Job overview

The role of the Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) is to provide highly specialised surgical assistance to the Urological Surgical team in the operating theatres and contribute to the urological outpatient diagnostic service.

 Under the direction of a Consultant Urological Surgeon, the post holder will participate in operative procedures and aspects of pre-, peri-, and post-operative care. The post holder will use their knowledge and skills to deliver and maintain and encourage the highest levels of patient care.

 The post holder will be expected to liaise and work alongside a varied multidisciplinary team and service users to ensure patients receive a seamless surgical experience. They will hold a responsibility to participate in the training and education of appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team through teaching, research and audit.

 The successful candidate will perform as an assistant for all surgical procedures, in particular robotically assisted surgery, by performing skills such as skin preparation, draping, clamping, cutting, tying, sponging, suctioning, skin closure directed by the attending surgeon.

 In the outpatient setting, the SCP will undertake outpatient procedures, such as local anaesthetic trans perineal prostate biopsies, and work closely with the Urology CNS and ANP team.

Pay will be Band 7- Band 8a, dependent on experience and successful Urological diagnostic competencies sign off. 

Main duties of the job

To provide highly specialised surgical assistance in all aspects of urological surgery to consultants and junior medical staff in the operating theatre.

To understand advanced surgical techniques and make professional and clinical decisions for which the surgical assistant is accountable.

To have an advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

To have an advanced knowledge of current elective and emergency surgical techniques and equipment required to achieve the optimal outcomes in surgery.

To have a good working knowledge and skill set for patients undergoing urological robotic and laparoscopic surgery.

To understand the principles of surgical techniques required for various diseases requiring surgery.

Assist with the co-ordination and smooth running of the operating session by liaising with theatre and other personnel as appropriate.

To assist in the training of clinical staff in all aspects of theatre practice.

To assist in the development of new equipment for surgery and the maintenance of such equipment in conjunction with theatre personnel.

To undertake outpatient urological diagnostic procedures and support post-operative care in the outpatient setting

Working for our organisation

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve.  We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We’re passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as “Good” by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.