Job Title : Theatre Focused Patient Care Assistant
Location : DWR, Newmarket, Cambridge - part of Linnaeus
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Hours : 40 hours per week
Shift pattern: Monday to Friday 8 hours per shift between 8am - 8pm, compressed hours (4 x 10 hour shifts) may also be considered. Plus 1 in 4 weekends.
We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Patient Care Assistant to join our vibrant Theatre Team working in our busy, purpose-built specialist veterinary centre.
As a Theatre Focused PCA you will primarily work within the Theatre suite or Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), being involved in all aspects of caring for and supporting our canine and feline patients before, during and after their surgical procedures. This is a varied, hands on role including everything from basic animal handling, through to maintaining specialist surgical equipment and supporting the veterinary surgeons during complex procedures.
You will have the opportunity to be involved in the facilitation and smooth running of surgical procedures across a range of different disciplines, including soft-tissue, orthopaedics, neurology, ophthalmology and dentistry, this will allow you to develop a broad range of experience and knowledge of working in a veterinary referral centre.
Once the induction training has been completed then participation in the out of hours rotas will be required, this could be working 1:4 weekends caring for inpatients in the wards or covering the theatre on-call, this would involve covering allocated evenings, weekends and bank holidays on-call and then coming into the hospital as required, a supplement payment is associated with the on-call provision and allocated rest time would be provided for the wards weekend shifts.
Responsibilities:
· Supporting patients before, during and after their surgical procedures.
· Work efficiently and effectively to prevent delays and adapt quickly to changing demands
· Maintain cleanliness standards of the clinical environment and equipment in line with infection control policies.
· Work and communicate effectively and professionally with other associates and departments across the hospital.
· Working under the direction of Veterinary Surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses to provide all aspects of patient care.
· Carrying out duties in the sterile services department to maintain instrumentation and equipment correctly and to ensure efficient turnaround times.
· Assisting with diagnostic imaging
· Setting up/closing the theatre suites down before and after procedures
· Housekeeping duties to include but not limited to; stock control, maintaining cleanliness and organisation.
· Follow Standard Operating Procedures at all times to include but not limited to; clinical tasks, infection control, patient restraint, waste disposal and health and safety policies.
To be successful in this role you need to be highly organised, willing to learn, have great attention to detail and have the ability to cope under pressure in a fast-paced working environment. You should be a highly motivated team player with excellent communication skills and have the passion and drive for delivering outstanding patient care.
If you have a desire to learn and build a career working with and caring for animals, we are the ideal working environment to help you flourish. Although not a requirement of the role, many of our PCAs eventually progress onto further education programmes as Student Veterinary Nurses or progress their PCA pathway within DWR.
Although beneficial, prior PCA experience or work within a clinical veterinary setting is not necessary as full training will be provided.
What we offer
5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave
Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
Career progression opportunities
Staff discount schemes
Life Assurance
Enhanced sickness pay
Enhanced equal family leave
E-car salary sacrifice scheme
Employer contribution…