Pre-Operative Assessment Lead | Deputy Sister/ODP

Kettering General Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse/ODP to join the Pre-Operative Assessment Team. You will lead clinics, perform complex pre-operative assessments, and ensure optimal patient readiness for elective surgery across face-to-face, phone and digital pathways.

You will document histories, interpret investigations, and coordinate care with perioperative teams, enhancing patient outcomes while supporting junior staff and service improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience assessing patients with complex needs and multiple co-morbidities.
• Experience working autonomously and exercising professional judgement.
• Experience interpreting diagnostic investigations and escalating abnormal findings appropriately.
• Experience supporting and supervising junior staff and students.
• Understanding of perioperative pathways and patient optimisation.
• Knowledge of current national and local guidance related to pre-operative assessment.
• Previous Band 6 experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Pre-Operative Assessment clinics, delivering safe, effective, patient-centred care.
• Undertake comprehensive pre-operative assessments via face-to-face, telephone and digital pathways.
• Obtain and document medical, surgical and anaesthetic histories, assessing health status, co-morbidities and fitness for surgery.
• Perform complex assessments, exercise clinical judgement and make autonomous decisions regarding surgical readiness.
• Identify patients requiring optimisation, initiating referrals, interventions and appropriate escalation.
• Complete perioperative risk assessments, including airway and STOP-BANG screening.
• Request, review and interpret pre-operative investigations, escalating abnormal results as required.
• Undertake MRSA/MSSA screening and manage results in line with Trust policies.
• Maintain accurate patient records and utilise electronic systems including Careflow, MyPreOp and EPRs.
• Work collaboratively with surgical, anaesthetic, theatre and multidisciplinary teams to support efficient patient pathways.
• Supervise, support and develop junior staff, learners and students.
• Contribute to audit, quality improvement, service development and innovation initiatives.
• Support the reduction of day-of-surgery cancellations through effective assessment and pathway management.

Skills

Complex patient assessment

Autonomous practice

Leadership & supervision

Clinical judgement

Education

Registered Nurse/ODP

CPD evidence

Degree level study or equivalent

Job description

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse/ODP to join the Pre-Operative Assessment Team. You will lead clinics, perform complex pre-operative assessments, and ensure optimal patient readiness for elective surgery across face-to-face, phone and digital pathways.

You will document histories, interpret investigations, and coordinate care with perioperative teams, enhancing patient outcomes while supporting junior staff and service improvements.