Surgical First Assistant

To perform operating department duties under

the direction of the Clinical Director and assist the Consultants and work

colleagues in a professional manner to ensure the smooth running, efficiency

and high standards of patient care and safety. To maintain professional and

individual accountability.

Surgical First Assistants (SFA) practice as

part of the surgical team, under the direct supervision of the operating

surgeon.

The post holder will perform and assist in all

aspects of surgical procedures to an expert level in line with personal

competencies. They will be a point of knowledge for junior team members and

act as a mentor to health professionals who wish to gain competencies within

the field of surgery. The post holder will work with consultants in

delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during

and after surgery.

Part Time: 30hours per month. Other part time hours will be considered. Hours are worked across a 7 day working rota. Please specify your preference on the application form. Currently most theatre work is scheduled during evenings and weekends. Start times in evenings 17.00 to finish. Weekend work 8 am start to finish. Flexibility is essential with finish times

We offer enhancements for Saturdays and any work between 8pm and 7.30am on weekdays at time +30% of your basic salary rate. For Sundays and Bank Holidays at time + 60% of your basic salary rate.

To perform operating department duties under

the direction of the Theatre Team Lead and assist the Consultants and work

colleagues in a professional manner to ensure the smooth running, efficiency

and high standards of patient care and safety. To maintain professional and

individual accountability.

Surgical First Assistants (SFA) practice as

part of the surgical team, under the direct supervision of the operating

surgeon. Scrub skills would be an advantage.

The post holder will perform and

assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to an expert level in line with

personal competencies. They will be a point of knowledge for junior team

members and act as a mentor to health professionals who wish to gain competencies

within the field of surgery. The post holder will work with consultants in

delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and

after surgery.

Spencer Private Hospitals

undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include but are not

limited to general surgery, orthopaedics gynaecology, urology, ENT and

colorectal patients.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The SFA is clinically

responsible to the consultant surgeon - working under the direction and

supervision of the consultant surgeon as a member of the surgical team.

professionally accountable for their own actions and advanced practice and must

comply with the local policies and procedures of the Trust and work within the

boundaries of personal competencies and professional codes of performance,

conduct and ethics.

Line Manager is the Theatre Sister

Work in close liaison with the Theatre staff and Consultant

users

Liaison with staffing agencies and other hospital

departments, wards, porters

To work within the recognised role and

framework as published by the Royal College of Surgeons for Surgical Care

Practitioners and adhere to their voluntary code of conduct (RCS The surgical

team 2014)

To provide competent, skilled assistance

to the operating surgeon during the intra-operative period, undertaking

advanced practice and highly specialised skills required for a wide spectrum of

cases.

To have specialist and expert knowledge

of human anatomy/physiology in relation to the surgery being undertaken.

Support and promote the development of

clinical capability within your team and its application in delivery of service

outputs.

Utilise appropriate tools, routines and

behaviours to coach and develop the capability of your team to do a little

every day to improve and deliver exceptional care aligned to the Spencer

Hospitals strategic priority domains.

You will

play a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred

care and maintaining professional standards within the theatre setting. This is

an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, forward-thinking, experienced SFA

who is ready to be part of a skilled team, with a family atmosphere.

To take every reasonable opportunity to

maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence

To participate in personal objective

setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and

the Trusts appraisal process.

Be

accountable in the participation of operational and decision-making processes in

theatre

Organise

a smooth efficient work pattern within the theatres with maximum efficiency of

the resources available

Participate

as a member of the theatre team and to carry out safety checks on swabs,

instruments, blades, needles etc

Act

as circulating (runner) member of the theatre team when required

Assist

in the preparation of theatre instrument sets and consumables.

Aid

the Consultant Anaesthetist as anaesthetic assistant.

be familiar with WHO Surgical safety checklist and ensure compliance within the

team.

comply with theatre safety and operational policies in relation to swabs,

instruments, blades and needles counts, storage and administration of drugs,

diathermy and radiation

administer controlled drugs in accordance with the Spencer Private Hospitals

policy

report promptly any accidents, incidents, complaints or unplanned occurrences

to the Theatre Manager or Matron and be competent in using the Datix system of

incident reporting.

co-operate with all departments within the Hospital to promote a unified

approach to patient care

maintain suitable standards of hygiene, cleanliness and tidiness in the work

environment

complete the Operating register / theatreman / Sunrise accurately

complete Patient Charge Forms for each patient.

scrub for surgical cases as required and in line with competencies.

assist consultants in surgery as per SFA role

recommendations to ensure safe surgical practice.

The role of the SFA should be

undertaken by someone who has successfully completed a validated

university programme of study that meets the nationally recognised

standards (CODP 2018, AfPP 2016, CODP 2011), underpinning the knowledge

and skills required for the role.

SFAs must ensure that they have

appropriate indemnity cover.

The SFA scope of practice may be

extended in line with service need

The SFAs name and designation must

be recorded within the perioperative documentation.

The practitioner acting as Scrub

Practitioner must be focused upon the management of the

intraoperative care required by the patient and therefore must not

assume the additional duties such as that of the SFA.

In the event, that an employer

considers that a dual role is required in minor surgery, then this must

only be undertaken by a registered practitioner and the decision should be

endorsed by a policy that fully supports this practice and should also be

based on a risk assessment of each situation to ensure patient safety.

The policy and risk assessment

should identify the skills, knowledge and competencies required and the

category of surgery and situations for which the employing organisation

determines the dual role as acceptable. If this is not in place, as part

of an effective clinical governance framework, then scrub practitioners

must NOT undertake SFA duties in a dual role.

Roles

and Responsibilities

with patient positioning, should include tissue viability assessment

Skin preparation and draping prior

to surgery

Superficial skin and tissue

retraction with cutting of superficial sutures

Handling of tissue and manipulation

of organs for exposure or access

Nerve and deep tissue retraction

(The SFA can only move or place retractors under the direct supervision of

the operating surgeon)

Cutting of deep sutures and

ligatures under direct supervision of the operating surgeon

Assisting with haemostasis in order

to secure and maintain a clear operating field including indirect

application of surgical diathermy by the surgeon

Use of suction as guided by the

operating surgeon

Camera manipulation for minimal

invasive access surgery

Thank you for considering a position within Spencer Private Hospitals (SPH)Ltd. We are a healthcare organisation which is genuinely passionate about delivering nothing less than excellence. Particularly patient care that exceeds all expectations. We are fortunate that we have a bespoke team who are valued and well respected by our patients, the board, peers and other stakeholders. We also recognise that the right team are our greatest asset.

We are building upon our strategy for growth and expansion and are looking to expand our nursing teams.

We provide a variety of services across East Kent, which include in patient, Day case, outpatients, Diagnostics, lifestyle and wellbeing services including options via the choose and book option in their care pathway.

Our principle sites are in Margate and Ashford with an outpatient provision in Canterbury.

I hope Spencer Private Hospitals will appeal to those of you whose purpose is to provide the best of care in an appreciated and respected environment with ambition to improve their knowledge and skillset whilst caring for a multiplicity of patients in a considerate environment with opportunity for further growth and development.

Thank you for considering a position a position with us. We look forward to welcoming you into Spencer Private Hospitals should you be successful at interview.

Personal Attributes

Qualifications

Experience

Desirable: - Multiskilling - demonstrate competency in surgery / anaesthetics and recovery

Other

Skills

Essential: - IT skills; - Committed team player; - Ability to deal with emergency situations within operating theatre department; - Checking patients documentation

Desirable: - Leadership, interpersonal and organisational skills