commencing 09/11/2026, subject to availability.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oCurrent UK healthcare professional registration oBSc in healthcare or equivalent professional qualification to UK honours degree oEvidence of continuous professional development oTeaching and assessing qualification/equivalent.

Desirable

• oSurgical First Assistant HEI qualification oDelegated Consent training. oPerioperative Care Practitioners Intraoperative Non-Technical Skills (PINTS) oIndependent Prescriber (annotated on professional register) oIRMER regulation training (if required for role) oILS/ALS oMale catheterisation oRobotic training

Experience

Essential

• o3-years senior clinical experience at Band 6 or above this a requirement to comply with HEE/NHSE funding requirements. oSignificant clinical experience in operating theatre. oExperience of leading people/services. oExperience of case load management oExperience of clinical teaching. oExperience in research and audit. oDemonstrate ability to embed evidence-based practice. oExperience in collaborative working with multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• oExperience of change management and service development. oEvidence of journal/ web/book publication/conference presentation

Knowledge

Essential

• oKnowledge of anatomy of the abdomen oKnowledge of surgical instruments. oIn-depth knowledge of speciality disease/complexity oA knowledgeable clinician with the ability to apply evidence-based practice. oKnowledge of clinical governance oKnowledge of national and local NHS agenda/policy/guidance/ integrated care boards and implications

Desirable

• oKnowledge of relevant diseases/complexities in health

Skills

Essential

• oPre, intraoperative and postoperative skills. oAbility to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team. oDeveloped IT skills oGood interpersonal skills oHighly developed communication, influencing, negotiating skills and sharing of information. oAbility to prioritize and meet deadlines. oExcellent organisational and time management skills. oAbility to be an innovative and effective decision-maker. oAbility to deal with sensitive/challenging/complex and stressful situations. oAbility to undertake audit and critically analyse data. oAbility to work shifts required by service

Desirable

• oExtended/enhanced clinical skills. oDemonstrate report writing. oDemonstrate resourcefulness. oDemonstrate ability to assess, diagnose, interpret investigations and develop a clinical management plan for patients. oSkills in presenting at conferences/webinars

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential

• oMust be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below) oApplicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience