Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner

Job overview

The trainee Surgical Care Practitioner (tSCP) will be an experienced registered healthcare professional who is expected to work towards advanced level clinical practice in general surgery which includes colorectal, HPB and Upper GI. They will be expected to work across the patient perioperative journey including clinics, ward and operating theatres to include laparoscopic, robotic and open surgery. The tSCP will work under clinical supervision to meet the capabilities or competencies required for the role and academic programme, outlined below an.

The level of supervision will depend upon the tSCP’s knowledge, skills and capability, and their autonomy which is expected to increase during their development; the tSCP must work within their own limitations and scope of practice. The tSCP will develop and exercise a degree of autonomy and decision making in a context of complexity, uncertainty and varying levels of risk, holding accountability for their decisions, such cases should be included in their portfolio of evidence and discussed with their supervisor.

The tSCP will be able to manage clinical care in partnership with individuals, families and carers responding to differences in cultures, demographics and populations. Utilising critical analysis and synthesis in dealing with complex problems across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to enhance people’s experience and improve outcomes.

Main duties of the job

• Co-ordinate the care of patients throughout their surgical pathway with the multidisciplinary team and clinical services to ensure the effective management of this group of patients, including intraoperatively, which may include the insertion of ports, suturing, acting as robotic bed side assistant.
• Accountable for own actions in accordance with their professional regulatory body requirements.
• Will contribute to corporate objectives, acting within local, Trust and statutory guidelines and policies at all times.
• Lead and deliver clinical care, across a variety of settings, according to national and local guidelines ensuring delivery of evidence-based care and working towards the Trust vision of providing a World Class Service.
• Undertake an initial assessment to determine differential diagnosis, utilising advanced critical thinking and decision-making skills, deciding when necessary to refer to senior clinical colleagues.

This training must be completed within a five-year time frame. Study leave and expenses are provided according to the HEI programme and the relevant organisational policies. The successful candidate will progress to Band 8A on successful completion of MSc Surgical Care Practicer and specialty competencies/capabilities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Act autonomously to assess, prioritise and provide expert clinical care which contributes to the patients’ treatment plan to ensure that optimum physical, psychological, and social care needs are met and ensures quality care.
• Request and interpret relevant investigations to facilitate the development of the patient’s management plan.
• Initiate the management of patients who are critically ill or deteriorating within scope of practice.
• Proactively refer to other clinicians (own or other services) depending upon patients’ needs to deliver care beyond your limitations and scope of practice.
• Proactively initiate treatment plans for patients requiring intervention and treatment ensuring ethically based considerations.
• Proactively identify, diagnose, and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing long term conditions.
• Undertake relevant clinical procedures to facilitate patient care within the service, supported by the appropriate training and supervision.
• Autonomously assess, diagnose, and have the legal authority to independently prescribe. As an independent prescriber, the tSCP is responsible and accountable for the assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions and for clinical management decisions.
• The independent prescriber can prescribe pharmacology and non-pharmacology treatment within their scope of practice.
• Provides information and advice to patients on prescribed medication regimens, side-effects, and interactions ensuring compliance with evidence- based practice and national and practice protocols.
• Documents clearly all aspects of assessment, diagnosis, and management plan and present the findings, using the approved documentation framework.
• Facilitates shared decision making by discussing assessment outcomes with patients, carers, and other health care professionals, to enable patients to make informed decisions regarding treatment.
• Highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high-quality service within a complex and challenging environment with often, conflicting priorities.
• Support patients, families, and carers to adopt health healthy lifestyles strategies and apply principles of self- care, alongside clinical management plans.
• Understand and recognise risk and apply safeguarding measures that support the identification of vulnerable adults and children, being aware of statutory child/ vulnerable patient’s health procedures and local guidance to escalate concerns accordingly.
• Contribute to informed patient consent and act as patient advocate.
• Undertake delegated consent as appropriate and after successful completion of the relevant training and competencies.
• Report clinical incidents via Trust Datix reporting system, investigate as appropriate and share learning.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Please be advised the interviews for this post will take place week commencing 09/11/2026, subject to availability.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

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.