Theatres Health Care Assistant

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health provider in Gateshead is seeking a Theatre Health Care Assistant to support patient care throughout the perioperative journey. This role involves direct patient care, communication with medical teams, and maintenance of safety standards in the theatre environment. Applicants should have experience in patient care and effective communication skills. The position offers a dynamic working environment with various specialities supported.

Benefits

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Supportive staff networks

Qualifications

• Experience in patient care, preferable in surgical settings.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff.
• Awareness of health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Support direct patient care under supervision.
• Maintain confidentiality and patient dignity.
• Assist in cleaning and maintenance of equipment.

Skills

Direct patient care

Effective communication

Teamwork

Machine operation

Job description

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions. We are looking to recruit Theatre Health Care Assistant who will play an integral role at all stages of a patient's perioperative journey.

As a Theatre Health Care Assistant, you will be a valuable part of the Theatre team.

We have twelve theatres covering a range of specialities including Orthopaedics, general surgery, and are the regional centre for Gynae‑Oncology. Our facilities include 2 state of the art Laparoscopic theatres and a robotic theatre.

Please read through the attached job description to see details of what the role involves.

Please note: if we experience a high volume of applications for this post, it may be necessary to bring the closing date for applications forward. If you wish to apply for this vacancy, you are encouraged to submit an application at your earliest convenience.

Responsibilities

• Carries out direct patient care and assigned tasks under the supervision of the registered practitioner.
• Support all members of the MDT to deliver high quality, safe patient care.
• Ensures a safe working environment.
• Supports patients, carers and visitors whilst in the perioperative department.
• Establish good relationships with the patient, their relatives and colleagues.
• Demonstrate effective communication methods within the perioperative environment.
• Assist and support the MDT with agreed clinical activities.
• Communicate effectively using written and oral skills.
• Provide and receive routine information.
• Exchanges factual information to patients and attempts to overcome barriers to understanding, e.g. patients with physical or mental disability, English as a second language.
• To maintain strictest confidentiality and respect for patient's privacy and dignity at all times, providing reassurance and overcoming barriers to communication as appropriate.
• To carry messages between Theatres/recovery as requested by the Registered Practitioner whilst adhering to Theatre Etiquette.
• Participates in team discussions, brief, WHO, concerning the perioperative environment and patient care.
• Able to operate machinery such as theatre tables, laparoscopic stack systems.
• Stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Respond effectively and timely when required in an emergency.
• Repetitive actions such as bending and stretching.
• Effective use of a keyboard and computer.
• Pushing and pulling of heavy or unpredictable loads such as patient trolleys, scrub trolleys.
• Ensure any equipment that is not safe to use is quarantined and appropriately serviced.
• Rotation of stock to reduce wastage.
• Assist the Registered Practitioner with the cleaning and maintenance of equipment in the perioperative environment.
• The post holder will be expected to undertake all shift patterns pertaining to their area of practice including night duty, late shifts and weekends.
• Frequent exposure to bodily fluids.
• Occasional/frequent highly unpleasant conditions.
• Smell/noise, dust/body fluids, faeces, vomit, empty bed pans and catheter bags.
• To work within COSHH regulations and Health and Safety Regulations with regard to hazardous substances, exposure to radiation, sharps and body fluids.
• To transport specimens and blood to and from the appropriate departments as requested by the qualified practitioner, adhering to Trust department policies and procedures.

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. 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. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.

Working for our organisation

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest level of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE: Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of the highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.