Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Be responsible for the delivery of clinical expertise in all aspects of the clinical setting, acting as a visible practitioner in the Department
• Collaborate with other health care professionals in the delivery of high standards of effective health care within best practice guidelines
• Act as a resource of specialised knowledge and clinical expertise to ensure care delivered to the client group is appropriate and optimum enabling early recognition of condition changes and ensuring appropriate corrective action is instituted.
• Demonstrate awareness of legislation regarding client group e.g vulnerable adults, mental health issues and act appropriately when required.
• Practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health Professional Council (HPC) Code of Professional Conduct in order that a safe and quality service is provided.
• Promote the shared objectives of the multidisciplinary team by working closely to ensure that best practice is achieved utilising both Trust objectives and values to achieve this.
• Promote and collaborate in developing good working relationships with departments to ensure the patient journey is effective and efficient.
• Encourage and promote an evidence-based culture through pathways and protocols of care within an interdisciplinary approach.
• Ensure that patient documentation is accurate and defensible disseminating all relevant changes in the patient’s condition to the MDT.
• Participate in the implementation and delivery of the standards set within the Trust Nursing & midwifery Strategy.
• Contribute to clinical effectiveness processes including adverse incident reporting/investigating and the management of complaints, as appropriate.
• To promote health education in the client group attending the ward/department.
• Ensure competence in the correct use of all equipment used in the clinical setting
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records and theatre documentation including use of Operating Theatre Management System.
• Involve where possible patients, multidisciplinary team and carers/relatives in the planning and delivery of services within the theatre area.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and departments to ensure patient care needs are met, especially with regard to efficient enhancement of the patient journey within the speciality.
• Handover of patients to recovery and CCU staff.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers/relatives and other wards and departments.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations within theatres and other departments in Trust when required following appropriate training.
• Treat all information regarding clients and patients as confidential.
• Ensure patient records, theatre management system and theatre documentation are maintained, and that documentation reflects care provided.
• Fulfil all mandatory training requirements.

Leadership / Management

• Provide visible clinical leadership to the theatre team promoting a culture of leadership by example to all staff
• Support the Senior Sister/ SODP Band 7 in delivering the core values and beliefs of the department.
• Support the Senior Sister/SODP Band 7 in their role in delivering the functions of the Matron role, within the clinical setting (i.e. Infection Control and Prevention, Quality Care Rounding and Safeguarding) and take appropriate action when standards of quality, quantity and timeliness are not met.
• Provide clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring delivery of the highest professional standards through staff development and performance review.
• Act as a professional role model, through commitment to the integration into practise of Trust policies and procedures (i.e. Dress Code Policy).
• Lead a team, organising and co-ordinating the daily workload.
• Manage daily fluctuations in workload ensuring appropriate skill mixing and deployment of staff.
• Deputise for the Senior Theatre Sister/Coordinator in their absence facilitating the management and organisation of the theatre..
• Support the Senior Theatre Sister to maximise best use of clinical resources, implementing best practice in patient flow, and the patient’s journey.
• Participate in the selection and appointment process of new staff.
• Assist the Senior Theatre Sister in ensuring the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources, new practices/developments within theatres are ethically approved and costed.
• Promote the development of services within the speciality area and assist the Senior Theatre Sister and Theatre Manager to implement change.
• Monitor health, safety and security of self and others and implement best practice within the theatre.
• Undertake PDP review and development of staff within the theatre suite.
• Contribute to formulating policies and strategies within area of practice.
• Actively contribute to the Clinical Effectiveness processes.
• Demonstrate an overall awareness of quality issues and a commitment to continuous quality improvement.

Education and Development

• Develop own “expert” clinical knowledge and participate in the development of others.
• Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regard to mandatory training and professional development requirements.
• Support the Senior Theatre Sister and Theatre Manager in facilitating an environment that provides staff with a range of education / training and development and opportunities.
• Act as a mentor / assessor to all theatre learners.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Participate in the development of others, undertaking involvement in training, education and development within and outside the theatre environment.
• Undertake supervision/development of pre & post-registered learners.
• Participate in undertaking staff development review and those issues of poor competence are addressed.

Clinical Governance

• Participate as required in departmental audits.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others; participate in the development of the same.
• Assist the Senior Theatre Sister and Theatre Manager to monitor standards of care and lead the improvement of care, benchmarking, audit and research within the theatre.
• Assist the Senior Theatre Sister and Theatre Manager with implementation of service improvements within the theatre.
• Act in a prompt & timely manner of incident reporting, investigation & provision of information to Theatre Manager.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• Ensure staffs are able to respond appropriately in emergency situations.
• To be aware of duties and responsibilities in relation to risk management.

Infection Control

• Assist the Senior Theatre Sister in ensuring environmental audits are undertaken in the theatre and any action plans are followed by all staff.
• Comply with policies for the correct disposal of clinical and other waste, sharps and soiled linen and ensure all staff adhere to these policies.
• Assist the Senior Theatre Sister in ensuring that all staff fulfils their responsibility for infection control including hand hygiene and aseptic technique.

Research

• To assist / implement in the introduction and application of research findings to operating theatre practice.
• Participate in local research and clinical trials as directed by senior members of the team.
• To be aware of all current medical research relating to the operating department.

Responsibilities of Registered Theatre Nurses/Operating Department Practitioner’s

• Maintain Active Status on the NMC / HCPC
• Act always in accordance with NMC/ HCPC
• Adhere to Trust Policy and Procedures.
• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge and maintain awareness of professional issues.
• Maintain a professional portfolio for Revalidation
• Participate in service on call rota, undertake rotation within theatres
• Maintain recent evidence of relevant competencies for use of all equipment used.