Theatre Operatives

Remuneration

The Salary Scale (as at 01/08/2025) for the post is:

€41,117 - €42,190 - €43,335 - €44,433 - €45,608 - €46,817 - €48,064

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Purpose of the Post

• To assist the nurse and multidisciplinary clinical team in the provision of quality care to patients in the operative setting. The Theatre Operative performs this role under the supervision and direction of a Registered Nurse.
• To be able to accommodate change in a rapidly changing environment and encourage team members to embrace necessary change.
• Have a positive attitude to challenges and devise ways to make them happen.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

Maintain throughout the hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.

The Theatre Operative will:

1. Assist with Nursing Care

• Ensure all theatres are ready for use
• Check equipment prior to use
• Assist the Anaesthetic Nurse
• Assist the circulating nurse during cases
• Assist the scrub nurse to set up for cases
• Assist with patient positioning
• Apply diathermy pads to patients under supervision of RGN
• Assist with handling of used instruments and sets at end of surgery and dispatch to CSSD
• Hold patients limbs for skin prep
• Apply or assist with tourniquet application, if trained to that level
• Hang irrigation fluids
• Participate in on-going education within the department

2. Transport Duties

• Collect patients from ward and escort them to theatre
• Transfer patients to and from all areas within the Theatre Department
• Transfer patients from the recovery room back to the ward
• Transport specimens to the laboratory
• Moving of equipment and stocks within the department

3. Cleaning Duties

• Cleans equipment according to local guidelines
• Cleans theatre floors at end of each operating session
• Empty waste bins between cases and linen skips in all areas & cooperation with waste management team and related initiatives
• Check and clean patient trolleys ensuring an adequate supply of portable oxygen cylinders
• Clean spills and wet floors promptly
• Assist in weekend cleaning in keeping with hygiene audit and agreed cleaning plan
• Cleaning of other apparatus as required or requested

4. Stocking Duties

·        Helps maintain adequate supplies for CSSD and surgical supplies

·        Receive and store CSSD supplies, Surgical supplies and IV fluids

·        Maintain adequate supplies of laundry

·        Stock Anaesthetic Rooms, Prep Rooms, Sluice Rooms, Theatres, Scrub Areas and the Recovery Room while paying attention to stock rotation

5. Day Ward

• Patient transfer and escort to other wards and Depts. eg. X-ray, Cardiac Investigations, Main Door.
• Collection of drugs, prescriptions etc from pharmacy.

·        Collection of Blood products for transfusion

·        Taking samples to Path Lab (blood or biopsies from minor surgical clinics). May use Chute System if appropriate

·        Assist with cleaning trolleys

·        Assist in management of sharps.

·        Assist with Laundry management and be aware of Laundry policies

·        Assist with setting up of equipment / cameras for Colposcopy Pain / and Urology clinics

·        Restocking of stores and supplies

·        Maintenance of portable oxygen cylinders required for Trolleys

·        Movement of charts as required

·        On occasions it is necessary that an Operative covering the Day Ward (or out of hours) may need to provide a limited level of cover to Day Oncology, as part of the Day Services Unit as a whole.

6. Communication

·        Communicate effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure care is patient focused and of the highest standard

·        Report any untoward incident or equipment problem to Nurse in charge

7. Confidentiality

·        Respecting confidential information obtained in the course of employment and refraining from discussing such information.

·        Maintaining an awareness of the privacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities. Follow the Board’s policy on confidentiality.

8. Education and Training

·        Keep up to date with local Policy & Guidelines, new procedures and equipment

·        Recommend that staff in post undertake training as required to execute the role

·        Maintain and update any IT database as required.

·        Carry out any other duty, appropriate to the grade, which may from time to time, be assigned by the management at SUH.

·        Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etcand comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

·        Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above range of duties is only an indication of the type of work enduring in the role of the Theatre Support Staff.

The list is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide, it will be revised to meet changing demands and needs of the service.

The full range of duties will be discussed with the individual Theatre Support Staff.

KPI’s

• The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
• The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
• All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
• Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts 2005 and 2010 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.

·        In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted.

• Hospital uniform policy must be adhered to.
• Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
• The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:

• Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives
• Document Control Information Management Systems
• Risk Management Strategy and Policies
• Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
• Decontamination Code of Practice
• Infection Control Policies
• Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
• Data Protection and confidentiality Policies

• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
• The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
• The post holders’ responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.
• The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
• The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
• The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and experience

Candidates must at the latest date of application:

1.      Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc.

a)      Hold or have commenced in a qualification in Health Services Skills or Health Care Support at Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) * Level 5 (or higher)

Or

b) Hold a relevant Health Care Qualification at least equivalent to above.

And

c)      Have experience working in a Healthcare Setting.

And

d) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Other requirements to the post

The post holders are required to work a 8am to 8pm roster covering a Monday to Sunday service, with limited cover provided at the weekend

Flexibility regarding working hours to meet the demands of the service

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Planning & Organising

• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills
• Demonstrate flexible approach – to working hours, rostering e.g. unsocial hours/shift work, night duty, on call, attitude to work
• Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative
• Demonstrate good organisational ability with practical competence
• Demonstrate ability to multi-task without losing focus and manage competing and changing priorities and deadlines
• Flexibility and adaptability in a changing complex work environment

Commitment to Providing a Quality Service

• Demonstrate ability to work in a customer focussed environment
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect

·        Demonstrate ability to maintain confidentiality in relation to client/ patient information etc.

• Display awareness and appreciation of the service users needs and expectations
• Commitment to maintaining work standards and delivering a quality service to service users (customer service skills)
• Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail
• Commitment to developing own knowledge and expertise.
• Commitment to promoting and maintaining high work standards
• Commitment to providing a professional service to internal and external stakeholders

Teamwork

• Demonstrate ability to work as a member of team and make positive contributions to that team
• Demonstrate effective communication skills both written and verbal
• Demonstrate evidence of influencing/negotiating skills
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job.
• Demonstrate ability to present a neat and tidy appearance
• Demonstrate ability to carry out instructions and appreciate the importance of providing quality care to patients.
• Demonstrates an understanding of one’s own role and the roles of others within the team
• Understands the need to be flexible and actively adapt within ones’ own role

Knowledge/Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative
• Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks
• Demonstrateevidence of knowledge of Health & Safety regulations and compliance with local health and safety policies and procedures, e.g. manual handling, infection control, sharps, emergency medical procedures
• Demonstrate knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Demonstrate knowledge in the area of healthcare
• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development
• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a patient centred service