HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

1.         Clinical responsibilities and Care Management

 

Pre-operative

 

• To participate in a variety of clinics and outpatient’s activities when required, in the context of the pre-operative assessment and investigations relevant to the surgical patient.

 

• To assist in the preparation of patient for surgery including venepuncture and (male and female) urinary catheterisation and correct positioning of the patient appropriate to the surgery to be undertaken, taking particular care to avoid nerve injury and maintain tissue viability.

 

• To display X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and help interpret angiograms.

 

Peri-operative

 

• To undertake the surgical procedures of VATS, bronchoscopy, PV blocks etc

 

• To undertake the following specific duties:
  • Skin preparation and draping
  • Skin incision and dissection of tissues using surgical instruments and a high degree of manual dexterity
  • Use of harmonic scalpels, diathermy for dissection and haemostasis
  • Specific thoracic procedures both open and via VATS
  • Surgical haemostasis and insertion of drains
  • Suturing of all surgical wounds
  • Appropriate use of local anaesthetic and PV blocks
  • Applying dressings to wounds

 

• To act as first or second assistant under the direction of the consultant surgeon for thoracic procedures, including: tissue retraction, applying suction, diathermy, maintaining clear field of surgical vision and assisting surgeons and monitoring patient’s vital signs.

 

• To assist with the closure of soft tissue sternal and chest wounds with emphasis on elimination the risks of infection.

 

Post-operative

 

• To participate in the postoperative assessments of the patients with particular attention to

1.    wound assessment and the prevention of infection in surgical wounds

2.    identification of surgical problems/complications

3.    identification of acute deterioration of patients.

 

• To assist in the postoperative education of patients undergoing cardiac and thoracic surgery where appropriate.

 

• To ensure that all staff identify and act upon psychosocial, psychological and physiological problems of patients, utilising specialist services as appropriate and according to agreed guidelines.

 

• To work closely with all multi-disciplinary teams to maintain an efficient and safe service that meets the individual needs of all patients.

 

 

2.         Professional Development

 

• To undertake appropriate surgical care practitioner training to MSc level

 

• To take responsibility for own personal and professional development.

 

• To participate in the appraisal process.

 

• To act as role model and as a resource for colleagues, to enable them to develop their own knowledge and practice.

 

• To develop own knowledge and practice in accordance with KSF and PDP.

 

• To participate in developing training programmes for new procedures/extended roles and changes within the SCP’s practice.

 

• To assist junior doctors and future trainee SCPs in developing their professional knowledge and skills and to transfer these into clinical practice.

 

• To acquire new skills and techniques as cardiothoracic surgery evolves.

 

 

3.         Management duties:

 

• To maintain effective communication systems, including dissemination of information and access to all Trust and local policies and procedures.

 

• To act as a specialist practitioner and assist in the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of standards of care.

 

• To act as a resource to other members of the multi-disciplinary team providing accurate information and advice.

 

• To initiate, develop and use flexible and innovative approaches where appropriate to meet the needs of the patients, including the review of relevant protocols and guidelines to ensure clinically effective and evidence-based care.

 

• To assist in ensuring all patients and carers have information and health education appropriate to their needs.

 

• To assist in assessing the skills and competencies of junior surgical staff and trainee SCPs.

 

• To assist in ensuring a positive learning environment is maintained and utilise educational strategies in motivating and retaining staff.

 

 

4.         Financial and Information Management:

 

·         To be aware of financial issues, ensuring that thought is given to the use of consumables and that they are used appropriately.

 

·         To be proactive in identifying and promoting cost savings and improving efficiency in the use of all resources.

 

• To collect and store information which is relevant to theatre workload.

 

 

 

 

5.         Quality Management:

 

• To be actively involved in audit/data collection and analysis and to initiate and pursue audit projects.

 

• To utilise results of audit and research to improve the quality of the service.

 

• To assist in ensuring health and safety procedures relevant to the clinical areas are enforced and ensure that appropriate risk assessments are undertaken.

 

• To review and maintain standards of record keeping and documentation.

 

• To ensure that the principles of clinical governance and clinical risk management are integrated into patient care.

 

• To ensure appropriate incident reporting, investigate incidents and take corrective actions.

 

• To assist in developing a positive working environment to retain staff.

 

• To assist in ensuring that all patient data is recorded accurately.

 HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All employees of the Trust have a Statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.  Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Trust to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

FLEXIBILITY STATEMENT

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a precise catalogue of duties and responsibilities.  The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Upon satisfactory completion of 2-years training programme, the trainee SCP post holder will become a qualified SCP. By then s/he is expected to have increasing level of responsibilities and of specific KSF dimensions. 

This job description is subject to regular review dependent on the needs of the service and the developmental needs of the post holder and should always be revisited as part of the appraisal process.