Senior Theatre Sister/ ODP – Anaesthetics/ Recovery

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed Senior Theatre Practitioner to undertake the role of Anaesthetic and Recovery Lead.

The role will be a key stakeholder within the theatre leadership team combining Management, Clinical and Technical Expertise, in support of the Theatre Manager.

Lead and line manage a multidisciplinary team of theatre personnel.

Support the daily running of the operating department, ensuring efficiency and delivery of planned operating sessions, inclusive direct clinical support and supervision.

Provide safe, quality planned care for patients during their perioperative phase of care, by ensuring theatre teams deliver high standards of evidence-based care.

Main duties of the job

You will need to have extensive experience in either anaesthetics/ recovery or both, providing leadership and expertise across these areas. You will need to provide leadership and direction to the team, capitalising on research and development opportunities. Support the daily operational running of the theatre department, acting as first point of escalation for matters arising pertaining to the anaesthetic/ recovery area.  Manage people and financial resources to ensure the effective operation of the team for which they are responsible.  Always ensure effective skill-mix and appropriate caseload management.

Allocate work and assess performance of the team members objectively against set criteria/competencies. Be responsible for ensuring individual PDR’s are planned and completed for team members.  Provide clear feedback to team in a way that is conductive to maintaining and improving performance.  Establish and maintain effective communication with Lead nurse’s, team members and relevant stakeholders. Be responsible for standard of nursing care delivered in work area. Display evidence that staff provide holistic, evidence-based, patient-centred care. Responsible for standard operating procedures and policies being upheld within the operating department.  Responsible for the investigation of incidents and shared learning responses, under Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership

Provide professional and managerial leadership to the departmental team. Including acting as role model and coach to junior staff.

Communicate complex information across barriers of understanding showing empathy and reassurance to staff, relatives, and patients.

Carry out all duties in accordance with their respective codes of conduct reflecting an attitude and appearance that befits the profession.

Organise the appropriate safe staffing levels are adequate for the workload and be aware of changing situations; including ensuring that annual leave is commensurate with service requirements.

Rota planning and staff allocation, ensuring appropriate skill mix.

Liase, communicate and negotiate with colleagues to ensure co-operation in achieving departmental objectives, promoting good working relationships and establishing team motivation.

Act as or support the Theatre Co-Ordinator in the day-to-day operational floor management of the operating sessions to ensure through put of patients requiring surgery. Escalating relevant circumstances to the theatre manager and operational team as per escalation policies.

Plan and facilitate regular staff meetings to maintain effective communication with staff though out the department.

To generate a culture which promotes empowerment and ensures that decision-making is allocated to appropriate levels, allowing staff to feel they make a valuable contribution.

To engender an environment where all staff are constantly seeking to make service improvements and deliver to agreed individual and group targets.

Carry out clinical duties as required and maintain clinical skills.

Act as a senior resource for clinical advice and troubleshooter for clinical and technical problems.

Support and cross cover of the theatre leadership team as required.

Human Resources management

Carry out PDR’s, recruitment initiatives and interview prospective new staff or existing staff for promotion.

Monitor the management of attendance of staff and proceed within timely manner.

Participate in Disciplinary or Grievance procedures according to Trust policy when necessary.

To adhere to all Trust Human Resources Management policies and procedures, always ensuring compliance with employment legislation and regulation.

Ensure that robust performance management systems are in place for your team.

Ensure support is in place for all new starters throughout probationary period and preceptorship.

Deal with complaints or suggestions from staff as appropriate.

Ensure all members of the team have up to date professional registrations

Monitor, train and develop staff for them to perform efficiently and effectively.

Identify department requirements for training and educational course places, liaising with practice based educator.

Financial

Identify, lead, and implement value improvement initiatives with the support of the theatre manager.

Be responsible for monitoring and controlling stock and non-stock items used within the theatre areas to prevent wastage.

Communicate regularly with the Stock Management Team.

Act as authorised signatory for stock, non-stock items and invoices.

Lead and conduct trials on new products and equipment and where appropriate after evaluation, initiate the change to new merchandise.

Manage small equipment assets.

Work with the Operational Lead to identify equipment priorities, undertake risk assessments to evidence shortfalls.

Ensure any company representatives entering the department have followed the correct process with the procurement team and that the Operational Lead has given permission for them to visit.

Ensure that equipment service contracts are up to date and that the equipment receives regular servicing/maintenance.

Governance

Plan, Write and Implement and maintain Theatre Standards, Policies and Risk Assessments to maintain high standards and a safe environment.

Ensure all incidents are reported appropriately and in a timely manner via the datix system.

Investigate and report on incidents within a timely manner. Inclusion of root cause analysis and attendance to executive review group where required.

Encourage and promote evidence-based practice using integrated care pathways, protocols of care with an inter-disciplinary approach that supports clinical benchmarking.

Ensure all audits are undertaken and relevant reporting processes have been followed in a timely manner.

Ensure that departmental and trust policies and procedures are observed for the administration of drugs to prevent drug errors and misuse.

Ensure that other departmental and trust policies and procedures are adhered to by all staff.

Lead, supervise and/or undertake an active role in research, development, improvement and implementation of new techniques and practices within the department assessing results and impacts.