Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Orthopaedic Practitioner
The closing date is 14 November 2025
We are seeking a motivated and skilled Band 5 Orthopedic Practitioner to join our busy and dynamic Orthopedic Centre. The successful candidate will play a key role in providing high-quality care to patients attending the Fracture clinic and other areas within the Trust.
You will be responsible for the safe and effective application and removal of a wide range of casts, splints, braces, and other orthopedic devices, supporting patients with fractures and musculoskeletal conditions.
Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, you will run or support fracture and elective clinics when required ensuring effective patient flow and continuity of care.
The role involves assessing and managing patients under the guidance of medical and nursing staff, providing advice on cast care, and supporting education for patients, carers, and junior staff. You will also assist with wound care, minor procedures, and continue maintaining clinical standards and infection control within the department.
This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and adaptable practitioner with proven plaster room skills to develop further within a supportive and professional environment.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to:
* Work as a trained and experienced technician within a team of technicians providing casting and more specialised casting and splint making for patients in support of the Orthopedic department, other clinicians and departments within the Trust.
* Responsible for assessment of care needs and will be expected to carry all relevant forms of care without direct supervision.
* Act as a good role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with professional courtesy.
* Have a flexible “can do” approach in ensuring the work of the department is carried out to the required standard in a timely fashion.
* Work closely with the department / ward manager and multi-disciplinary team members in monitoring and maintaining policies, standards of care, staff and service development with in the department / ward environment.
* Contribute to the continuous evaluation of systems to improve the service and meet targets.
* Carry out all relevant forms of care demonstrate procedures of care; supervise junior qualified and / or unqualified staff including student nurses whilst maintaining a safe working environment.
* Effectively manage the resources, standards and practice within the Plastering services.
* Run or support fracture and elective clinics when required ensuring effective patient flow and continuity of care.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Pediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a program of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
In consultation with the treating Clinician select, apply, remove and maintain casts or splints made of plaster, fibre glass, scotch cast, soft cast and wood cast and ensure a correctly fitting, functional cast to enable normal limb mobilisation on removal of the cast or splint in the Orthopedic Centre or on the Wards and Directorates within the Trust. To have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology relating to casting. To complete complex casting requirements including cast bracing and theatre work e.g. Hip spicas, Sarmiento and Frog Casts. To measure, apply and maintain knee, elbow, shoulder abduction braces, specialised walking boots and orthotic shoes. To be able to assess and correctly apply humeral braces as required.
Provide and receive complex information regarding casting and splinting issues. Provide specialist technical support for patients during their treatment including telephone support and advice for those experiencing problems.
Run or support fracture and elective clinics when required ensuring effective patient flow and continuity of care.
To measure, fit and provide suitable walking and immobilisation aids, including crutches, providing verbal and written instructions. To document all treatments performed in the patient notes. To perform assessment of the patient's skin prior to application and following removal of a cast/device and to elevate to the senior nurse, clinician or Tissue viability nurse if a pressure ulcer/infected wound is present. To provide both basic and complex wound care, applying the appropriate dressings, removing sutures and clips. Application of PICO pumps for wound healing, removal of K wires and maintaining the care of external fixators. To be able to use PACS and interpret the X-rays in order to apply the correct cast/splints.
Education, training and development
Participate in clinical training including teaching and supervision of new staff, unqualified staff and student nurses in the Orthopedic Centre. To ensure that all patients requiring casts or further work to existing casts are treated promptly and to attend to Ward patients as and when required and to ensure that patients are not delayed if waiting for discharge. Lead in the application of pediatric casting.
To be responsible for the maintenance and servicing of equipment for the application and removal of casts splints and report any defects. To deal with enquires requests and complaints in a polite and respectful manner, taking appropriate action to resolve any such issues. To assist the nursing staff with the checking of patients notes regarding their treatment while in a cast or splint. To be responsible for ensuring the clinical area are kept clean. Undertake a minimum of once yearly Appraisal with the ward manager for development planning. To participate in research and audit, in support of clinical practises developments. To hold the BOA RCN SON AOT Casting Certificates and attend two yearly update course. To utilise any opportunities to achieve further training within their role, maintain up to date practices, ensuring own level of competency.
Management responsibilities
To be the first point of contact in the Plaster room for advice on complex issues. To report incidents using the Trust electronic incident reporting system. To take an active role in promoting the department within the Trust and improve and develop relationships with other departments and staff. Report to and request advice from the nurse in charge of the ward in regard to patient care when appropriate. Using a variety of sources keep the department well stocked so as to enable a good level of service delivery.
Ensure that communication is used effectively, both written and verbal, in the interest of patient care and with the multidisciplinary team. Ensure that the clinical environment will be well maintained, clean and safe. Report hazards to the nurse in charge acting to prevent further danger to staff and patients. To be economic in the use of department stocks and clinical requisitions, avoiding waste wherever possible. Have the required computer skills and be able to access patient details and reports via the Trusts IT systems. Communicate effectively and cooperate with other Wards and departments as necessary. Be committed to and participate in improving the quality of service provided. Create a good learning environment and participate in the education of students. To teach casting to all grades of staff. To participate in audits and research work as and when required. To take responsibility for continuing your own professional development. To ensure that you are familiar with current techniques and practices. To be courteous, reassuring and helpful to patients, families/carers, colleagues and all users to the trust. Facilitate and encourage team working.
Professional and Legal responsibilities
To be conversant with policies and procedures relating to Fire and Health and Safety. To report all accidents and complaints in accordance with agreed policies and assist in investigations of complaints and accidents as required. Maintain professional portfolio. Maintain clinical study to fulfil professional registration and show evidence of continuing professional development. To uphold the principles of the NMC code of professional conduct. To be conversant with all the Nursing policies and Procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Completed and obtained the nationally recognised qualification in British Orthopaedic Casting Certificate (BOA) recognised by the RCN/RCN with BOA certificate
* Teaching and assessing course
Knowledge and Experience
* Understanding of data protection, confidentiality and record keeping requirements in the NHS
* Evidence of continued clinical development
Personal attributes
* Willing and able to take personal responsibility
* Knowledge of Trust's IT systems
Personal skills
* Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
* Ability to follow clear instructions, solve problems and use own initiative
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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