Senior Healthcare Assistant - Paediatric Theatre

Plymouth Hospitals is a large acute trust in the Southwest of England, providing perioperative care for elective and emergency patients across the region. The hospital is a designated Trauma Centre and tertiary referral centre for Neurological and Cardiac patients. The trust is a teaching hospital with close links to the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Plymouth.

Children's Theatres currently has 3 Theatres, day of surgery admissions, a recovery/discharge area, and preoperative assessment. We are situated on level 2 within Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Specialities covered within Children's Theatres include Urology, ENT, Plastics, Maxillo-facial, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, community dental, Ophthalmology, etc. A mixture of day case, in-patient, elective and emergency work is undertaken within the unit.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our theatre and recovery team. The successful applicant must show a commitment to high quality patient care and excellent teamwork along with a genuine interest in the care of patients undergoing invasive procedures. It will also be required to work in partnership with other teams within the Theatre Central cluster, supporting staff, students, patients and relatives.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

The Trust is a 24 hour major trauma centre and successful applicants to the Team Leader post will be expected to participate in the on-call and weekend rota. Scrub Practitioners will be expected to participate in the 7 day service, working the required shifts to meet the service demand.

As a team we are dedicated to delivering high quality care for our patients and currently have an exciting and ongoing programme for improvement, which allows us to constantly review our practice and perioperative pathways. Our pathways are developed in consultation with patients and users of this service. In addition, we have a team of dedicated Perioperative Clinical Educators who work alongside the teams in practice, ensuring that the theatre teams are supported and remain current in perioperative practices.

Our Trust core values are 'Put patients first', 'Take ownership', 'Respect others', and 'Be positive'. If you agree that these values should be integral to your work, then Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has much to offer you.

About Us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.

We recognise that work-life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-HB-S6783874

Job locations

Children's theatres, level 2, Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Competently undertake delegated duties in line with patient care plans.
• Ability to use your knowledge and experience to undertake non-routine duties and an understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility.
• To carry out a range of (limited) clinical duties with minimal/no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples/faecal samples/sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.
• Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff.
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
• Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies.
• Utilising skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.
• Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
• Maintain effective record keeping and communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills, where there may be barriers to understanding.
• Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty. This may include ordering supplies.
• Work effectively as part of a team.
• The SHCSW is responsible for inputting information into the electronic patient record where applicable and also into patients written records. Comply with all relevant legislation and local policies regarding confidentiality and access to medical records.
• Demonstrate ability to access Trust policies and procedures and comply with those relevant to role.
• Act, at all times, in a manner which demonstrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
• Embrace the Trust values and work in an inclusive way.
• Act within limits of competence, ensuring actions support care, protection, and wellbeing.
• Responsible for maintaining own skills, knowledge, and competence for the role.
• Participate in team discussions/meetings as an integral member of the team.
• You are accountable for your workload in accordance with care plans and for reviewing the effectiveness of care provided. Adapting, or escalating as required.
• To support or guide the healthcare support worker.
• Competent in the use of IT systems within the workplace environment.
• Participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners and other visitors to the department.
• Comply with Trust policy regarding information governance and the care of patient property.
• Dependent on work setting you may have frequent exposure to bodily fluids, distressed, or confused patients.
• Occasional distressing and emotional circumstances when caring for patients with chronic illness or terminally ill.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience Essential

• Experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting.
• Be able to work as a member of a team.
• Experience of time management and prioritising work.
• Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients and relatives.

Qualifications Essential

• Level 3 (SCQF-6) City and Guilds 3, or NVQ 3, or BTEC National Diploma or Experience equivalent.
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths or equivalent.
• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support.
• Equivalent experience.

Aptitude & Abilities Essential

• Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal.
• Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately.
• Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures.
• Committed to providing high quality patient care.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision to a high standard.
• IT Skills, basic word, email, keyboard skills.
• Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames.
• Flexible and adaptable to change, able to work a range of shifts and moving across wards dependant on clinical need.
• Able to demonstrate calm, caring patient manner/attitude.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting.
• Able to meet the physical and developmental demands of the role.

Disposition/Attitude/Motivation Essential

• Has caring and compassionate nature.
• Demonstrate self-motivation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

Employer details

Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address: Children's theatres, level 2, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH

Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/