Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Senior Theatre Practitioner, Thoracic Theatres, Band 6, Substantive.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Theatre Practitioner with excellent leadership skills to join the Thoracic Theatre Team at the University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust as a Senior Theatre Practitioner.

The Thoracic Theatres at UHS operate up to nine all-day lists from Monday to Saturday. We have performed well over 1,000 surgeries in 2023 alone. The service includes Open Thoracotomies, Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries (VATS), complex airway procedures including laser and hybrid procedures, and Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) using 2 robot systems (Da Vinci & CMR Surgical). We also provide services for rib fixations and chest wall reconstruction.

We are inviting highly motivated, dynamic, and skilled individuals with Thoracic Scrub experience and excellent leadership skills to apply and join our team. Our service can offer a wide range of educational opportunities, including regular education mornings, management courses and the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

As a successful applicant, you will be required to:
•Work flexibly between two theatres as well as cover emergency and out of hours (nights, weekends, and late shifts) services as a part of the general surgery team
•Perform coordinating roles for the entire theatre department
•Run theatre lists not only for Thoracic but also for other general theatres on occasion
•Conduct regular appraisals and audits as part of your managerial role
•Support and manage a range of learners in practice
•Provide clinical expertise to other departments and/or hospitals where and as needed

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

We are looking for applicants who have:
•Demonstrable leadership qualities
•Current and relevant scrub experience, as well as comprehensive Thoracic Surgery experience including knowledge with the Intuitive and Versius Robotic Platforms
•Foundation Management Course or equivalent
•Flexibility with working patterns
•Experiences in clinical management & change management
•Good communication skills with ability to provide complex information in intense settings
•Background in coaching and supporting team development
•Good organisational skills including Thoracic-specific teaching sessions and conferences

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse or Registered ODP
• Experience as a Theatre Practitioner in an acute theatre unit
• Awareness of professional regulations in the NHS
• Leadership Experience
• Clinical scrub skills – generic and speciality-specific
• Provide evidence of supporting / managing a range of learners in practice
• Provide evidence of supporting colleagues to promote effective learning in practice
• Good communication skills with ability to provide complex information in intense setting
• Foundation Management Course or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Leadership training / qualification
• Clinical management experience
• Experience in implementing change
• Act in the role of Practice Assessor or supporting the progression of learners / supporting challenges as needed

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Prioritisation
• Working under pressure
• Leadership
• Delegation
• Organisational skills
• Motivational
• Emotional intelligence
• Critical thinking
• Incident resolution
• Interpersonal skills
• General IT skills

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.