Trainee Orthopaedic Plaster Technician

Job overview

Working as an integral part of the orthopaedic multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will be responsible for providing skills in all aspects of casting, splinting and bracing, and virtual clinics working to deliver a high standard of patient care.

The post holder will learn multiple casting techniques with a variety of materials. Using evidence-based knowledge to assess the individual needs of the patient the post holder will be expected to work under direct and indirect supervision from senior members of the team to make appropriate clinical decisions.

The post holder will be expected to provide high quality technical and professional support in other clinical areas such as Emergency Department and Wards. This role requires working with patients of all ages.

Once efficient in-house training has been completed, usually a minimum of 18 months the post holder will be expected to complete the casting course at the Royal national Orthopaedic hospital in Stanmore for a 6 week in house training course to complete and pass the course.

Please note this job will be paid as a Band 4 until the relevant training in house and the casting course has been completed and passed.

Main duties of the job

• Promote and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for patients, carers and staff.
• Obtain verbal consent from the patient when carrying out periods of care, being aware of barriers to communication.
• Participate in the assessment, planning and evaluation of care for the patient, referring to the clinician as required.
• Directly treat patients in the plaster room and ward environments, involving casting, adjustment and removal of plaster of paris (POP), synthetic materials and musculoskeletal splinting and bracing.
• Provide wound care including removal of sutures and skin clips using an aseptic non touch technique.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Promote and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for patients, carers and staff.
• Obtain verbal consent from the patient when carrying out periods of care, being aware of barriers to communication.
• Participate in the assessment, planning and evaluation of care for the patient, referring to the clinician as required.
• Directly treat patients in the plaster room and ward environments, involving casting, adjustment and removal of plaster of paris (POP), synthetic materials and musculoskeletal splinting and bracing.
• Provide wound care including removal of sutures and skin clips using an aseptic non touch technique.
• Assist orthopaedic surgeons in the direct treatment of the patient (i.e. manipulation of joints/fractures).
• Provide telephone consultations to patients, carers and other healthcare professionals as required, giving advice, reassurance and making provisions for patients to return to the department for face-to-face assessment.
• Promote health care education and educate patients concerning their aftercare, especially problems associated with casting.
• Maintain complete, accurate and legible records of all agreed and legal documentation as appropriate.
• Escalates issues, risks or concerns appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Participate in the incident reporting of any risks, hazards and accidents.
• Communicate and co-operate with all members of the multidisciplinary team and work closely with all staff of relevant departments to ensure effective liaison of patient care.
• Possess good IT skills and knowledge of current programmes and systems necessary for patient care records.
• Assist in maintaining stock levels, stock rotation and ordering.
• Participate in audit sessions and team meetings, looking at ways to help improve the service.
• Assist with the general cleanliness and maintenance of the clinical environment and equipment used, reporting any maintenance issues as required.
• Assist with facilitation of patients on transport, whereby helping the nurses to take patient to xrays especially if they are on stretchers and wheelchair.