NursingNetUK

Job overview

The opportunity to join this dynamic team has arisen at Maidstone Hospital Theatres for enthusiastic Senior Practitioners. The successful candidates will be responsible for working across our Theatre Departments.

Possession of excellent communication skills and being able to adapt to any situation is essential. You must be prepared to teach others your invaluable skills and you will have the ability to work well within a multidisciplinary team whilst being a role model to others. Mentorship is desirable. Aiding the running of the theatres on a day to day basis, ensuring optimum utilisation within the theatre and ensuring a high standard of care is given is an essential part of the role. Deputising in the absence of Lead Practitioners will also be a part of the role.  

The post will also requires working late shifts (until 20:00),  and perform weekday/weekend on calls from home.

Main duties of the job

We have four theatres in our Main Theatre department, two theatres in Short Stay, two Ophthalmology theatres, one Orthopaedic and one Oncology theatre. We also visit outside areas like Cardio Cath Lab, Pain Clinic and the CT scanner to assist our colleagues in other departments.

The role of Senior Theatre Practitioner (mainly Ophthalmic and Day case surgery) will involve 
1. Developing and changing operating practices in line with current protocols.

2. Responsibility  for the maintenance of equipment and ordering of specialised stock within the budget

3. Liaising with the Lead Practitioner and the multi-disciplinary team members in monitoring and maintaining policies, and standards of care, completing risk assessments and staff development as part of the theatre team. 
4. Responsibility for the assessment of care needs. Develop, implement and evaluate change as necessary. 
5. In providing specialist care and/or support and deputise for the Lead Practitioner/ Clinical Coordinator in the management of the clinical area. This will involve dealing with complex situations and having to take appropriate action in emergency and unforeseen situations.

6. Knowledge and skills in Ophthalmic surgeries and day-case surgeries 

Working for our organisation

MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England. 

We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre. 

In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.

Would you like to work flexibly?  In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.