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:
To provide person centred care to all patients undergoing surgical intervention in the Day Surgery Unit. This will be carried out in a safe and professional manner ensuring a high quality of service provision by a team of specialised staff.
Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:
Permanent, 2x Part time
Base location - Vale of Leven Surgical Day Bed Unit
Shift Pattern – early and late shift pattern.
0700/0800/0900 – 1800/17:30/1700/1900/2000
early and late shift pattern.
Key responsibilities:
PATIENT CARE
* Assist the Registered practitioner in delivering pre, intra and post operative care to suit individual requirements of the patient undergoing surgical intervention. This will be dictated by the care plan, standard operating procedures and protocols to deliver optimum patient care. Reports any issues or changes to patient condition to the registered practitioner e.g. when removing diathermy pad/moving patient.
* Under instruction from the registered practitioner assist with patient care including hygiene, fluid food and nutrition, tissue viability and incontinence care reporting any anomalies.
* Using knowledge of routine specialist procedures e.g. specimen/blood collection, organise processing of specimens including completing the documentation required and dispatching the specimen(s). This is a check requiring two people one of whom will be a registered practitioner, as per Specimen SOP.
* Clean, check, set up specialist theatre/Endoscopy equipment to ensure patient safety and infection control requirements and report any faults or anomalies.
* Carry out ongoing risk assessment of the clinical area to ensure patient and staff safety ensuring risks are reported.
* Carry out cleaning duties of clinical area including all equipment, work surfaces, floors cupboards etc in line with operating theatre standards of cleanliness to reduce the risk of infection
* Open sterile packs and sundries in conjunction with Registered Practitioner performing a swab, needle and instrument count. Should be able to recognise and indentify instruments and medical devices in common use, in accordance with the Accountable Items SOP (standard operating procedure).
* May be required to update/contribute to the perioperative care plan as appropriate. May also be required to record blood loss by weighing swabs.
* Provide an explanation of any specialist care the post-holder gives to the patient e.g. reason for positioning.
* Using the surgeon’s/Endoscopists preference card, identify and locate stock, non stock and sundries items in preparation for the next day’s surgical list. Overall knowledge of stock and set up may extend beyond one theatre speciality.
* As directed by a registered practitioner, communicate effectively with Day surgery departments within the organisation to borrow instruments or equipment if needed for a theatre list. Document in the appropriate diary for audit purposes.
* When required, perform checks on patient trolleys before the commencement of theatre lists to ascertain they are clean and in working order and report any faults to the registered practitioner in charge.
* Participates in initial cleaning of flexible endoscopes in accordance with guidelines, may include collection and return of endoscopes from Endoscopy Decontamination Unit in compliance with transfer procedures. Reports any perceived faults to registered practitioner and also off-site Endoscopy Decontamination Unit.
* Support the Stores Team or registered practitioner in receiving supplies to theatres. This may include CSSD items and instrumentation from decontamination unit into department, assisting with rotation of stock as required and filing the associated paperwork. On completion, highlighting any shortfall to the registered practitioner in charge of the relevant theatre.
MANAGERIAL/ORGANISATIONAL
* Organises and prioritises own workload from delegated list of duties. This may include checking of all machinery, preparation of area, cleaning, organising instrumentation/equipment, linen, drapes, trolleys etc. Any irregularities will be reported to registered practitioner.
* Plan ahead when setting up equipment for each operation ensuring it is clean, checked and set up in good time, signing that it has passed in the equipment checking book as appropriate. If issues are identified these should be reported and assist in contingency planning as required.
HUMAN RESOURCES
* Demonstrate basic practical tasks to new or less experienced staff as delegated by registered practitioner e.g. setting up of theatre environment.
* Give basic advice and support to new or less experienced staff to aid their clinical practice and patient care.
* Continue to develop both personally and professionally by completing a yearly E-KSF review and personal development plan, complete LearnPro modules, attend mandatory training days, attend other study day etc.
RESEARCH/AUDIT/SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
* Follow and keep up to date with all department policies, procedures and protocols.
* Contribute to the consultation process of new department procedures and policies by offering comments on effectiveness, efficiency and practicality.
* Occasionally participate, under the supervision of registered practitioner, in surveys, audits and projects within own department, in an effort to continuously provide high standards of patient care.
Knowledge, training, qualifications and /or experience required to do the job:
* Completion of In-House training programme
* Understands and complies with HCSW mandatory induction standards and code of conduct
* Complete corporate induction programme within 3 months
* Obtain knowledge, new skills and keep updated by attending relevant study days, practical training and teaching sessions
* Develop an awareness and understanding of policies and practices e.g. Accountable items SOP, Prevention and control of infection, Health and Safety and BLS.
* To be able to understand and use a variety of perioperative documentation accurately following induction and on the job training.
* To acquire through experience and on the job training a broad range of technical skills in checking and troubleshooting perioperative equipment and machinery which is used on a daily basis.
* Be enthusiastic, have excellent communication skills and ability to work as part of a team.
* The HCSW is responsible for accepting delegated tasks from the registered practitioner and is accountable for undertaking them.
* Effective written and verbal communication, literacy numeracy and IT skills are desirable.
* The post-holder is expected to achieve a range of core transferrable skills to undertake activities within different theatre specialities. This level of knowledge is expected to be achieved within a three to six month period.
* The post-holder may be required to develop an enhanced skill level within a designated speciality. This is expected to be achieved within or up to a 12 month period. The post-holder may be required to work in more than one speciality
* Knowledge of locations of stock items. An awareness of and familiarity of a range of items commonly used is desirable. Enhanced knowledge of items within own specialty
* Good physical and dexterity skills.
What we offer:
* 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:
Christine Kilday, SCN - Christine.kilday@nhs.scot - 01389 817546
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.
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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‑rated basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of 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 included as a topic for discussion 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.
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