Surgical Care Practitioner - Urology

Job overview

The Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) is an advanced clinical practitioner working within the Urology theatres. The role is characterised by a high degree of clinical expertise, autonomous decision making, professional accountability and leadership across the peri-operative patient pathway.

The post holder will work in partnership with Consultant Urological Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Nursing Staff, Allied Health Professionals and the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality, evidence-based care for patients undergoing urological surgery.

The SCP will undertake advanced clinical practice within agreed governance frameworks and Royal College of Surgeons guidance, providing expert assessment, peri-operative management, intra-operative surgical assistance and post-operative care.

The post holder will undertake credentialed surgical interventions within their agreed scope of practice including robotic bedside assistance, port placement, tissue retraction, wound closure and other delegated surgical procedures under consultant supervision.

The SCP will function as an autonomous advanced practitioner, contributing to service leadership, workforce development, education, governance, quality improvement and research across the Urology Service.

The post holder will demonstrate practice across the four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Practice, Leadership and Management, Education and Research.

Main duties of the job

The Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) will provide advanced clinical practice within the Urology service, supporting patients throughout the peri-operative and post-operative pathway and working closely with Consultant Urological Surgeons and the wider multidisciplinary team.

The post holder will:

• Undertake comprehensive pre-operative assessment, post-operative management and autonomous clinical decision-making within the agreed scope of practice.
• Provide advanced surgical assistance during urological and robotic-assisted procedures, including port placement, tissue retraction, haemostasis, suturing and wound closure.
• Identify and escalate post-operative complications and contribute to discharge planning, enhanced recovery and optimisation of the robotic surgical pathway.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, carers and multidisciplinary colleagues, acting as an expert clinical resource.
• Provide professional leadership and contribute to service planning, workforce development, clinical governance and patient safety.
• Lead and support education, training, mentorship and competency development for theatre staff, junior doctors, trainee SCPs and other MDT members.
• Lead and contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement, service evaluation and research, supporting evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, procedures and service improvements relating to SCP and robotic surgery practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• Undertake comprehensive pre-operative assessment of patients undergoing urological surgery.
• Request and interpret appropriate investigations within the agreed scope of practice and local policies.
• Participate in urological surgical procedures under the direction of Consultant Surgeons.
• Act as a first or second assistant during surgical procedures.
• Provide advanced bedside assistance during robotic-assisted surgery.
• Undertake credentialed procedures within the agreed scope of practice, including port placement, tissue retraction, clipping of vessels and structures, control of bleeding, application of haemostatic agents, suturing and wound closure.
• Undertake post-operative assessment and management of patients.
• Recognise and appropriately escalate post-operative complications and deteriorating patients.
• Contribute to discharge planning and enhanced recovery pathways.
• Provide specialist advice, information and support to patients and carers.
• Participate in consultant-led ward rounds and multidisciplinary reviews of complex surgical patients.
• Undertake additional clinical responsibilities, including on-call duties and outpatient clinics, in line with service requirements, competence and agreed scope of practice.
• Lead aspects of peri-operative management for patients undergoing robotic surgery.
• Contribute to pathway redesign and optimisation of the robotic surgical patient journey.

Professional Leadership and Service Development

• Provide professional leadership for SCP practice within Urology.
• Act as an expert clinical resource for medical, nursing and allied health professional colleagues.
• Support effective use of clinical resources and contribute to operational planning.
• Participate in departmental meetings, clinical governance and service planning.
• Contribute to recruitment, induction, retention and workforce development.
• Support the achievement of service objectives, quality indicators and performance targets.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives relating to robotic surgery and urological patient pathways.
• Develop, review and implement relevant policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the SCP role and robotic surgery service.
• Contribute to workforce and succession planning for future SCP roles.

Education and Training

• Support the learning and development of colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Deliver teaching within theatre and clinical environments.
• Act as a mentor, clinical role model and source of professional support.
• Lead education and training for theatre practitioners, nursing staff, junior doctors and other MDT members.
• Support competency assessment and development of staff working within robotic surgery.
• Contribute to the supervision and development of trainee SCPs and future advanced practice roles.
• Design and deliver educational sessions relating to robotic surgery, peri-operative care and patient safety.

Quality Improvement, Audit and Research

• Participate in and lead clinical audit, quality improvement and service evaluation projects.
• Collect and analyse clinical outcome and service performance data.
• Support implementation of audit recommendations and evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to benchmarking and monitoring of service performance.
• Present audit, quality improvement and research findings at local, regional and national meetings.
• Contribute to research activity and identify opportunities for innovation within robotic surgery and urological practice.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain professional registration and practise in accordance with the relevant professional code.
• Maintain SCP accreditation and an appropriate professional portfolio demonstrating ongoing competence and development.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in healthcare, urological surgery and advanced clinical practice.
• Demonstrate advanced professional judgement when managing complex and unpredictable clinical situations.
• Work within agreed governance arrangements, professional accountability and scope of practice.
• Promote patient safety, safeguarding, consent and evidence-based practice.
• Critically reflect on own practice and support reflective learning across the wider team.

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.