We have a wide range of development and learning opportunities available for all of our staff.
For Theatre Support Workers
Once completing theatre competencies packages and receiving a Peri-op Care Certificate, TSWs can learn how to perform a link role. In this role TSWs will support the department by teaching others, for example how to uphold policies and procedures such as infection control standards. There may also be the opportunity for TSWs to apply for a Band 3 role as a senior TSW in Theatres or Anaesthetics. TSWs can also attend various training workshops, including ‘Confidence Building’, ‘Assertiveness’, ‘Resilience and You’, ‘Application and Interview preparation’ and ‘Maths and English/Functional Skills’ sessions.
To develop further we also have the opportunity for TSWs to apply for a Higher Apprenticeship (2 year training course) to become an Assistant Scrub Practitioner (ASP).
For Assistant Scrub Practitioners
ASPs can then apply to become registered by completing an Allied Health Professional/ Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Pathway (2 year training course). The Operating Department Practitioner apprenticeship is available exclusively to TSWs. They are thoroughly supported to complete while working in Theatres.
For newly qualified registered practitioners
Newly qualified Nurses/ Practitioner are supported by the Preceptorship programme and, in their first year of practice, attend: mandatory training, educational theory and study skills days, preceptorship workshops with tailored in-house training delivered on education ‘audit’ morning which supports continual personal and professional development for all roles and specialities.
Workshops attended as part of Addenbrooke’s Preceptorship Programme include:
- Inter-professional preceptorship workshop 1
- “Patients first and always” Improving patients’ and staff experience
- Inter-professional preceptorship workshop 2
- Delivering safe patient care
- Inter-professional preceptorship workshop 3
- Improving the Patient Journey at CUH
- Inter-professional preceptorship workshop 4
- Career development at CUH
- Management of the Deteriorating Patient Scenarios (MODS) – Study Day
Nurses and ODPs
Newly Qualified Practitioners and Operating Department Practitioners that new to the Trust receive development pathways and competency packages to complete as part of their induction and orientation of the department, with rotation programmes covering all of our surgical specialities.
We support continual personal and professional develop with our established 36 month band 5 development pathway. These are the training courses our nurses and practitioners attend and accomplish:
- Assertiveness Training
- Improving Personal Impact Training
- Resilience Training
- Confidence building
- Operating List Management
- Preparing for Difficult Conversations Training
- Recruitment and Selection Training
- Preceptor Training
- Edward Jenner NHS Academy Foundation in Leadership
- Leadership and Management Development Level 2
- Appraisal Training
In order to gain a broad understanding of different roles in our operating theatres, we also offer rotational roles such as scrub and anaesthetics, with a proportion of our practitioners most commonly working in 50/50 roles practising and maintaining their extensive knowledge and skills in both fields.
Our band 6 practitioners follow a development pathway that focuses on enhancing their leadership credentials, this includes attending training sessions on:
- Co-ordinating the Operating Theatre List
- Managing mental health in yourself and others
- Exploring Strengths workshop
- Trauma and Emergency surgery scheduling management training
- Managing in a coaching style
- Managing Conflict at Work
- Effective delegation
- Performance Management Training
- Introduction to Project Management
- Managers’ Toolkit to Employee Relations
