Anaesthetic Practitioner

Job overview

Anaesthetic Practitioner

Student ODP looking to be challenged and developed at a leading London hospital? We are excited to announce that there is now an opportunity for you to join our Anaesthetic Practitioner Team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

This post is particularly suitable for:

• Newly qualified practitioners
• Current Band 5's looking for a new opportunity to expand their skills at an exciting London hospital

For more information about our team, please review the 'About Our Team' document attached to this advert.

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Unfortunately we can only recruit individuals who have (or are about to complete) an ODP degree or an anaesthetic course. If you are a nurse interested in a career change to anaesthetics you will usually need to gain some experience in Theatres as a Scrub or Recovery Nurse first, and then complete an anaesthetic course.

Main duties of the job

You will be required to work across the 14 Theatres + 4 procedural areas that we perform anaesthesia in. You will also be required to respond to 2222 calls and, as you become more experienced and senior, you may be asked to act as the 'Anaesthetic Coordinator'.

Shifts will be varied and will involve working nights and weekends. Day shifts start at 07:45 and Night shifts start at 19:45.

Acting on behalf of the Lead Anaesthetic Practitioners, and working in partnership with the wider perioperative team, an Anaesthetic Practitioner is responsible for delivering a high standard of care to patients, relatives and colleagues, in line with the Trust PROUD values. This will be facilitated by undertaking a rotation programme through the different surgical specialities which operate across our 14 theatres and 4 outside areas.

Team working is an essential part of the role, so the successful applicant will need to utilise their communication, and non-technical skills in a busy theatre environment. They will be motivated to work towards maximising efficiency and consider innovative ways of reducing the financial and environmental cost of the service.

We run a 24/7 service, so applicants will be asked to work nights and weekends, once they have completed their rotation programme. We don’t currently do on-calls, all anaesthetic staff are resident for their shifts.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Anaesthesia-Specific

• Prepare the anaesthetic room/area, in a timely manner, in line with national and local guidelines
• Facilitate the delivery of safe surgery, in line with national pathways – such as NatSSIPs2 and GPAS
• Receive patients in a welcoming manner and undertake the pre-anaesthesia and WHO checks
• Work alongside the anaesthetists to provide high-quality care to patients and escalate any concerns in a timely manner
• Be able to anticipate the needs of the patient and the wider team
• Ensure the list runs smoothly and actively work to minimise delays
• Provide clinical advice to junior anaesthetists, when sought
• Be knowledgeable and proficient in managing anaesthetic emergencies
• Maintain IV cannulation skills, for the widest patient age range you can.

Clinical:

• Maintain professional registration and do not act in a way that could jeopardise this
• Maintain competence, via CPD and rotation, to work in all clinical areas
• Communicate well with the MDT to advocate for patients within the clinical setting, across all three stages of a patient’s perioperative journey
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate the care given to patients during the perioperative period
• Ensure controlled drugs are managed and recorded in line with national and local procedures
• Ensure all consumables and equipment are stored in a safe, secure and appropriate manner; whilst considering their availability for emergency situations
• Actively seek training in any, and all, pieces of equipment required for the role, ensuring their usage is in line with guidelines
• Promote a safe working environment by adhering to relevant local and national Infection Prevention and Control, Health and Safety, Information Governance and Safeguarding policies and procedures
• Ensure clinical practice is current and evidence-based
• Maintain competence in all required equipment, ensuring each piece is properly used and maintained in line with Trust policy
• Ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation is done so in line with local and national policies and procedures
• Order, store, administer and discard drugs in line with Trust Medicines Policy.

Leadership:

• Act as an appropriate role model
• Provide current, evidence-based clinical advice to junior staff, as required
• Act as a mentor/assessor to students and other learners in the department
• Assist with the delivery of induction, orientation and supervision of junior colleagues
• Assist in the development and implementation of local policies and procedures
• Work with colleagues to collect and disseminate data based on local and national quality indicators
• Promote a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment for your colleagues, to the best of your abilities.

Professional:

• Act in accordance with the Trust PROUD values and reflect on times when adherence to these has been suboptimal
• Act in accordance with all HCPC/NMC standards
• Ensure compliance with Uniform Policy and ensure you have a welcoming demeanour, especially when public-facing
• Undertake yearly PDR/appraisals and actively seek out regular one to ones throughout the year
• Ensure, as a minimum, that mandatory training is kept up to date in a timely manner and that professional CPD requirements are upheld
• Read and respond to work-related emails in a timely manner
• Maintain the ability to escalate concerns effectively and appropriately, as required
• Understand own limitations and be able to recognise, and manage, stress within yourself
• Understand the financial and environmental cost of undertaking your duties, and seek to minimise these where possible, in consultation with senior colleagues
• Keep track of own learning and ensure continuously seeking out new opportunities
• Ensure that incidents are managed and reported effectively and in a timely manner
• Ensure good communication skills are utilised and maintained
• Be accountable for your actions and inactions
• Actively participate in team meetings
• Maintain professional standards and sensibilities when acting outside your normal scope of practice in extreme scenarios, i.e.. Major incidents or pandemics
• Treat others with respect and dignity, even when their values conflict with your own
• Recognise that all people are different and require an individualised approach (whether staff, patient or visitor) and any action, or inaction, that undermines Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity principles must be challenged in a timely and professional manner.

General:

• Be receptive to change
• Have a sound support network to help endure sometimes difficult, traumatic and emotive environments and situations
• Support colleagues to improve their mental well-being and resilience
• Undertake a full range of shifts, including nights and weekends.

This is not intended to be exhaustive, and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.

PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE ROLE