Theatre Support Worker

This is an exciting opportunity to join our friendly, hard working team that cares for patients, staff and each other alike. The Patient Support Worker role starts at a Band 2, progressing to a Band 3. You will be supported throughout your training in the first 12 months and whilst in your post. The hospital is a friendly place to work and has many benefits.

You will be supporting the care of patients undergoing operations under the direction of a registered nurse or operating department practitioner and contribute to their ongoing support. Successful candidates will support theatre practitioners in the delivery of patient focused care in our varied clinical surgical teams.

Successful candidates will have completed both the Care Certificate and Theatre Support Worker Competency booklet. This must be completed within 12 months of employment during which time the candidate will be paid at band 2. Candidates will also be encouraged to complete their Level 2 Function Skills in Maths and English if an equivalent has not already been completed.

Once staff have completed 12 months continuous employment at Band 3 they may register interest in the Operating Department Practice apprenticeship programme or equivalent to go on and become registered practitioners subject to meeting the essential criteria set by the Higher Education Institution (HEI).

The role of Patient Support worker will involve all aspects of patient care, including providing reassurance tthroughout all stages of their perioperative journey. You willassistwith the transfer and positioning of the conscious and unconscious patient on the operating table.

You will play a role in assisting registered theatre personnel in all aspects of theatre, taking a leading role as the circulator in the obstetric theatre providing the scrub practitioner with the necessary support to be able to perform their role. This includes the documentation of essential information, providing equipment as needed/requested and provision of direct patient care in collaboration with the wider theatre team

Organise and prepare necessary equipment and supplements for operating lists in advance. This includes communication between departments, theatres and theatre teams to ensure the smooth running of the operating list.

Ensure all areas within the Operating Department are clean and tidy and that adequate stock levels are maintained.

Complete operating theatre documentation appropriate to your role and in line with hospital policy.

Answering the telephone, bleeps and conveying messages to appropriate personnel.

Work and operate as an autonomous member of staff but may be asked to perform other duties as directed by Senior member of staff, Theatre Manager or Team Leader

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) King’s Lynn is located near some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK, along the north Norfolk coast, and not far from Sandringham House.

We provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based healthcare services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, in addition to parts of Breckland, Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire. We have more than 4,000 staff and volunteers, approximately 530 beds, and a helipad for air ambulances. We work with neighbouring hospitals for the provision of tertiary services, including as part of regional partnership and network models of care, such as the trauma network. Some specialist services and clinics are provided in community facilities, such as the North Cambridgeshire hospital in Wisbech.

In February 2022, the significant progress that has been made at QEH in just three years since 2019 was recognised by the Care Quality Commission who rated the Trust as ‘Good’ in all of the core services they inspected, and recommended the Trust moves out of the recovery support system (formerly special measures). We have an absolute determination to continuously improve care and services for our patients and their families.

http://www.qehkl.nhs.uk/document/divisional-booklets/Introducing_our_Surgery_Division.pdf

For further information and details of the post, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.