Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner

Job overview

This is a Band 6 full-time position but part-time of 30 hours would be considered for a Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner. You should be a first level registered experienced nurse/ODP with theatre experience.

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic trainee surgical care practitioner at NUH for general surgery endocrine service to work alongside upper GI and renal and acting as an integral part of the MDT.

You will need to have a high level of acute clinical practice at Band 5 level or equivalent and sound clinical knowledge and demonstrate effective managerial and leadership abilities.

The trainee will be expected to complete a full comprehensive training package under the supervision of the surgeons and SCP. After successful completion you will progress to a Band 7 SCP.

Main duties of the job

This is a varied role including clinics and assisting in minor and major procedures, ordering investigations. Independently planning patient care pre and post-surgery within scope of your competencies. Attending MDT and Governance meetings for development of yourself and the service

Flexibility and strong organisational skills.

Enthusiastic and motivated to improve services.

Effective communication and teaching skills.

Ability to work independently and within a variety of teams.

Ability to interact effectively with peers and junior and senior colleagues.

Working for our organisation

Nottingham University Hospitals has a busy general surgery endocrine renal and upper GI service which is over multiple sites.

This post would suit an enthusiastic person who is looking to develop into a fully trained SCP over the next 2 years. Full training will be given and when qualified will move to a Band7

We have a cosmopolitan team that is warm, welcoming and supportive with an open outlook. We work in a clinically challenging environment with all staff being versatile, hardworking, committed and flexible.

Family friendly Trust, flexible working.

Hours of work, 37.5 hours over 5 days.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a description of the job as it is now. We periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and update them to ensure that they reflect the job as it is currently being performed.

This is a highly clinical role requiring an experienced practitioner. The post holder will be required to lead the development of an established hospital - based practitioner based surgical service for a specific group of patients.

The role is that of an independent practitioner offering a high quality, efficient patient centred service.

The post holder will be involved in all stages of the patient pathway including initial out-patient assessment, history taking, physical examination and diagnosis. Pre-operative assessment, taking informed consent, admission and discharge, first assisting in theatre, telephone follow-up clinic, patient and carers support service.

The SCP will undertake own operating list. Performing minor surgical procedures independently under local anaesthetic.

Attend Thyroid clinics performing vocal cord assessment

Provide leadership, supervision and guidance in the development of Surgical Care Practitioners (SCP) across the NUH Trust.

Provide services for, develop and promote effective management, care and clinical practices for patients presenting with general surgical conditions within the Trust and working in collaboration with other teams across Divisional boundaries.

Take overall responsibility for care and management of a caseload of patients.

Independently order investigations based on clinical need and action results.

Demonstrate expertise in all aspects of general surgical conditions/operations.

Demonstrate safe clinical decision making and expert care for patients with general surgical conditions.

Be responsible for and in collaboration with senior medical staff undertake the teaching of medical staff within the clinical environment.

Be a point of contact for nursing staff requiring clinical advice.

To deliver high quality patient care, acting as a role model for surgical practitioner led practice across different specialties in the Trust.

To provide clinical nursing advice; education and leadership within the speciality of general surgery.

To act as a source of expertise, advice and knowledge for patients, carers and health and social care professionals.

To work within the interdisciplinary team in the provision of optimum care throughout all aspects of the patients care pathway and in all clinical settings.

To develop, undertake, and produce audit reports/service evaluation.

To undertake and participate in research including the publishing of outcomes.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

Works autonomously to deliver expert specialist in-patient and out-patient care to General Surgical Patients.

Uses advanced clinical skills and expert knowledge to assess, diagnose, treat and follow-up, discharge and/or refer onto other health professionals. Uses highly developed specialist knowledge to outline programmes of management and provides comprehensive continued nursing and medical care, clinical advice and management plans for secondary care.

Be a visible point of contact for patients, visitors, relatives and staff acting as an expert resource for problems and able to clearly present the patients’ point of view to others. Receive and investigate any complaints.

Act as a first point of contact for patients providing assessment, identifying risks, adjusting medical management within agreed protocols, triaging to appropriate health professional, liaise with Primary care or facilitating hospital admission where appropriate.

Perform minor surgical operations independently.

Demonstrate safe administration of local anaesthetic, including knowledge of anaphylaxis.

Demonstrate effective consent with due regard to the patients’ safety, privacy and confidentiality.

Has a personal duty of care/responsibility for ensuring the safe use of specialist/highly complex equipment.

Analyses and uses independent judgement and decision making in dealing with complex/highly complex facts or situations that require interpretation, comparison of a range of options and adjustment of treatment plans.

Exercises expert clinical judgement in identifying and assessing complicated problems or illnesses.

Practice is based on the principles of respect, dignity; choice and independence, ensuring individuals are able to make informed choices promoting an integrated service.

Support and advise individual patients to access appropriate information and how to access support networks.

Act as an expert source of specialist support and advice to clinical teams.

Take a lead in demonstrating a highly developed specialist level of knowledge and expert clinical practice within the clinical specialty and across specialty boundaries, acting as a role model and resource of clinical expertise to all levels of nursing and medical staff.

Ensure that patients’ records and documentation is maintained and current (NOTIS, DHR, Medway).

Lead in the development of evidenced bases patient care policies and procedures, guidelines and clinical pathways. Develop and contribute to clinical guidelines and protocols across specialty boundaries and lead the implementation process as required.

Lead in the development of patient information over a range of conditions within General Surgery. Develop Information Prescriptions and Holistic Needs Assessment to empower patients to promote self-care and management of long term conditions.

Use opportunities in health promotion and in the education of patients and the general public where appropriate.

Support the General Surgery Team in service development and in adhering to national standards.

Work at least 90% of time in clinical practice with the emphasis on delivery of a quality service to patients.

Support the Matron as appropriate.

Training and support for the nurse’s, junior doctors and other allied health care professionals.

Responsibility for the assessment of care needs, the development and evaluation of programmes of care and the setting of standards of care aimed at providing a high quality care.

Be an effective leader and role model, providing regular direct clinical care, in addition to ensuring effective use of non-clinical time to support the implementation of both clinical and non-clinical governance, facilitating the modernisation of patient services.