Practice Educator- Surgery

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Surgery for two full-time positions, one based at Luton and one based at Bedford (37.5 hours, Monday to Friday), working closely alongside the Surgical Practice Development Nurse (PDN) under their direct line management. Occasional cross-site working may be required to support training programmes and service development initiatives.

This role is for you if you like to work within the standards, procedures and protocols of the Trust and enjoy teaching others.

Surgical services at both Luton and Bedford are busy, fast-paced environments caring for a wide range of patient groups with varying clinical needs.

The role will support clinical staff and learners within practice by helping bridge knowledge and skills gaps through clinical teaching, supervision and pastoral support. This will support staff development, staff retention and the delivery of high-quality patient care.

The post holder will be required to support our nurses, nursing associates and CSWs in practice, bridging their knowledge and skills gap to help them reach their clinical potential. In addition, the role involves offering pastoral support which will improve staff satisfaction and retention as well as patient safety and experience.

It is essential that the post holder exercises initiative and clinical judgement using acquired skills and knowledge, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Main duties of the job

To develop and deliver clinical skills and vocational training programmes for multi-professional audiences in support of identified training needs to support the delivery of learning within Surgery in conjunction with the Surgical Practice Development Nurse (PDN).

To work alongside nursing staff in clinical areas, offering 1:1 clinical teaching with guidance and supervision.

To actively promote patient safety and, through the facilitation of training programmes, departmental teaching or coaching ensure that learning reflects improvements to the patient experience.

To manage the process of assessment of clinical skills, ensuring that competency data is collected, maintained and reported on a quarterly basis to the Surgical Matron via the Surgical PDN.

The expectation is that this role will be based within the clinical areas - not office based.

To liaise with the surgical PDN to ensure all training given to staff is appropriate, relevant and up to date.

To provide educational direction, guidance and access to a range of learning opportunities for all registered staff in the surgical wards for maximum learning, by enhancing personal development, through framework of knowledge skills, educational programmes and support.

To facilitate and participate in research projects, sharing and comparing evidence based best practice and use findings to change practice where appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Skills Training

• To develop agreed training programmes for clinical practice ensuring that the programmes are updated; evidence based and that the process for assessed practice is monitored.
• To provide on-going support and assessment of clinical skills such as those requiring competency sign off in the practice areas ensuring the assessment documentation is completed to the expected standard creating an atmosphere conducive to learning i.e. Preceptorship Handbook, Care certificate, Apprenticeship course.
• To actively encourage and participate in sharing good practice throughout the Surgical division.
• To contribute to the training needs analysis of each clinical area in liaison with the Surgical PDN.
• In liaison with the Surgical PDN develop and facilitate new clinical skills training programmes and to design competency based training programmes where they do not exist to meet those needs.
• To reinforce training on new clinical equipment in each area.
• To support the newly qualified nurses at the Trust throughout the preceptorship period.

Managerial Responsibilities

• To take part in sharing good practice days for multi-professional staff, raising awareness of development opportunities throughout the Trust.
• To participate in recruitment and selection where appropriate.
• To be actively involved in promoting good communication between wards/departments.

Education, Training and Development of Staff

• To provide workshops for nursing staff and students to update their practice or learn new skills.
• To provide approved training programmes using appropriate handouts and presentations and to continually review and develop training methods using the latest research.
• To ensure own knowledge base is up to date and evidence based.
• Ensure that procedures for developing the role of the nurse and scope of professional practice are implemented and reviewed regularly.
• Work collaboratively with other teams and service lines, in order to learn from good practice and identify local improvements.
• Together with the PDN and ward manager review incident themes and complaints as well as areas where care has gone really well to inform a plan for areas to target clinical training and education and areas to maintain practice.

Professional and Legal Responsibilities

• To develop the role of clinical expert in providing care and advice on related problems and to take responsibility for own professional development, undertaking appropriate activities to update clinical knowledge and skills.
• Promote awareness and compliance amongst colleagues regarding Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and standards.
• Uphold the principles of the NMC Code of Professional conduct
• Comply at all times with regulations issued by the Trust especially those governing health and safety at work and to ensure that any defects which may affect staff or patient safety at work are brought to the attention of the appropriate Manager.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills:

• Ability to make decisions relating to routine enquiries and issues.
• The post holder will be required to exercise sound clinical judgement and decision making skills.
• Ability to problem solve and provide alternative solutions.
• Ability to recognise situations that should be referred to the Line Manager and take prompt and appropriate action.
• To work with PDN, matron and ward managers to analyse available data and make informed decisions on where to plan and concentrate training needs for each area.

Planning and Organisational Skills:

• To organise own day-to-day work and prioritise team tasks as required showing an ability to prioritise in order to achieve set timescales
• To lead on the completion of registered nurses and registered nursing associates training and ensure all other members of the team follow the correct processes.
• To work on own initiative and communicate closely with the managers, compiling and presenting data where required.
• To ensure work is practical and based in the ward and clinical environment, working alongside ward and dept staff.

Policy and Service Responsibilities:

• To work collaboratively, as part of an integrated team.
• To work within and keep up to date with National and Trust legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures, protocols and code of conduct and ensure they are adhered to across the team.
• To participate in and contribute to the effective introduction of new systems and initiatives leading to the improvement and development of patient service.
• To act in a manner that supports equality and value diversity and is in line with the Trust values.
• To treat everyone with whom you come into contact with dignity and respect.

Effort and Environment

• A high level of concentration and attention to detail is required.
• Meticulous accuracy is essential in order to maintain service levels.
• Provision of a customer focused, helpful service to all staff and patients at all times.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.