Saturday 11th May 2019, Leicester Royal Infirmary
Location: LRI Theatres, LE1 5WW, Level 2 Balmoral Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary
Time: 10am – 2pm
Are you a Registered Operating Department Practitioner or Registered Nurse seeking a new challenge? Leicester’s Hospitals are hosting a recruitment open day at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Saturday 11th May to showcase the job opportunities available for qualified nurses and Operating Department Practitioners in their hospitals.
On the day, candidates can meet experienced staff from different specialities and get an inside look at how it feels to be part of the team and hear about the training and support available for new recruits. They can tour the theatres, experience simulations and have an interview for one of the vacancies. Conditional job offers will be given to suitable candidates.
Leicester Hospitals has 46 theatres across the three hospital sites – Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield and University Hospitals Leicester and carry out 54000 operations each year. The theatres cover a variety of specialities including emergency, general surgery, breast surgery, cardiac, thoracic, max fax, plastics, ENT, elective and trauma, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, vascular, paediatrics and congenital heart surgeries.
Kirstie Dowell, Non-medical Recruitment lead ITAPS says, “The opportunities to work in our theatres or ITU teams are endless. We are seeking qualified, experienced and enthusiastic ODPs and nurses to help Leicester hospitals to become the best at providing essential health care and health promotion to our diverse community.
“Newly qualified nurses and ODPs and those who will qualify in September are welcome. Ideal candidates will have the skills and abilities to deliver high standards of care and have the resilience to meet the challenges of our busy and stimulating work environments. They also need to be self-motivated, an excellent communicator and have proven organisational and clinical skills.
“Our new recruits will have a supernumerary period of at least 4 weeks; where they will be supported by a mentor. A dedicated theatre practice development nurse will also ensure their knowledge is kept updated and clinical skills nurses will support them in clinical practice. The trust has also developed training packages aimed at helping nurses obtain the skills needed to progress to band 6 and 7 within our hospital theatres and ITAPS.”
26-year-old Firdowsa Hussein from Leicester has worked as an Operating Department Practitioner in obstetrics and gynaecology at Leicester Royal Infirmary since 2016, after completing her two-year ODP diploma at Leicester University.
Firdowsa says her role is exciting and busy and she loves working in a close knit and highly specialist team. She says that every day she is learning new skills or teaching other people, so her experience is constantly developing.
Initially, Firdowsa started her career working as a healthcare assistant for a year. During this time, Firdowsa gained a good insight into the role. Her mother gave birth via caesarean section during this year and Firdowsa had been so impressed by the support and care given by the ODP looking after her mum, she was inspired to take her ODP diploma.
“ODPs are responsible for communicating and reassuring the patients before operations and they play such an important role in the team. I also found the surgery very interesting and love anatomy, so it was the perfect career for me. When I finished university and started the role, I received good support from mentors, team leaders and the matron which helped me adapt really well.”
“There are many career opportunities for ODPs and nurses that work here. You can work in anaesthetics, scrub and assist surgeons in many ways. ODPs can also move into specialist roles in intensive care or recovery and take additional courses and qualifications to support career development. There is access to e-learning whenever there is new equipment in theatres, and we use e-learning to keep up to date with policies and protocol.
“When I am working on the anaesthetic side, a typical day involves me checking all the machines and the trolley to ensure all the drugs are stocked up and then I prepare instruments for the day’s operating list. We have team huddles to discuss the list, what is required, and any specialist care needed for each patient. I collect each patient and reassure them and then assist in theatre – handing the surgeon instruments.”
“The team support is fantastic. There is always access to a team leader or matron if you need help. If things go wrong at the end of a procedure, there’s a team debrief, there is the opportunity to ask questions and support including counselling is also available for staff. Working as an ODP in theatre is vibrant and diverse. It is an exciting role and I love it. But the best thing for me is supporting patients when they are vulnerable.”
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is part of a recently launched recruitment campaign Y/Our Future that unites them with three other health and social care employers – LOROS Hospice, Rutland County Council and Leicester City Council, The campaign is focused on recruit doctors, nurses and health and social care workers to work in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and to promote the region as a leading career and lifestyle destination.
To apply for the role go to: www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk. The closing date is 17th May.