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Senior Orthopaedic Plaster Technician

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South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.

Car Parking

The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Job overview

As part of the SWFT Hospital Outpatients Department, the Plaster Room is situated within the Fracture Clinic providing a comprehensive orthopaedic and trauma casting service for the Fracture Clinic, Emergency Department (ED), theatres, therapies and wards.

You will work as a trained and experienced technician within a team of Nurses, Doctors and Allied Health Professional in providing casting and specialised casting and splint making for patients. Liaising with the multi-disciplinary team regarding the most appropriate treatment for patients.

The post holder will be expected to supervise other less experienced staff and communicate effectively with other departments and disciplines. You will have an educational role and develop competencies and skills for the multi-disciplinary team in application of casting within the expectations of Outpatient care setting.

The post holder will have a flexible and proactive approach in ensuring the work of the department is carried out to the required high standards and will contribute to the service improvement and will be required to work to support other clinical work within the outpatient clinics.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team responsible for providing a specialist casting and splinting service while working to deliver a high standard of casting and patient care.

To be the primary point of contact in the Plaster Room, providing technical and professional support within clinical areas, wards and theatres ensuring that patients are not unduly delayed in the discharge process.

You will be forward thinking and foster an innovative and learning environment for Technicians and other multidisciplinary professional staff. In light of this, it is essential the post holder continues with their professional development in line with the BOA guidelines, facilitate learning and contribute to the professional development of medical and nursing staff.

The post holder will participate in audits and research as required, undertake administrative duties incl. stock ordering and control, data collection etc. To assist with the operation of the plaster room services and activity to include daily operational issues.

The post holder needs to be professionally accountable and to work according to the Association of Orthopaedic Practitioners (AOP) and British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) code of professional practice.

Working for our organisation

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

To hold the BOA British Casting Certificate (BCC) and active registration with the BOA, working within BOA Plaster Room standards.

Carry out casting procedures and practices adhering to BOA and AOP guidelines and standards.

To understand, and be confident with the different casting techniques, be able to construct supports and appliances using various materials and to measure and fit a range of functional braces.

The selection, application, removal, construction and maintenance of casts, splints and braces made of plaster and other materials in the plaster room and other areas of the Trust.

Removal of casts using electric plaster saw, taking into consideration individual patient requirements and circumstances, e.g. anxiety, claustrophobia, origin of cast to be removed, and special handling of very young children in casts.

To remove sutures, dressings, and staples, Denham/Steinman pins and Kirschner wires, observing aseptic techniques at all times.

To provide both basic and complex wound care and removal of sutures and clips without supervision and demonstrate a sound knowledge of the principles of infection control and highest standards when performing aseptic techniques.

Application and modification of customised orthotic bracing and casting eg. knee bracing, hand and finger splints, spinal bracing, humeral bracing, including casting for CTEV (Ponseti) and hip spicas, frog casts and sarmiento.

Have the required knowledge of anatomy to ensure the correct positioning of limbs, to understand the complications that may arise from incorrect limb positioning and casting techniques, and the appropriate action needed when such a complication arises.

Have or be willing to undertake a University accredited Mentorship Module / Certificate.

Implementing teaching programmes in the department in teaching casting, contra-indications and complications to Outpatient and Trust Staff.

Develop and maintain plaster application and care competencies for Clinical Support Workers within the OPD.

To be able to use Insignia X-ray It system and be able to interpret X-Rays.

To be a trainer for other staff in the department, and to be an active participant in the training of plaster trainees within the plaster room in preparation for the Stanmore course.

Measurable Result Areas

To assess patients to determine the most appropriate type of cast or splint required, in line with clinician's instructions.

To ensure safe and appropriate discharge from the department following consultation/ treatment and to provide on-going advice and support to patients in a cast discharged from the plaster room.

To co-ordinate outpatient and inpatient casting requests, and undertake application and modification of casts within the ward and theatre environment when patients are unable to attend the plaster room.

To keep up to date with casting material development, material usage and cost with a view of trialling products to ensure economic use of resources.

To assist on-call orthopaedic teams with application of casts after fracture manipulation/reduction, prior to admission or discharge.

