Overview
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.
The role
The role of the post holder is to assist the registered practitioner and the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of care to patients within the Perioperative department. The Main Theatre department operates on a 7 day a week basis, 24 hours a day including public holidays to provide care for patients requiring surgery in specialties such as urology, gynaecology, dentistry, cardiology and general surgery, colorectal, ENT and robotics. The theatre department also benefits from a perioperative education SCN who works closely with staff to develop and support development throughout the department. Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in working within the perioperative environment; previous experience in a healthcare setting is advantageous but not essential as full training will be provided.
Duration, Location and Working Pattern
* All Posts will be based within the In Patient Theatre unit at Royal Alexandra Hospital in the Clyde Sector of NHSGGC.
* An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Health Care support worker post within the Main Theatre/Day surgery unit.
* The shift pattern for this post is a series of early shifts, late and night shifts worked across Monday to Sunday.
Key responsibilities
* Assists the registered practitioner and the multidisciplinary team with the care and positioning of patients in the pre, intra and post operative period, lifts and holds limbs to assist in preparation for surgery; reports any change in condition to the senior registered practitioner.
* Assists the registered practitioner with the transfer of patients on a trolley, from reception to theatre and back to recovery post operatively. May also assist with transfer of patients to and from the ward.
* May prepare equipment and connect/disconnect cabling. This includes positioning, cleaning and wiping down theatre equipment such as laparoscopic stacks, electrosurgical equipment and harmonic scalpels.
* When requested, contacts reception recovery to initiate transfer of a patient from surgical wards to theatre reception area, including providing accurate details re patient identity and theatre location.
* Using the surgeon’s preference card, identifies and locates stock, non-stock and sundries items in preparation for the next day’s surgical list; knowledge of stock and setup may extend beyond one theatre speciality.
* As directed by a registered practitioner, communicates effectively with Theatre departments within and outside the organisation to borrow instruments or equipment if needed for a theatre list; documents in the appropriate diary for audit purposes.
* Performs checks on patient trolleys daily before theatre lists to ensure cleanliness and working order; reports faults to the registered practitioner in charge.
* Ensures portable oxygen cylinders are available and functional by switching the valve and checking the level on the flow meter before theatre lists; reports problems to the registered practitioner in charge.
* Opens sterile packs and sundries in conjunction with the registered practitioner, performing swab, needle and instrument counts; recognises and identifies instruments and medical devices in use in accordance with the standard operating procedure.
* May update or contribute to the perioperative care plan as appropriate; may record blood loss by weighing swabs.
* Receives specimens from the surgeon after collection, places in the appropriate container, labels with an addressograph label until Trakcare labels are printed, and participates in checking specimens for accuracy prior to sending to the laboratory (two-person check with a registered practitioner as per SOP).
* Participates in the cleaning and tidying of equipment rooms and storage cupboards (excluding drug storage) and reports defects to the registered practitioner; assists with cleaning of clinical areas.
* Participates in the removal of clinical waste, sharps bins, laundry and contaminated instruments from the theatre area in line with established policies and procedures.
* More responsibilities can be found in the attached job description.
Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience
* No formal qualification required for this post; completion of in-house training programme.
* Effective written and verbal communication, literacy, numeracy and IT skills are desirable.
* A demonstration of caring and compassionate attributes.
* Ability to work as part of the multidisciplinary team.
* Understands and complies with mandatory induction standards and code of conduct.
* The registered practitioner will determine the knowledge and skill level required by the HCSW to perform a delegated task.
* The HCSW is responsible for accepting delegated tasks from the registered practitioner and is accountable for undertaking them.
* Awareness and understanding of policies and practices (e.g. Accountable items SOP, Prevention and control of infection, Health and Safety and BLS). The post holder is able to work within the scope of practice under direct and indirect supervision by the registered practitioners.
* Develop knowledge and practice through a combination of instruction, on-the-job learning, attending teaching sessions and study days.
* Develop a range of core transferable skills to undertake routine activities within different theatre specialties.
* Develop an enhanced skill level within own specialty.
* Comply with and work within the Accountable Items SOP; compliance will be assessed during annual performance reviews.
* Knowledge and recognition of routinely used surgical instruments, utilising documentation to support registered practitioners’ checks.
* Utilising base knowledge and documentation to assist the registered practitioner with less frequently used/loan sets.
* Knowledge of locations of stock items; awareness of a range of items commonly used is desirable. Enhanced knowledge of items within own specialty.
* May prepare equipment and connect/disconnect cabling; this includes positioning, cleaning and wiping down theatre equipment such as laparoscopic stacks, diathermy machines, harmonic scalpels, medical gas cylinders, etc., and highlighting issues to the registered practitioner.
* The post holder is expected to achieve a range of core transferable skills to undertake activities within different theatre specialties; this level of knowledge is expected to be achieved within three to six months.
* The post holder may be required to develop an enhanced skill level within a designated specialty; this is expected to be achieved within or up to a 12-month period and may involve working in more than one specialty.
* Completion and maintenance of mandatory LearnPro modules.
What we offer
We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.
As an NHS Scotland employee you will be entitled to
* A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
* Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
* Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
* Enhanced pay for working public holidays
* NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
* Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion, please contact: Senior Charge, Elizabeth Williamson, elizabeth.williamson@nhs.scot, 01413146854
Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates
This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.
From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as various, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be discussed during the recruitment process.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.
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