Job summary
Support the care of patients undergoing operations under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or operating department practitioner and contribute to their ongoing care, working in varied clinical surgical teams.

You will start at band 2 and going up to band 3 on completion of the care certificate as well as the relevant Theatre support worker competences.

Main duties of the job

• Organise and prepare necessary equipment and supplements for operating lists in advance, this includes communication between departments, theatres to ensure smooth running of the operating list.
• Ensure all areas within the operating department are clean and tidy, with adequate stock levels maintained and rotated.
• Handle and remove all clinical waste as per local policy for collection and disposal.
• Ordering and monitoring CSSD supplies and updating instrument tracking systems.
• Checking and receiving sterile and non-sterile stock and supplies.
• Actively manage medical equipment, including transportation, set up, connection and downloading of data. Check and maintain gas cylinders (laparoscopic stacks).
• Maintain the working safety of equipment and report faults where appropriate and trained to do so.
• Assist with transfer and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patient safely between all acute areas of the department and hospital.
• Assisting theatre personnel in gowning and gloving following local policy.
• Support registered theatre personnel by opening packs in a sterile fashion and using clinical knowledge and experience to anticipate the potential equipment needs as a surgical case progresses.

About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community.

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities
Supporting the multi-skilled team in delivering surgical care in Operating theatres, the job is multi-faceted and includes clinical, health and safety, education and personal responsibilities.

For more details, please see attached job description.

Essential Education and qualifications

• Holds National Care Certificate or be willing to undertake and complete within 12 weeks or starting

Desirable Education and qualifications

• National Care Certificate holder Functional skills level 1 Maths and English or GCSE equivalent
• Previous experience of being a Health Care Support Worker
• Vocational qualification at Level 2 in Health, Health and Social Care or sector related subject area.

Essential Experience and knowledge

• Experience of working / communicating with the general public.
• Able to understand the importance of how to apply Person Centred Values in the care environment: privacy, dignity, respect, active participation, equality, diversity, confidentiality.
• Demonstrates an awareness of the importance of keeping the clinical environment safe and clean.

Desirable Experience and knowledge

• Experience of working in a healthcare team environment
• Understanding of risk management and health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.
• Knowledge of the Data Protection Act

Essential Skills and abilities

• Communication with a range of different people including service users, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Working in an effective team. Demonstrates awareness of the 6C's, Trust values and Patients First Service Standards.
• Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.

Essential Personal qualities

• A genuine interest in kind and compassionate caring.
• Able to deal with challenging situations.
• Able to relate to all people, valuing their individual traits that contribute to team working and the outcomes of care delivery.

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.

Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £25,272 to £27,476 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 179-8238714-S-A

Employer contact details
Clinical Team Leader/Theatre Co-ordinator: Eddie Crighton, eddie.crighton@wsh.nhs.uk, 01284713320

Certificate of Sponsorship is not available for this position as it does not meet one or more of the required criteria. For more information on eligible roles please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. If you qualify for another type of visa or right to work, please ignore this information.