To document fully in the patient's case notes information regarding casting details as requested by the referring clinician ensuring any additional relevant observations are clearly noted, signed and dated thus contributing to optimum patient care.

To communicate appropriately with healthcare professionals, patients and carers regarding casting and aftercare, modifying instructions in cases of patients with special needs, or learning difficulties, e.g. children, stroke victims or patients where English is not their first language.

To attend all mandatory training required by the Trust and to participate in the Trust Performance Review Process.

To facilitate appointments for future attendances to the Plaster Room.

To supply and adjust walking aids, slings and splints as required and ensure the patients are educated in their use.

Be responsible for own professional development and be prepared to develop new skills and techniques by attending workshops and conferences.

Communications and Working Relationships

To develop and maintain good working relationships with multidisciplinary teams involved with each patient to ensure an effective and efficient service for patients.

Facilitate patients, relatives and carers understanding of the care given and potential hazards of wearing a cast with the use of both verbal and written instructions.

Act as an effective role model.

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised patient care in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team e.g. discuss treatments with Consultants with a view to altering or suggesting a better treatment.

To assist in the efficient running of the department by being able to prioritise workload daily to ensure that assigned tasks are carried out efficiently between the wards, ED and Clinics, so patients awaiting discharge are not delayed.

To organise and deploy staff in the Plaster Room, according to competencies and workload in order to meet patients' needs.

Offer advice and guidance to patients phoning in with a query / concern and those presenting to Plaster Room unannounced with cast problems providing suitable advice and support during fracture management, referring back to the clinician if necessary.

To assist with the reporting of faults and maintenance of equipment and working environment to ensure a safe and secure environment for staff, patients and visitors, in line with Trust Health and Safety Policy.

To endeavour to resolve problems for patients/carers and staff at the point of complaint, where this is not possible to provide information to assist them e.g. PALS, details of Trust Complaints Policies etc.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

  • Hold the BOA/RCN(SOTN) AOT British Casting Certificate
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Interpret X-rays

Desirable criteria

  • Degree/diploma or equivalent
  • Insignia training
  • Lorenzo training

Experience

Essential criteria

  • Experience of working in a healthcare environment
  • Experience of leading and supervising teams
  • Proven competency and experience in the application of specialist casts and splints for upper and lower limb complaints incl. Total Contact, Hip and Shoulder Spicas CTEV (Ponseti) and hip spicas, frog casts and sarmiento
  • Proven competency and experience of basic and complex wound care, sutures, dressings, and staples, Denham/Steinman pins and Kirschner wires and aseptic techniques
  • Ability to understand complicated instructions both verbal and written

Skills

Essential criteria

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrates good clinical knowledge
  • Works effectively in a team environment and independently
  • Effectively prioritises, plans and manages own and others, activities/tasks
  • Have the underpinning knowledge and skills to mentor junior Plaster Room staff and teach Junior Drs, theatre and OPD staff

Desirable criteria

  • Ability to use & keep up-to-date with a variety of electronic patient clinical management systems

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

  • Ability to remain calm and focused under pressurised situations
  • Demonstrates compassion and empathy
  • Self-motivated and can motivate and inspire others
  • Embraces innovation and creativity
  • Professional presentation and communication style
  • Able to discuss casting issues with all grades of medical staff
  • Able to work autonomously or as a member of the team in a busy environment with frequent interruptions and stressful, challenging and unpredictable situations
  • Able to make safe and effective decisions regarding patient treatment when presented with a cast problem, wound / pressure sore, walk in patients, etc

Other

Essential criteria

  • Able to meet challenging Moving & Handling requirements of the role
  • Must be able to work flexible hours to suit the department
  • Able to fit annual leave in with other members of staff
  • Be proactive and embrace change

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).

Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.

We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.

Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.

The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

  • Job Description (PDF, 152.6KB)
  • Person Specification (PDF, 56.7KB)

Senior Orthopaedic Plaster Technician

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Wellesbourne Distribution park, Loxley Rd, Warwick CV35 9JY, UK
Full-Time

Published on 04/02/2025

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