Theatre Scrub Practitioner General Theatres, Band 5

Job overview

The Band 5 Scrub Practitioner delivers safe, high-quality, evidence-based perioperative care across the Trust’s General operating theatres, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care while managing an allocated caseload. The role supports a diverse range of elective and emergency surgical activity, including robotic surgery, urology, breast surgery, gynaecology, gynaecological oncology, colorectal surgery and upper gastrointestinal surgery.

Main responsibilities include maintaining aseptic technique; preparing, checking and managing surgical instruments, implants, medical devices and specialist equipment; providing scrub assistance for procedures across these specialties; completing instrument, needle and swab counts and the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist; supporting safe patient positioning, transfer and theatre preparation; anticipating and responding to intraoperative needs; communicating effectively with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team; safeguarding dignity and safety; maintaining accurate records; complying with professional, Trust, infection prevention, information governance and risk-management standards; reporting and supporting the investigation of incidents; contributing to audit, service improvement and research-based practice; undertaking mandatory training and continuing professional development; and supervising, teaching and supporting learners, new staff and less experienced colleagues while acting as a professional role model.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Responsibilities / Key Responsibilities

- Maintain aseptic technique and provide safe, effective scrub assistance for elective and emergency procedures across robotic surgery, urology, breast surgery, gynaecology, gynaecological oncology, colorectal surgery and upper gastrointestinal surgery, working within assessed competence.

- Prepare, check, manage and account for surgical instrumentation, implants, prostheses, medical devices and equipment appropriate to the procedure and specialty.

- Accurately perform and document instrument, needle and swab counts, and actively participate in all relevant stages of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and associated perioperative safety checks.

- Anticipate the needs of the surgical team, respond appropriately to intraoperative changes and escalate concerns promptly to maintain patient safety.

- Support safe patient positioning and transfer, and prepare, check and restore the theatre environment before and after surgery in accordance with local procedures and assessed competence.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional Development, Education and Training

- Be actively involved in and support departmental education programmes.

- To consolidate and learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic care. Develop clinical reasoning and treatment techniques through active participation in training and development. Consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff.

- To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of student nurses and less experienced staff, with support from senior staff as required. Provide support, guidance and training, and assess and evaluate competence, to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce.

- Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and non-registered staff in the clinical practice setting.

- Undertake all mandatory training.

- Demonstrate a commitment to research-based practice and clinical excellence and play an active part in the introduction of research-based changes to improve patient-centred care.

Management and Leadership

- Comply with Trust and departmental policies and procedures, for example The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, manual handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, data protection legislation and patient confidentiality at all times. This includes demonstrating compliance with safeguarding policies and processes relevant to adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and undertaking regular mandatory safeguarding training.

- In conjunction with their manager, identify personal training needs and participate in clinical audit and quality projects that contribute to the departmental education programme.

- Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in departmental and Trust protocols. Assist lead staff in investigating incidents as required.

- Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision-making in conjunction with lead staff.

- Ensure a smart, professional image that enhances public perception of the Trust and portrays the professionalism of its staff.

Professional Practice

- Ensure clinical practice is evidence based or peer-reviewed best practice.

- Develop and maintain the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to deliver an evidence-based service.

- With supervision and assistance, take on increased responsibility, recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately.

- Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems, including the electronic patient record, email and EPR.

- Maintain regular use of email to keep abreast of information disseminated in the Trust.

- Adhere to the NMC or HCPC Code of Conduct at all times and operate within the NMC or HCPC scope of professional practice.

- Demonstrate awareness and understanding of accountability, responsibility and duty of care, and work towards providing support and education for less experienced and non-registered staff on the implications for practice.

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.