Theatre support worker

Job overview

The perioperative Health Care Assistant is part of the multidisciplinary team supporting care to patients during the perioperative journey within the operating department. Support and supervision are provided by a Registered Professional.

The Perioperative Healthcare support worker (PHCSW) carries out a range of support tasks and duties to enable the team to provide an effective and efficient service within the acute hospital setting.

To achieve this the PHCSW will:

• Competently perform the necessary aspects of patient care.
• Ensure effective delivery of clinical care is provided to patients and that an high standard is maintained.
• Follow Trust policies and provide safe and person-centred environment for the treatment of patients.
• Participate in personal and practice development activities to maintain standards of care.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be provided with training in the use of range of equipment and be able to demonstrate manual dexterity in the relevant areas such as: •
• Keyboard skills, setting up of theatre operating table equipment, movement of sensitive theatre equipment.
• Preparation of and management of the healthcare environment and equipment used.
• Perform moving and handling tasks relating to moving and handling patients, supplies, equipment, beds and patient trolleys and operating tables.
• Standing/walking for most of the shift.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient care and clinical duties

• Demonstrates care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help ensure high quality person-centred patient care is delivered at all times.
• To carry out a range of assigned patient care tasks as directed by a Registered Professional to ensure delivery  high quality  patient care.
• To report observed changes in the patients’ physical/psychological needs to the Registered Professional.
• Performs a range of tests and reports to the Registered Professional
• Set up specialist equipment and medical devices for surgical intervention alongside a Registered Practitioner
• Maintains a sterile field and establishes a safe surgical environment.
• Participates in the Five Steps for Safer Surgery including the WHO safe surgery checklist.
• Performs the full range and expectations of circulating duties including competency in specialist and emergency surgery.
• Collection and preparation of specimens and accurate record keeping of the specimens.
• Assisting with patient positioning and use of patient positioning equipment in the theatre.
• Assist with the safe transfer of patients from anaesthetic trolley to bed.
• Safe collection of the patient from the ward to theatre.
• To deal with questions and enquiries from patient’s carers relatives and staff e.g. on the patient’s condition, theatres listing and refer to registered professional where necessary.
• Communicate/liaises with members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure high standards of patient care.
• Assist patients where necessary including repositioning, provision of oral fluid post operatively under the supervision of a Registered Professional
• Provide support to the Registered Professional and where appropriate, other members of the clinical team as required.
• To co-operate and maintain good relationships with  team colleagues and staff in other disciplines that are attending theatres and delivering patient care.
• Maintain good relationships and an empathic approach to the patient’s family, relatives and carers and refer them to a trained professional for any questions they may have on the client’s condition or for any suggestions or complaints that they wish to raise.
• Report observed changes in the patient’s physical and psychological needs.

Policies, procedures and standards

• To always maintain patient confidentiality  at all times and follow information governance policies and procedures.
• To participate in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, e.g. Specimen record book to ensure effective communication.
• To follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure maintenance of safe working practices for patients and colleagues.
• To follow the theatre departmental procedures for the use of supplies and equipment to promote the effective and efficient use of resources.

Equipment and resources

• Adhere to department procedures for the use of supplies and equipment to promote the effective and efficient use of resources.
• Share responsibility for key aspects of housekeeping ,  cleaning of equipment and stock control demonstrating a good awareness of cost efficiency and safety.
• Undertakes routine and regular checks on patient areas ensuring all relevant equipment is clean, in good working order and in-tact and report faults to Registered Professional. ·

Equipment, Systems and Machinery

The post holder is expected to demonstrate and act on the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors, and employees.

The healthcare support worker will use a range of equipment and resources in their role and some of these are listed below:

• Patient trolleys, beds, operating tables and equipment moving & handling equipment, patient positioning pressure relieving aids, operating table attachments.
• Blood bank fridge •
• Drip stands, theatre machines.
• PC/printer, phone

The post holder is responsible for inputting information into patient records where applicable, e.g., Complying with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott Guidelines and local policies regarding confidentiality and access to medical records.

Under supervision by a Registered Professional, the post holder will assist with maintaining accurate patient care documentation. Several systems are regularly used, including iCare, Surginet, Ulysses, etc.

Personal development and learning

• To participate in personal career development plan to maintain skills and develop personal growth training and education.

Decisions and Judgement

• The post holder is responsible to the Registered Professional or deputy for clinical guidance and professional management, work review and formal appraisal of performance.
• Their workload will be determined by the Registered Professional /Deputy.
• Exercise the ability to plan and deliver allocated workload.
• Demonstrate the ability to acknowledge changes in the patient’s physical/psychological needs and report them to the Registered Professional in charge of the patient.
• Decide when to refer enquiries from the patient, carers and relatives to the Registered Professional.
• Responsible for accepting delegated tasks from the Registered Professional and is accountable for undertaking them.
• Highlight any concerns about undertaking the task.
• Work without direct supervision using own initiative within the parameters set in polices and SOPs with guidance from the Registered Professional available at all times.

Communication and Relationships

The post holder communicates and liaises with the patient, their relatives/carers and the multidisciplinary team and maintains good relationships.

Communicates with other relevant professionals, for example Registered Professional / members of the multi-disciplinary team for information regarding patients’ clinical condition/clinical problems/workload issues.

Communicates with the Registered Professional for advice regarding educational and training issues relevant to patient management and personal development.

Communicates with other departments – for example, Estates, Supplies Department.

There is a requirement to take account of communication barriers, for example, when English is not the person’s first language, people with hearing difficulties, learning disabilities etc. and communicate effectively to deliver person centred care at all times.

To refrain from disclosing such information without the consent of the patient/client or a person entitled to act on his/her behalf, except where disclosure is required by law or by the order of a Court or is necessary in the public interest