Theatre Healthcare Assistant

 

Theatre Healthcare Assistant

Job Title: Theatre Healthcare Assistant
Salary: £29,029 per annum
Job Type: Full-time
Location: London, N19 5NF

Job Overview:

The Theatre Healthcare Assistant (HCA) is an essential part of the theatre team, supporting Registered Nurses (RNs) and other healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality patient care within a theatre environment. The HCA will work across various areas, including Main and Day Treatment Theatres, Interventional Radiology, and the Recovery Unit. Under the supervision of Registered Nurses, the HCA will perform a range of clinical and non-clinical tasks, having been deemed competent through appropriate training and assessment. This role is critical in ensuring the safe, effective, and dignified care of patients undergoing surgical and interventional procedures.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Patient Care and Support

• Direct Care Delivery: Assist in the implementation of patient care plans as directed by the Registered Nurse. This includes contributing to the preparation of patients for surgery, assisting during the peri-operative phase, and supporting post-operative recovery.

• Holistic Care: Ensure a high standard of patient care by maintaining patient comfort, dignity, and self-esteem at all times. This involves actively contributing to creating a therapeutic environment that promotes patient well-being.

• Patient Positioning: Assist with the safe moving, handling, and positioning of patients following clinical needs and Trust’s Moving and Handling policies. This includes providing physical assistance before, during, and after anesthetic or surgical procedures.

• Basic Life Support: In emergency situations, assist the nurse in summoning help and collecting necessary equipment. Be prepared to administer basic life support, following appropriate training.

• Patient Preparation: Support patients as they prepare for surgery, including assisting with pre-operative procedures and ensuring their comfort. Provide emotional reassurance to patients and families where needed.

2. Collaboration with the Multi-Disciplinary Team

• Team Communication: Maintain effective communication with the nursing team and all members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). This includes communicating patient status, equipment needs, and other relevant information to ensure cohesive and safe patient care.

• Promote Teamwork: Embrace the philosophy of multi-disciplinary working by fostering positive relationships with team members, and understanding the importance of collaboration in delivering high-quality patient care.

3. Anaesthetic and Surgical Support

• Support during Anaesthesia: Assist the anesthetic team in preparing the anesthetic room, ensuring that equipment is ready, and assisting in the care of patients undergoing anesthetic procedures.

• Intra-Operative Support: Provide assistance to the surgical team during procedures, ensuring the safe and sterile handling of instruments and materials. This may involve assisting in positioning patients, preparing the operating theatre, and supporting the team with the transfer of equipment.

• Post-Operative Support: Assist in patient recovery post-surgery by supporting the Registered Nurse in monitoring patients, providing comfort, and addressing their immediate needs.

4. Equipment Management

• Safe Equipment Use: Ensure all medical equipment is maintained in safe working order. This includes demonstrating a thorough understanding of how to operate various pieces of theatre equipment effectively and safely.

• Equipment Checks: Conduct regular checks of all theatre equipment and promptly report any issues to the relevant department for repair or replacement.

• Stock Control: Assist with the inventory of surgical supplies, ensuring the theatre is well-stocked with the necessary instruments and materials, and inform the appropriate team when supplies need to be replenished.

5. Health and Safety Compliance

• Infection Control: Adhere strictly to infection control protocols, ensuring that all areas of the theatre are kept sterile and that personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn as required. Follow the Trust’s policies on cleanliness and hygiene to prevent infection risks.

• Risk Management: Report any potential hazards or safety concerns immediately and work with the team to mitigate risks within the theatre environment. Follow the Trust’s Health and Safety policies at all times.

6. Continuous Professional Development

• Training and Competency: Participate in all required training programs, including mandatory updates, to ensure competencies are maintained in key areas such as infection control, basic life support, and equipment handling.

• Learning Opportunities: Take advantage of learning and development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to theatre care. This includes shadowing senior colleagues and attending relevant courses and workshops.

• Reflective Practice: Engage in reflective practice to improve personal and professional development. Work with supervisors and mentors to seek feedback and use this to inform future practices.

Core Competencies and Skills:

1. Patient-Focused Care:

• Ability to deliver patient care with compassion, empathy, and attention to detail.

• Capacity to maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to the principles of patient dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity.

• Strong interpersonal skills to offer emotional support to patients and their families in stressful situations.

2. Communication:

• Clear and effective communication skills, both verbal and written, to interact with patients, their families, and the MDT.

• The ability to work as part of a team and foster positive working relationships with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

3. Technical Proficiency:

• Competency in operating and maintaining theatre equipment safely and efficiently.

• Ability to assist with the preparation and maintenance of a sterile environment to reduce infection risk.

• Knowledge of basic life support and emergency procedures within a clinical setting.

4. Professionalism and Adaptability:

• Professional demeanor with the ability to remain calm and focused in a high-pressure environment such as an operating theatre.

• Willingness to adapt to the varying needs of different surgical specialties and theatre teams.

• Strong time-management skills to ensure all tasks are completed efficiently.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Essential:

• Previous experience in a healthcare setting, preferably in theatres, surgical wards, or emergency care.

• Completion of basic healthcare assistant training or equivalent qualifications.

• Demonstrable experience in delivering compassionate care and working within a multi-disciplinary team.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or willingness to complete training upon appointment.

• Desirable:

• Experience in an acute care setting, particularly within theatre or recovery environments.

• Knowledge of moving and handling procedures, particularly in a theatre or surgical setting.

• An NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent qualifications.

Working Conditions:

• The post holder will be required to work within various theatre environments, including Main and Day Treatment Theatres, the Interventional Radiology Area, and Recovery.

• Shifts may include unsocial hours, including nights, weekends, and bank holidays, depending on the needs of the theatre schedule.

• The role involves long periods of standing and the physical demands of moving and positioning patients.

Equal Opportunities:

Whittington Health is committed to ensuring that all its services are equally accessible to everyone. As a healthcare provider, the Trust values diversity and strives to employ a workforce representative of the community it serves. Applicants from all backgrounds, including age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, sexual orientation, and religion, are encouraged to apply.

As part of this commitment, the Trust ensures that all recruitment, training, and promotion practices are inclusive and sensitive to diversity. This allows us to provide better care for our patients while creating a workplace that supports staff growth and development.

Join Us:

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality patient care in a theatre environment and want to contribute to a dynamic multi-disciplinary team, we encourage you to apply for this role. At Whittington Health, we believe that by embracing diversity and fostering teamwork, we can provide the best possible care for our patients while supporting our staff in their professional journey.

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